Majel Barrett facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Majel Barrett
Majel Barrett at a convention in 2006
Born	Majel Leigh Hudec (1932-02-23)February 23, 1932 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Died	December 18, 2008(2008-12-18) (aged 76) Bel Air, California, U.S.
Other names	M. Leigh Hudec
Alma mater	University of Miami
Occupation	Actress, producer, voice actress
Years active	1957–2008
Notable credit(s)	Christine Chapel, Lwaxana Troi, and voice of ship's computer in the Star Trek franchise
Spouse(s)	Gene Roddenberry ​ ​ (m. 1969; died 1991)​
Children	Rod Roddenberry
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Majel Barrett-Roddenberry (born Majel Leigh Hudec; February 23, 1932 – December 18, 2008) was an American actress and producer. She is famous for her many roles in the Star Trek universe. She played Nurse Christine Chapel in the original series and movies. She was also Lwaxana Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Most famously, she was the voice of the computer on almost every Star Trek spaceship from 1966 to 2009. She married Gene Roddenberry, who created Star Trek, in 1969. Because she was his wife and worked on every Star Trek series during her life, people often called her "the First Lady of Star Trek".

Early Life and Acting Start

Majel Barrett was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She started taking acting classes when she was a child. After high school, she went to the University of Miami. Later, she moved to Hollywood to pursue acting. Her father, William Hudec, was a police officer. He died in 1955 while on duty.

Majel appeared in a few movies and TV shows early in her career. These included Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957) and Love in a Goldfish Bowl (1961). She also worked on TV shows like Bonanza and The Lucy Show. She even got comedy training from the famous actress Lucille Ball.

Her Star Trek Journey

Majel Barrett was a part of every Star Trek show and movie made during her lifetime. This included live-action and animated versions.

First Roles in Star Trek

She first appeared in the very first Star Trek pilot episode, "The Cage" (1964). In this episode, she played the first officer of the USS Enterprise, known as "Number One". TV network executives were not happy with a woman in such a main role. They wanted the part to go to a man.

When the second Star Trek pilot was being cast, Majel returned. She changed her last name to Barrett and wore a blonde wig. This time, she played Nurse Christine Chapel. Nurse Chapel was a character who often appeared in the show. She was known for liking Spock, but he didn't feel the same way. Majel also voiced Nurse Chapel in Star Trek: The Animated Series. Later, in the Star Trek movies, her character became Doctor Chapel.

Lwaxana Troi and the Computer Voice

Years later, Majel returned to Star Trek: The Next Generation. She played Lwaxana Troi, a funny and sometimes bossy alien ambassador. Lwaxana was the mother of the ship's counselor, Deanna Troi. She often visited her daughter and sometimes annoyed Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Majel also played Lwaxana Troi in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Majel Barrett is most famous for being the voice of the computer on Star Trek starships. Her voice was heard on the computers in Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager. She also voiced the computer in most of the Star Trek movies. This made her the only actor to be in all six Star Trek TV series made during her life. Her computer voice was so well-known that Google even named an early version of its Assistant project "Google Majel."

Just before she passed away in 2008, Majel recorded the computer voice for the 2009 Star Trek movie. This movie was dedicated to both her and Gene Roddenberry.

Other Acting and Producing Work

Majel also appeared in other TV shows and movies. She was in Westworld (1973) and The Man in the Santa Claus Suit (1979) with Fred Astaire.

After her husband Gene Roddenberry died, Majel helped bring two of his ideas to TV. She was an executive producer for Earth: Final Conflict and Andromeda. She also played Dr. Julianne Belman in Earth: Final Conflict.

Majel also made a guest appearance in the TV show Babylon 5. She played Lady Morella, a psychic character. She also voiced a ship's computer in an episode of Family Guy, making fun of her Star Trek role.

Her Voice on Railroads

Majel Barrett's unique voice was also used in a very different place: on railroads! Her recorded voice was used in special devices called "defect detectors." These devices listen to trains as they pass by. If they find a problem, like an overheated wheel, Majel's voice would announce the problem to the train crew over the radio. Railroad workers sometimes called her the "SP Lady." While newer systems have replaced many of these, her voice can still be heard on some smaller railroad lines today.

Personal Life and Legacy

Majel Barrett and her son Rod in 2008

Majel Barrett married Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry in Japan on August 6, 1969. They later had a small ceremony at their home in California. In 1974, they had a son named Eugene Jr., who is known as Rod Roddenberry. They were married until Gene Roddenberry's death in 1991.

After her husband passed away, Majel wanted their legacy to continue. She arranged for some of their cremated remains to be launched into deep space. This special "Enterprise Flight" will carry their remains, along with messages from fans, on a long journey through space. Other Star Trek actors, like Nichelle Nichols, will also be on this flight.

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry died on December 18, 2008, at her home in California. She was 76 years old and had leukemia. Many friends and fellow actors from Star Trek attended her funeral.

Honors and Awards

In 2002, Majel and Gene Roddenberry were honored by the Space Foundation. They received the Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award. This award recognized their efforts to make people excited about space exploration.

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Majel Barrett para niños