Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, 76

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, widow of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, actress, and voice of the Enterprise's computer ("Working"), has died of leukemia at age 76.

Since the death of Gene Roddenberry, who created "Star Trek," Majel Berrett was recognized as the franchise's "first lady." In the years after he died in 1991, she developed several of his unfinished ideas into new projects, which included two syndicated shows. According to reports, Barrett had been battling leukemia, and died early Thursday morning with her son, Eugene, by her side.

Barrett first appeared in "Star Trek"'s first pilot which aired in 1964. Her role as the Enterprise's first officer (referred to simply as "Number One") did not go well with NBC execs, and was later changed. When the series was retooled, Barrett eventually returned in a new role as the blonde Nurse Chapel.

Fans of the series may best know Majel as the Spock-smitten Nurse Chapel, but it was her return to Star Trek: The Next Generation as the bawdy and flamboyant Lwaxana Troi that most endeared her to me. "You poor dear! Don't they ever let you change those colorless uniforms?" Barrett-Roddenberry's final performance will be in the upcoming Star Trek movie to be released in 2009.