I won’t say I was obsessed with Yeoman Rand as a teenager, but she made enough of an impression on me that I was shocked to learn that she only appeared in eight episodes of Star Trek. I didn’t know that the character was played by Grace Lee Whitney until I saw her obituary. I’m pleased to have an opportunity to learn more about her, but saddened to see that she’ll be remembered in large part for being the victim of a sexual assault by a television executive. It’s encouraging to see that she conquered her alcoholism and maintained more than three decades of sobriety.
I’ll always remember her contribution to Star Trek fondly.
I agree she was wonderful in Star Trek and will be missed.
Quite a filmography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Lee_Whitney I don’t remember her in “Some Like it hot” or “Irma La Douce” at all, but I’ll watch next time TCM puts them on.
Some sadness, some grief, but many friends and, overall, a good life and a good career.
I read her autobiography last month. She discussed how she went off the deep end with alcohol and other addictions, but was able to get clean through religion and support groups. She devoted a tremendous amount of time doing outreach and assisting others with addictions in the last half of her life, often in prisons and poverty stricken areas. Down in the trenches stuff – not a celebrity fly-by. Probably saved many lives doing so.
“Second star to the right, and straight on to morning”
Godspeed Grace.
I agreed what she said and believed that she will do better.http://www.officialraysshop.com/
That’s good to hear and way more impressive and inspiring than becoming a celebrity.