View source for Majel Barrett

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Short description|American actress (1932–2008)}}
{{Infobox person
| image         = Majel Barrett in 2006 cropped.png
| caption       = Barrett in 2006
| birth_name    = Majel Leigh Hudec
| birth_place   = [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]], U.S.{{refn|group=nb|name=Birthplace|While many sources state that Barrett was born in Cleveland (e.g., Associated Press,<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/20/arts/television/20roddenberry.html |title = Majel Roddenberry, 'Star Trek' Actress, Dies at 76 |work = [[The New York Times]] |agency = [[Associated Press]] |date = December 19, 2008 |access-date = December 28, 2019 |archive-date = November 18, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201118040240/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/20/arts/television/20roddenberry.html |url-status = live }}</ref> ''The Daily Telegraph'',<ref name="telegraph.co.uk"/> Roddenberry Entertainment<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.roddenberry.com/bios/ |title = Corporate Bios |date = December 29, 2015 |publisher = Roddenberry Entertainment |access-date = December 28, 2019 |archive-date = December 16, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191216230415/http://www.roddenberry.com/bios/ |url-status = live }}</ref> and CBS Studios<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.startrek.com/database_article/barrett |title = Barrett |publisher = [[CBS|CBS Studios]] |access-date = December 28, 2019 |archive-date = October 31, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191031013530/https://www.startrek.com/database_article/barrett |url-status = live }}</ref>), some sources say Columbus (e.g., ''Cleveland Plain Dealer'',<ref name="PlainDealer">{{cite news |url = https://www.cleveland.com/people/2008/12/shaker_heights_high_school_gra.html |title = Shaker Heights High School grad Majel Roddenberry, 'First Lady of Star Trek,' dies |work = [[Cleveland Plain Dealer]] |date = December 19, 2008 |access-date = December 28, 2019 |archive-date = December 28, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191228030019/https://www.cleveland.com/people/2008/12/shaker_heights_high_school_gra.html |url-status = live }}</ref> ''Los Angeles Times''<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-roddenberry19-2008dec19-story.html |title = Majel B. Roddenberry, wife of 'Star Trek' creator, dies |work = [[Los Angeles Times]] |date = December 19, 2008 |access-date = December 28, 2019 |archive-date = November 18, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201118040225/https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-roddenberry19-2008dec19-story.html |url-status = live }}</ref> and, curiously, CBS Studios<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.startrek.com/article/remembering-majel-barrett-roddenberry |title = Remembering Majel Barrett-Roddenberry |publisher = [[CBS|CBS Studios]] |date = February 23, 2011 |access-date = December 28, 2019 |archive-date = December 28, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191228041444/https://www.startrek.com/article/remembering-majel-barrett-roddenberry |url-status = live }}</ref>).}}
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1932|2|23}}
| death_place   = [[Bel Air, Los Angeles|Bel Air]], California, U.S.
| death_date    = {{nowrap|{{death date and age|2008|12|18|1932|2|23}}}}
| alma_mater    = [[University of Miami]]
| credits       = [[Christine Chapel]], [[Lwaxana Troi]], and voice of ship's computer in the ''[[Star Trek]]'' franchise
| other_names   = M. Leigh Hudec
| occupation    = Actress
| spouse        = {{marriage|[[Gene Roddenberry]]|1969|1991|end=died}}
| children      = [[Rod Roddenberry]]
| years_active  = 1957–2008
| signature     = File:Majel Barrett Signature.svg
}}

'''Majel Barrett-Roddenberry''' ({{IPAc-en|'|m|eɪ|dʒ|əl}} {{respell|MAY|jəl}}; born '''Majel Leigh Hudec''';<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{cite news |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/3884543/Majel-Barrett-Roddenberry.html |title = Majel Barrett Roddenberry: Actress who found fame as the 'First Lady of Star Trek' |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180617170626/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/3884543/Majel-Barrett-Roddenberry.html |archive-date = June 17, 2018 |work = [[The Daily Telegraph]] |location = London |date = December 21, 2008 }}</ref> February 23, 1932 – December 18, 2008) was an American actress. She was best known for her roles as various characters in the ''[[Star Trek]]'' franchise: Nurse [[Christine Chapel]] (in the [[Star Trek: The Original Series|original ''Star Trek'' series]], ''[[Star Trek: The Animated Series]]'', and two films of the franchise), [[Number One (Star Trek)|Number One]] (also in the original series), [[Lwaxana Troi]] (on ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' and ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''), and the voice of most onboard computer interfaces throughout the series from 1966 to 2008. 

She married ''[[Star Trek]]'' creator [[Gene Roddenberry]] in 1969. As his wife and given her relationship with ''Star Trek''{{emdash}}participating in some way in every series during her lifetime{{emdash}}she is sometimes referred to as "the [[First Lady]] of ''Star Trek''.{{-"}}<ref name="telegraph.co.uk"/>

==Early life and education==
Barrett was born in [[Cleveland]], Ohio.{{refn|group=nb|name=Birthplace}} She began taking acting classes as a child. She graduated from [[Shaker Heights High School]] in [[Shaker Heights, Ohio]].<ref name="PlainDealer" /><ref>{{cite web |title = 1950 Shaker Heights High School Yearbook |url = http://www.classmates.com/yearbooks/Shaker-Heights-High-School/159719?page=16 |website = Classmates.com |access-date = July 17, 2014 |archive-date = July 26, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140726214401/http://www.classmates.com/yearbooks/Shaker-Heights-High-School/159719?page=16 |url-status = live |url-access = registration }}</ref> She went to the [[University of Miami]] in [[Coral Gables, Florida]], then had some stage roles and arrived in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]]. Her father, William Hudec, was a Cleveland police officer. He was killed in the line of duty while driving a police ambulance which was struck by an Erie Passenger Train at East 91st Street and Loren Avenue on August 30, 1955.<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.odmp.org/officer/6792-patrolman-william-hudec |title = Patrolman William Hudec |work = Officer Down Memorial Page |access-date = December 6, 2014 |archive-date = December 10, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141210175130/http://www.odmp.org/officer/6792-patrolman-william-hudec |url-status = live }}</ref>  The tragedy occurred while Barrett was touring with an [[off-Broadway]] road company.

==Career==
Barrett was briefly seen in ''[[Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?]]'' (1957) in an ad parody at the beginning of the film, and had roles in a few films, including ''[[Love in a Goldfish Bowl]]'' (1961), ''[[Sylvia (1965 film)|Sylvia]]'' (1965), ''[[A Guide for the Married Man]]'' (1967), and ''[[Track of Thunder]]'' (1967). She worked at the [[Desilu Productions|Desilu Studios]] on several TV shows, including ''[[Bonanza]]'', ''[[The Untouchables (1959 TV series)|The Untouchables]]'', ''[[The Lucy Show]]'', and ''[[The Lieutenant]]'' (produced by Gene Roddenberry). She received training in comedy from [[Lucille Ball]]. In 1960, she played Gwen Rutherford on ''[[Leave It to Beaver]]''.

===''Star Trek''===
In various roles, Barrett participated in every incarnation of the popular [[science fiction]] ''[[Star Trek]]'' [[Media franchise|franchise]] produced during her lifetime, including live-action and animated versions, television and cinema, and nearly all of the time periods in which the various series have been set.

She first appeared in [[Star Trek: The Original Series|''Star Trek'']]'s initial pilot, "[[The Cage (Star Trek: The Original Series)|The Cage]]" (1964), as the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|USS ''Enterprise'']]'s unnamed first officer, "[[Number One (Star Trek)|Number One]]". Barrett was romantically involved with Roddenberry, whose marriage was on the verge of failing at the time, and the idea of having an otherwise unknown woman in a leading role just because she was the producer's girlfriend is said to have infuriated NBC network executives who insisted that Roddenberry recast the role.<ref name=Solow>{{cite book |last1 = Solow |first1 = Herbert F. |last2 = Justman |first2 = Robert H. |name-list-style = amp |year = 1996 |title = Inside Star Trek: The Real Story |location = New York |publisher = Pocket Books |isbn = 0-671-89628-8 |url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780671896287 }}</ref> [[William Shatner]] corroborated this in ''Star Trek Memories'', and added that female viewers at test screenings hated the character as well.<ref>{{cite book |title = Star Trek Memories |author1-link = William Shatner |first1 = William |last1 = Shatner |author2-link = Chris Kreski |first2 = Chris |last2 = Kreski |name-list-style = amp |publisher = HarperCollins |isbn = 0-06-017734-9 |year = 1993 }} Claim made in the chapter on "The Cage".</ref> Shatner said that female viewers felt she was "pushy" and "annoying" and also thought that "Number One shouldn't be trying so hard to fit in with the men."<ref>{{harvp|Shatner|Kreski|1993|p=65}}</ref> Barrett often joked that Roddenberry, given the choice between keeping [[Spock|Mr. Spock]] (whom the network also hated) or the woman character, "kept the Vulcan and married the woman, 'cause he didn't think Leonard [Nimoy] would have it the other way around".<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.totse.com/en/ego/science_fiction/majel.html |title = Bio and interview of Majel Barrett |date = August 25–26, 1990 |work = Creation presents Majel Barrett |access-date = May 31, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090117032203/http://www.totse.com/en/ego/science_fiction/majel.html |archive-date = January 17, 2009 }}</ref>

When Roddenberry was casting for the second ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'' pilot, "[[Where No Man Has Gone Before]]", she changed her last name from Hudec to Barrett{{clarify|she seems to be credited with Barrett on early film recordings of The Cage, so is this correct?|date=October 2025}} and wore a blond wig for the role of nurse [[Christine Chapel]], a frequently recurring character,<ref name="telegraph.co.uk"/> who was introduced in "[[The Naked Time]]", the sixth new episode recorded, and was known for her unrequited affection for the dispassionate Spock. Her first appearance as Chapel in film dailies prompted NBC executive Jerry Stanley to yodel "Well, well—look who's back!"<ref name="Solow"/> 

In an early scene in ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]'', viewers are informed that she has now become Doctor Chapel, a role which she reprised briefly in ''[[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home]]'', as Commander Chapel. Barrett provided several voices for ''[[Star Trek: The Animated Series]]'', including those of Nurse Chapel and a communications officer named [[M'Ress]], an ailuroid officer who served alongside [[Uhura]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last = Mangels |first = Andy |date = Summer 2018 |title = Star Trek: The Animated Series |journal = RetroFan |issue = 1 |pages = 25–37 |publisher = [[TwoMorrows Publishing]] }}</ref>

Barrett returned years later in ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', cast as the outrageously self-assertive, iconoclastic [[Betazoid]] ambassador, [[Lwaxana Troi]], who appeared as a recurring character in the series, often visiting her daughter [[Deanna Troi|Deanna]], the ship's counselor. Her character often vexed the captain of the ''Enterprise'', [[Jean-Luc Picard]], who spurned her amorous advances. She later appeared as Ambassador Troi in several episodes of ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'', where her character developed a strong relationship with [[Odo (Star Trek)|Constable Odo]].

She was the regular voice of the onboard computers of Federation starships for ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'', ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'', and most of the ''Star Trek'' movies. She reprised her role as a shipboard computer's voice in two episodes of the prequel series ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'', thus making her the only actor to have a role in all six televised ''Star Trek'' series produced up to that time. She also lent her voice to various computer games and software related to the franchise. The association of her voice with interactions with computers led to Google's [[Assistant (Google)|Assistant]] project being initially codenamed Google Majel. She made a point of attending a major [[Star Trek convention|''Star Trek'' convention]] each year in an effort to inspire fans and keep the franchise alive.

On December 9, 2008, shortly before her death, Roddenberry Productions announced that she would be providing the voice of the ship's computer again, this time for the [[Star Trek (2009 film)|2009 motion picture reboot]] of ''Star Trek''.<ref>{{cite press release |first1 = Sean |last1 = Rossall |first2 = Alfred |last2 = Hopton |name-list-style = amp |url = http://www.roddenberry.com/MajelBarrettRoddenberryToVoiceEnterpriseComputerInJJAbrams039NewStarTrek.254.news |title = Original ''Star Trek'' Actress Majel Barrett-Roddenberry to Voice Enterprise Computer in J.J. Abrams' New ''Star Trek'' Film |publisher = Roddenberry Productions |date = December 11, 2008 |access-date = December 18, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081220001638/http://www.roddenberry.com/MajelBarrettRoddenberryToVoiceEnterpriseComputerInJJAbrams039NewStarTrek.254.news |archive-date = December 20, 2008 }}</ref>

===Other roles===
{{rquote|right|My mother truly acknowledged and appreciated the fact that ''Star Trek'' fans played a vital role in keeping the Roddenberry dream alive for the past 42 years. It was her love for the fans, and their love in return, that kept her going for so long after my father passed away.|[[Rod Roddenberry|Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry, Jr.]]|<ref>{{Cite news |title = Trek creator's widow dies aged 76 |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7791210.stm |date = 2008-12-19 |publisher = [[BBC News]] |access-date = 2021-12-18 |archive-date = 2021-12-18 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211218202918/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7791210.stm |url-status = live }}</ref>}}

She appeared as Primus Dominic in Roddenberry's 1973 [[post-apocalyptic|postapocalyptic]] TV drama pilot, ''[[Genesis II (film)|Genesis II]]''; as Dr. Bradley in his 1974 television film ''[[The Questor Tapes]]'' and as Lilith the housekeeper in his 1977 TV drama pilot, ''[[Spectre (1977 film)|Spectre]]''. She also appeared in [[Michael Crichton]]'s 1973 sci-fi Western, ''[[Westworld (film)|Westworld]]'' as Miss Carrie, a robot brothel madam; the 1977 [[Stanley Kramer]] thriller ''[[The Domino Principle]]'';<ref>{{cite web |first = Majel |last = Roddenberry |url = http://www.roddenberry.com/corporate-majel-biography |title = Majel Barrett Roddenberry – Biography |publisher = Roddenberry Productions |access-date = December 10, 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111106161712/http://www.roddenberry.com/corporate-majel-biography |archive-date = November 6, 2011 }}</ref> and the 1979 television film ''[[The Man in the Santa Claus Suit]]'' starring [[Fred Astaire]]. Her later film appearances included small roles in ''[[Teresa's Tattoo]]'' (1994) and ''[[Mommy (1995 film)|Mommy]]'' (1995).

After Gene Roddenberry's death, Barrett took material from his archives to bring two of his ideas into production. She was executive producer of ''[[Earth: Final Conflict]]'' (in which she also played the character Dr. Julianne Belman), and ''[[Andromeda (TV series)|Andromeda]]''. She also served as creative director for ''[[Gene Roddenberry's Lost Universe]]'', a [[comic book]] series based on another archival Roddenberry concept.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = Tekno-Comix Debuts First Titles |magazine = [[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue = 63 |publisher = [[Ziff Davis]] |date = October 1994 |page = 232 }}</ref>

In a gesture of goodwill between the creators of the ''Star Trek'' franchise and of ''[[Babylon 5]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.ntua.gr/lurk/countries/co/guide/053.html |title = Point of No Return |work = The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5 |date = October 29, 1996 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090201041445/http://www.ntua.gr/lurk/countries/co/guide/053.html |archive-date = February 1, 2009 }}</ref> she appeared in the ''Babylon 5'' episode "[[Point of No Return (Babylon 5)|Point of No Return]]", as Lady Morella, the psychic widow of the [[Centauri (Babylon 5)|Centauri]] emperor, a role which foreshadowed major plot elements in the series. Parodying her voice work as the computer for the ''Star Trek'' series, Barrett performed as a guest voice on ''[[Family Guy]]'' as the voice of [[Stewie Griffin]]'s ship's computer in the episode "[[Emission Impossible]]".

Barrett's widely recognized voice performance as the ''Star Trek'' computer inspired the [[Amazon Alexa]] interactive [[virtual assistant (artificial intelligence)|virtual assistant]], according to its developer Toni Reid, although Barrett had no direct role in it.<ref name="nyt-alexa">{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/11/style/alexa-amazon-echo.html |title = Alexa, Where Have You Been All My Life? |last = Green |first = Penelope |date = July 11, 2017 |access-date = July 12, 2017 |newspaper = [[The New York Times]] |quote = When Toni Reid and her colleagues at Amazon set out to build the device that is now known as Alexa, they were inspired by the computer that drove the Enterprise on ''Star Trek'' (voiced by Majel Barrett Roddenberry, who played Nurse Chapel on the series and was married to the show's creator). Focusing on cadence and an accent that would suggest 'smart, humble, helpful,' the team tested voices that a diverse population would respond to. 'Our goal was to have Alexa be humanlike,' Ms. Reid said, but why end there? |archive-date = May 15, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200515235523/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/11/style/alexa-amazon-echo.html |url-status = live }}</ref>

===Final voiceover work===
Some of Barrett's final voiceover work was still in post-production, to be released in 2009 after her death, as mentioned in the credits of the 2009 film ''[[Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek]]'', again as the voice of the ''Enterprise'' computer. An animated production called ''[[Hamlet A.D.D.]]'' credited her as Majel Barrett Roddenberry, playing the voiceover role of Queen Robot.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://blogs.voices.com/voxdaily/2009/05/star_trek_computer_voices_majel_barrett_roddenberry.html |title = Voyages of Star Trek Computer Voice Majel Barrett Roddenberry |work = Voices.com |access-date = June 12, 2009 |archive-date = July 17, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110717231308/http://blogs.voices.com/voxdaily/2009/05/star_trek_computer_voices_majel_barrett_roddenberry.html |url-status = live }}</ref>

==Personal life and death==
[[File:Rod and Majel Roddenberry Star Trek Convention Las Vegas 20080814.jpg|thumb|left|Barrett and son Rod in Las Vegas, August 2008]]
In 1969, while scouting locations in Japan for MGM,<ref name=engel139>{{Cite book |last = Engel |first = Joel |year = 1994 |title = Gene Roddenberry: The Myth and the Man Behind Star Trek |publisher = Hyperion |location = New York |isbn = 0-7868-6004-9 |url = https://archive.org/details/generoddenberrym00enge |page = 139 }}</ref> Roddenberry realized that he missed Barrett, and proposed to her by telephone.<ref name=hise53/> [[Herbert Franklin Solow|Herbert F. Solow]] said that Roddenberry traveled to Japan with the intention of marrying Barrett.<ref name=engel139/> Barrett joined Roddenberry in Tokyo, where they were married in a [[Shinto]] ceremony on August 6, 1969.<ref name=alex370>{{Cite book |last = Alexander |first = David |year = 1995 |title = Star Trek Creator: The Authorized Biography of Gene Roddenberry |publisher = Roc |location = New York |isbn = 0-451-45440-5 |url = https://archive.org/details/startrekcreator00davi |page = 370 }}</ref> Roddenberry considered it "sacrilegious" to have an American minister in Japan perform the ceremony.<ref name=hise53/> The wedding was attended by two Shinto priests as well as [[bridesmaid|maids of honor]]. Roddenberry and Barrett both wore [[kimono]]s; on their [[honeymoon]] they toured Japan.<ref name=alex370/> Roddenberry continued to have liaisons with other women, telling his friends that while in Japan, he had an encounter with a masseuse about a week after he was married.<ref name=engel140>{{harvp|Engel|1994|p= 140}}.</ref>

The new marriage was not legally binding, as his divorce from Eileen had not yet been finalized. This was resolved two days after his divorce was complete, and on December 29, a small ceremony was held at their home, followed by a reception for family and friends. Despite that, the couple continued to celebrate August 6 as their wedding anniversary. Roddenberry's young daughter, Dawn, decided to live with him and Barrett<ref>{{harvp|Alexander|1995|p= 372}}.</ref> and the family moved to a new house in [[Beverly Hills, California|Beverly Hills]] in October 1970.<ref>{{harvp|Alexander|1995|p= 377}}.</ref> In February 1974, Barrett and Roddenberry had a son, Eugene Jr., known as [[Rod Roddenberry]].<ref name="hise53">{{Cite book |last = Van Hise |first = James |year = 1992 |title = The Man Who Created Star Trek: Gene Roddenberry |publisher = Pioneer Books |isbn = 1-55698-318-2 |url = https://archive.org/details/manwhocreatedsta00jame |page = 53 }}</ref> They remained married until Gene's death at Barrett's side on October 24, 1991, in [[Santa Monica, California]].<ref>{{harvp|Alexander|1995|p= 7}}.</ref>

After her husband's death, Barrett-Roddenberry commissioned [[Celestis]] to launch her together with Gene on an infinite mission to deepest space.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.spacedaily.com/2006/090126211944.sgyf3ejk.html |title = Ashes of ''Star Trek'' creator and wife rocketing to deep space |work = Space Daily |access-date = March 21, 2019 |date = January 26, 2009 |archive-date = March 21, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190321203207/http://www.spacedaily.com/2006/090126211944.sgyf3ejk.html |url-status = live }}</ref> After putting them on the manifest for NASA's "Sunjammer" mission, the agency cancelled the mission in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/tdm/solarsail/index.html/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120405190251/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/tdm/solarsail/index.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = April 5, 2012 |title = Solar Sail Demonstrator ('Sunjammer') |publisher = National Aeronautic and Space Administration |access-date = March 21, 2019 }}</ref> Celestis rescheduled a launch for 2020, then later rescheduled it for June 2022, the next available commercial mission to deep space.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://enterprise-flight.com/dna/ |title = Enterprise Flight into Deep Space DNA Launch &#124; Celestis® |date = January 12, 2022 |access-date = March 11, 2022 |archive-date = March 13, 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220313170101/https://enterprise-flight.com/dna/ |url-status = live }}</ref> A sample of the couple's cremated remains would be sealed into a specially made capsule designed to withstand space travel. A spacecraft will carry the capsule along with digitized tributes from fans, on Celestis' "Enterprise Flight".<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.celestis.com/star-trek-community/ |title = Star Trek Community |publisher = Celestis.com |access-date = March 21, 2019 |archive-date = March 21, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190321203208/https://www.celestis.com/star-trek-community/ |url-status = live}}</ref> The flight also would contain the ashes of [[Nichelle Nichols]] and [[Douglas Trumbull]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/aug/26/nichelle-nichols-star-trek-ashes-space |title = Nichelle Nichols to become latest Star Trek star to have ashes sent into space |website = [[The Guardian]] |location = London |date = August 26, 2022 }}</ref> The Celestis "Enterprise Flight" was successfully launched from [[Cape Canaveral, Florida]] on January 8, 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.celestis.com/launch-schedule/enterprise-flight/ |title = Enterprise Flight }}</ref>{{fcn|date=September 2024}}

Barrett-Roddenberry died on the morning of December 18, 2008, at her home in [[Bel Air, Los Angeles]], California, as a result of [[leukemia]]. She was 76 years old.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-roddenberry-idUSTRE4BH7FP20081218 |title = Sci-fi icon Majel Barrett Roddenberry dies at 76 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160817050318/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-roddenberry-idUSTRE4BH7FP20081218 |archive-date = August 17, 2016 |publisher = [[Reuters]] |date = December 18, 2008 }}</ref> A public funeral was held on January 4, 2009, in Los Angeles. More than 250 people attended, including [[Nichelle Nichols]], [[George Takei]], [[Walter Koenig]], [[Marina Sirtis]], [[Brent Spiner]], and [[Wil Wheaton]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.ctvnews.ca/l-a-funeral-held-for-actress-majel-roddenberry-1.357210 |title = L.A. funeral held for actress Majel Roddenberry |publisher = [[CTV News]] |access-date = January 5, 2008 |archive-date = October 21, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121021213100/http://www.ctvnews.ca/l-a-funeral-held-for-actress-majel-roddenberry-1.357210 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

==Honors==
Barrett and her husband were honored in 2002 by the [[Space Foundation]] with the Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.spacefoundation.org/news/story.php?id=877 |publisher = Space Foundation |title = Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111004121825/http://www.spacefoundation.org/news/story.php?id=877 |archive-date = October 4, 2011 }}</ref> for their work creating awareness of and enthusiasm for space.

Amazon code-named the project which eventually became [[Amazon Alexa|Alexa]] as "Majel".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/majel-barrett-roddenberry-paved-the-way-alexa-siri-1234716164/ | title=Remembering the 'First Lady of Star Trek' Whose Voice Paved the Way for Alexa and Siri | date=April 12, 2022 }}</ref>

==Filmography==
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" |Notes
|-
| 1957
| ''[[Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?]]''
| Shampoo demonstrator
| Uncredited
|-
| 1958
| ''[[As Young as We Are]]''
| Joyce Goodwin
| 
|-
| 1958
| ''[[The Black Orchid (film)|The Black Orchid]]''
| Luisa
| Uncredited
|-
| 1958
| ''[[The Buccaneer (1958 film)|The Buccaneer]]''
| Townswoman #1
| 
|-
| 1960
| ''[[Leave it to Beaver]]''
| Gwen Rutherford
| 
|-
| 1961
| ''[[Love in a Goldfish Bowl]]'' 
| Alice
| 
|-
| 1961
| ''[[Back Street (1961 film)|Back Street]]''
| Woman at Table 
| Uncredited
|-
| 1963
| ''[[The Quick and the Dead (1963 film)|The Quick and the Dead]]''
| Teresa
| 
|-
| 1965
| ''[[Sylvia (1965 film)|Sylvia]]''
| Anne
| Uncredited
|-
| 1966
| ''[[Made in Paris]]''
| Mrs. David Prentiss
| Uncredited
|-
| 1967
| ''[[A Guide for the Married Man]]''
| Mrs. Fred V.
| 
|-
| 1967
| ''[[Track of Thunder]]''
| Georgia Clark
| 
|-
| 1968
| ''[[Here Come the Brides]]''
| Tessa
| 
|-
| 1973
| ''[[Westworld (film)|Westworld]]''
| Miss Carrie
| 
|-
| 1977
| ''[[The Domino Principle]]''
| Yuloff
|
|-
| 1979
| ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]''
| [[Christine Chapel]]
|
|-
| 1986
| ''[[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home]]''
| Christine Chapel
| 
|-
| 1994
| ''[[Teresa's Tattoo]]''
| Henrietta
| 
|-
| 1994
| ''[[Star Trek Generations]]'' 
| Ship Computer
| Voice role
|-
| 1995
| ''[[Mommy (1995 film)|Mommy]]''
| Mrs. Withers
| 
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Star Trek: First Contact]]''
| Ship Computer
| Voice role
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Star Trek: Insurrection]]''
| Ship Computer
| Voice role
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Star Trek: Nemesis]]''
| Ship Computer
| Voice role
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek]]'' 
| Ship Computer
| Voice role;<br>Posthumous release
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Hamlet A.D.D.]]''
| Queen Robot 
| Voice role;<br>Posthumous release
|-
|}

=== Television ===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" |Notes
|-
| 1959
| ''[[Whirlybirds]]''
| Nurse
| Episode: "The Black Maria"
|-
| 1960
| ''[[Johnny Midnight (TV series)|Johnny Midnight]]''
| Rosemary McCoy
| Episode: "The Villain of the Piece"
|-
| 1960
| ''[[Leave It To Beaver]]''
| Mrs. Rutherford
| Episode: "Beaver and Violet"
|-
| 1961–1962
| ''[[Pete and Gladys]]''
| Dental Assistant
| 2 episodes 
|-
| 1962<br>1966
| ''[[Bonanza]]''
| Belle Ganther<br>Annie Slocum
| Episode: Gift of Water<br>Episode: Three Brides for Hoss
|-
| 1964
| ''[[The Lieutenant]]''
| Ruth Donaldson
| Episode: "In the Highest Tradition"
|-
| 1965
| ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'' "[[The Cage (Star Trek)|The Cage]]"
| [[Number One (Star Trek)|Number One]]
| Original Star Trek-Pilot 
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1966–1969
| rowspan="2" | ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]''
| [[Christine Chapel]]
| 26 episodes 
|-
| Ship Computer
| Voice role; 7 episodes, uncredited 
|-
| 1973
| ''[[Genesis II (film)|Genesis II]]''
| Primus Dominique
| Television film
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1973–1974
| rowspan="2" | ''[[Star Trek: The Animated Series]]''
| Christine Chapel (voice)
| 9 episodes 
|-
| Various characters (voice)
| 22 episodes 
|-
| 1974
| ''[[Planet Earth (film)|Planet Earth]]''
| Yuloff
| Television film
|-
| 1974
| ''[[The F.B.I. (TV series)|The F.B.I.]]''
| Mrs. Derek
| Episode: "The Animal"
|-
| 1974
| ''[[The Questor Tapes]]''
| Dr. Bradley
| Television film
|-
| 1977
| ''[[Spectre (1977 film)|Spectre]]''
| Mrs. Schnaible
| Television film
|-
| 1979
| ''[[The Suicide's Wife]]''
| Clarissa Harmon
| Television film
|-
| 1979
| ''[[The Man in the Santa Claus Suit]]''
| Miss Forsyth
| Television film
|-
| 1987–1993
| rowspan="2" |''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''
| [[Lwaxana Troi]]
| 6 episodes
|-
| 1987–1994
| Ship Computer
| Voice role; 101 episodes, uncredited in early seasons, later credited.
|-1989 Quantum Leap episode Blind Faith Michelle's mama
| rowspan="2" | 1993–1999
| rowspan="2" |''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' 
| Ship/Federation Computer
| Voice role; 30 episodes
|-
| Lwaxana Troi
| 3 episodes 
|-
| 1995–2001
| ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]''
| Ship Computer
| Voice role; 115 episodes
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Babylon 5]]''
| Lady Morella
| Episode: "Point of No Return"
|-
| 1996-1998
| ''[[Spider-Man: The Animated Series]]''
| Anna Watson (voice)
| 17 episodes
|-
| 1997–1999
| ''[[Earth: Final Conflict]]''
| Dr. Julianne Belman
| 11 episodes
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Family Guy]]''
| Ship Computer (voice)
| Episode: "[[Emission Impossible]]"
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]''
| Ship Computer (voice)
| Episodes: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II" & "These Are The Voyages"
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Star Trek: Picard]]''
| Enterprise Computer (voice)
| Archival audio<br />Episode: "Vox" & "Last Generation"; Posthumous release
|}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.roddenberry.com Roddenberry Entertainment website]
{{commons}}

* {{IMDb name|0000854}}
{{Memory Alpha|Majel Barrett-Roddenberry}}
* [http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=121554052 ''AP'' Obituary] in the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''

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{{Gene Roddenberry}}{{Star Trek: The Original Series}}{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrett, Majel}}
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