The family of Grace Lee Whitney, who played Yeoman Janice Rand on Star Trek, has confirmed the actress died over the weekend at the age of 85 in Coarsegold, California
Whitney, a recovering alcoholic, has spent the last 35 years helping others with addiction problems. Her family credits her with having helped thousands of people successfully complete 12-step addiction programs.
“Grace experienced 35 years of sobriety through continuous fellowship with others and through God and Jesus,” her family told NBC News.
Born Mary Ann Chase in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1930, Whitney was raised by an adoptive family. After several years of dancing with big bands, she began auditioning and was eventually cast as Yeoman Rand on Star Trek.
Until recent years, she was a regular at the annual Las Vegas Star Trek Convention.
We here at TrekNews.net offer our condolences to Whitney’s family, friends and fans.
Whitney at the 2011 Las Vegas convention