Around the world, May 4th is known as Star Wars Day (“May the fourth be with you.”) We’re big Star Wars fans around here, but today brings far more important news related to a different sci-fi franchise.
Unfortunately, Star Trek actress Grace Lee Whitney passed away last Friday at the age of 85. While many fans are familiar with Whitney’s acting work, what we really want to celebrate is her lifelong devotion to helping others overcome substance abuse problems.
Yeoman Janice Rand
Whitney’s most famous role was Yeoman Janice Rand on the original Star Trek TV show. She appeared in eight episodes, all during the show’s first season in 1966. Yeoman Rand was Captain Kirk’s personal assistant and unrequited love interest.
Prior to Star Trek, Whitney had a long list of relatively minor TV roles to her name including guest spots on Bewitched, 77 Sunset Strip and The Outer Limits. Star Trek was her largest, longest role to date. Unfortunately, this big break came with some pretty major difficulties.
As Whitney recounts in her autobiography, The Longest Trek: My Tour of the Galaxy, her time on the show was not the exciting opportunity she’s hoped for. In order to stay slim enough for her Starfleet uniform she turned to starvation and amphetamines. She was also sexually assaulted by one of the production executives. While no specific reason was ever given for her abrupt firing from the show, she long suspected it was related to the assault.
Feeling understandably upset and bitter, Whitney quickly spiraled down into the depths of alcoholism.
“I just about killed myself over that reject. And when I would go on interviews [auditions], I would smell of alcohol,” she told Startrek.com in 2011. “It took me about 10 years after getting written out to come to my senses when I bottomed out.”
DeForest Kelly, who played “Bones” McCoy on Star Trek, actually spotted Whitney in an unemployment line. She credits Kelly with helping her return to acting. She also credits Leonord Nimoy, who battled his own addiction issues, with helping her find a life of sobriety.
Whitney returned as now Chief Petty Officer Janice Rand in 1979’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture. She continued the role in four additional Star Trek movies and in a guest spot on Star Trek: Voyager. Outside of Star Trek she worked steadily in TV and movies until her retirement in 2011.
While her career probably never reached the heights it could have had she been a longer presence on the original Trek, she found a never-ending source of love and support from the show’s fans.
“When I told the fans I was an alcoholic, they all applauded,” she told the Fresno Bee in 2013. “When I told them I had given myself to a higher power, they cheered again. I’m in a great place because I’ve gone full circle.”
Amazing Grace
For over 35 years Whitney dedicated herself to helping others find sobriety – including people who approached her at conventions. More than just portraying a hero on screen, Whiney was a hero in real life, too.
Jonathan Dweck, Whitney’s son, told The New York Times that she’d rather be remembered for her work with substance abuse. “She continued her fellowship work in Fresno and Madera County, completely dedicating her life to helping herself and others find daily sobriety and a higher power out of addiction,” he said.
So today isn’t necessarily about Star Wars, Star Trek or anything else taking place in a galaxy far, far away. Instead, let’s remember Grace Lee Whitney, a true hero who dedicated her life to helping people right here on Earth.