Actress Grace Lee Whitney dies

Actress Grace Lee Whitney, who is best known for her role as the royal Yeoman Janice Rand on "Star Trek" original TV series in 1966, has died. She was 85.
Her son Jonathan Dweck confirmed the sad news that the actress died on May 1 at her home in Coarsegold, California, reported Ace Showbiz.
Grace appeared in eight of thirteen episodes of "Star Trek" first season where there was much sexual tension between her character and William Shatner's Captain James T Kirk. She was then suddenly released from the contract,
However, when the series was reborn as a movie in 1970s, Grace returned to the "Star Trek" franchise, reprising her role as Janice Rand who had received a promotion to Chief Petty Officer in "Star Trek The Motion Picture".

She also appeared in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" in 1984, "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" in 1986, "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" in 1991 and "Star Trek: Voyager" in 1996.
The latest installment of "Star Trek" starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg and Idris Elba, "Star Trek 3", is set to hit theatres in the US on July 8, 2016.