Goodbye Yeoman Rand and Godspeed Grace Lee Whitney

Grace Lee Whitney Has Passed 5/1/2105

Mourning The Loss Of Another Star Trek Family Member

For those who haven't heard, we bear sad news: we have lost yet another legendary star from the Star Trek universe. On May 1st, 2015 Grace Lee Whitney - so well known for her portrayal of Yeoman Janice Rand - passed peaceful in her home at the age of 85. 

I can recall wondering why this fresh-faced, smart and obviously well-endowed actress only appeared in a few pivotal episodes of Star Trek The Original Series. It seemed that suddenly she wasn't there, eclipsed by other women - with a notable absence of the role of yeoman until the episode, "Mirror, Mirror", in which a rather darker gal appears as Kirk's mirror universe yeoman. 

As a Trekkie it was my duty to know about all thing Star Trek, so I did my homework and came up with a few mentions of drug abuse, alcoholism, and a possible episode of rape on the set. At the time I can recall thinking, "I wonder who the "Exec" is? Where drugs involved? How did this happen on the set without anyone else knowing about it? Did this cause her fall from stardom?" The obvious answer to most of us Trekkies was that we were sad to see her go. It's always a shame when someone as talented as Grace sinking into drinking and drugging. We hoped she'd pull out of it. 

Not much more was said of her, until we rejoiced at seeing her bit part in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and again in subsequent films, if only for a moment. 

In researching this article, I found out a lot more about Grace - how she started, many big stars with whom she acted in movies, that she'd been on other series, and even had worked on a failed pilot with Roddenberry even before Star Trek. Check out these photos: 

A little known fact: Grace was the original model for the Chicken of The Sea Mermaid. 

Yes, that's Grace! If you're wondering what she looked like back then sans the costume, here's a pic:

Her face was a little more angular back then, but we all recognize the bun!

It seems as though they were going for a "high glamour" look when they made her up, pushing the lipstick to the limit. That's the only thing that I didn't like about the look they pushed on her. A little less over-draw on the lips would have been better. 

Note the more natural lip lines here: this pic is from her Batman days! Bet you didn't know that!

It's pretty obvious that the initial publicity and photos that were

being produced for inclusion in print media were meant to be provocative. Yeoman Rand was not just an officer, she was being promoted as a sex-pot. 

No, this isn't suggestive at all!

Flirting with the Captain?

Look! A Mugato!

Don't give me that Mugato story, it's a man in an ape suit! - Well at least they made her look capable, occasionally. 

I delved a little deeper into her memoirs and found her published work: "The Longest Trek: My Tour of The Galaxy". Through links via Trek bboards, I read the frustrating and heart-breaking details of the abuse she suffered in the very offices of the execs of Star Trek. 

Though she never named the "exec" who committed the rape, including locking her in an office with him, and insisting upon sexual relations, including forced fellatio. It's horrifying. 

Still the exec is not mentioned by name, but the references to other people and a later quip that she had forgiven Roddenberry -  all seem to point to Gene, though it's not stated outright. 

It was most heartening to see that Leonard Nimoy was mentioned as being her confidant, and that he saw and knew what was going on. Apparently both he and De Kelley worked to get Grace jobs after she was dismissed from Star Trek. Officially, it was stated that Yeoman Rand hovered too closely over Captain Kirk, and prevented the writers from exploring new romances for Kirk, so they effectively wrote her out. I'm sure that she was written out as a safety-factor for the exec, whereas Bill Shatner notes in his memoirs that she was fired due to alcoholism. That's a bit of a switch, because we all know that Bill and Len had been battling the same thing in their lives, though it happened to them a little later in the life of Star Trek. What's left unsaid is why or if anyone stood up for Grace at the time. It's entirely possible that they may have tried, and been told that their jobs hung in the balance. It's just sad that Star Trek itself could have been squashed in its infancy over the sexual appetites of its creator. Grace had the courage not to discuss it - and let her friends continue their careers.

Grace and Leonard

In the end, Grace found religion and encouragement from her friends and family, and was able to rise up above her demons. 

Nimoy said of her book that it was probably the best (of all of the many Star Trek memoirs) lesson and help for other victims of alcoholism that had been written by those involved with Star Trek. 

When Len said something like that, he meant it. 

For all the amazing moments, the laughs, the tears, and her undaunted interest in meeting and greeting fans, we wish her family and friends some solace in knowing how Grace triumphed in her life and works. RIP Grace.