A shame about Yeoman Rand (Grace Lee Whitney)

[AJBryant]

I've always sort of half wanted to know out of nosiness, half didn't, out of decency's sake. I assume if it was GR (whom you're leaning us to), that wouldn't have remained "unsaid" over all the years. It's always sounded more like a Desilu exec. I watched a few eps of MadMen - very depressing - and if its depiction is near accurate, executives' treating women like crap was pretty epidemic. I hope Ms. Whitney is doing well

My point was, we *knew* GR was already boinking Majel *and* Nichelle. What would have been the deal about boinking the only *other* female regular cast member, too?

I don't think it was Roddenberry, mainly because that really wasn't his style; he was more of a charm-the-pants-off-of-'em type.

You've never read Susan Sackett's autobiography, have you? I actually wanted to take a shower after reading her description of how GR came on to her.


T.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

My point was, we *knew* GR was already boinking Majel *and* Nichelle. What would have been the deal about boinking the only *other* female regular cast member, too?

We're not discussing consensual sex, which GR had quite a lot of. We're talking about a single instance of sexual assault.

There's at least a passing intimation in "Inside Star Trek," Solow and Justman's book, that Roddenberry had a dalliance with Whitney prior to her casting as Rand...same as with Nichols. He was also interested in the woman who played the "yeoman" in "Where No Man Has Gone Before" but Solow and Justman didn't think that panned out for him.

 

[Kelso]

He was also interested in the woman who played the "yeoman" in "Where No Man Has Gone Before"

Who can blame him?

 

[ClayinCA]

It was nice some years later to hear that Nimoy had been a support to her in what was by all accounts a horrible time.

she'd just filmed her ST III cameo, and had attended the wrap party, and she was very grateful to Nimoy for his ongoing support in her battles.

Seriously, how cool is Leonard Nimoy? I've also read about the way he stuck up for Nichelle Nichols and George Takei when Roddenberry and the network tried to do the animated series without them, and the way he helped Shatner to deal with this wife's alcoholism. Nimoy's a class act, and no mistake.

 

[Vance]

But, ya know, given what all we've come to know about Trek and bedtime relationships, most people have already pretty much figured out who it must have been. (At least, the logic in their -- our -- minds is supported by the known personality traits of the dude involved.)

The person has been traced down before, and it wasn't Roddenberry. Roddenberry's sin, in this case, was that he didn't go to bat for Grace Lee Whitney, and instead towed the line (largely to protect his OWN behavior).

Definitely a sad chapter in Trek's history.

 

[Gary7]

Nimoy was the ultimate Spock. So much of Nimoy's spirit went into that character... I'm not surprised to hear how supportive he was of the rest of the cast.

 

[steevo]

It was nice some years later to hear that Nimoy had been a support to her in what was by all accounts a horrible time.

she'd just filmed her ST III cameo, and had attended the wrap party, and she was very grateful to Nimoy for his ongoing support in her battles.

Seriously, how cool is Leonard Nimoy? I've also read about the way he stuck up for Nichelle Nichols and George Takei when Roddenberry and the network tried to do the animated series without them, and the way he helped Shatner to deal with this wife's alcoholism. Nimoy's a class act, and no mistake.

Amen to that. Nimoy was always a stand up guy for all of his castmates.

As for Grace, it's amazing and inspirational how she was able to turn her life around. I met her at Fan Con a few years back and she was amazing. God bless her.

 

[Kirk here]

The person has been traced down before, and it wasn't Roddenberry. Roddenberry's sin, in this case, was that he didn't go to bat for Grace Lee Whitney, and instead towed the line (largely to protect his OWN behavior).

Definitely a sad chapter in Trek's history.

Okay, I'll commit the faux paus and ask: *Who* was it that was "traced down". I haven't read any of the biographies, histories, etc. (none since TMoST, TTWT, and STL! back in the mid-seventies anyway) but I've read bits and pieces, here and there, and I have no clues to put together.

I tried to PM you about this, but I'm too much of a newb to have the privilege.

 

[Rush Limborg]

Therin of Andor, thanks for sharing your experiences with Grace. Really touching to hear how you contributed towards her support. And great to learn about how she was able to turn her life around.

I second that! As one of my personal heroes would say, you're a Great American!

And so is Grace.

 

[Rush Limborg]

Seriously, how cool is Leonard Nimoy? I've also read about the way he stuck up for Nichelle Nichols and George Takei when Roddenberry and the network tried to do the animated series without them, and the way he helped Shatner to deal with this wife's alcoholism.
Nimoy's a class act, and no mistake.[\QUOTE]

Amen to that. Nimoy was always a stand up guy for all of his castmates.

As for Grace, it's amazing and inspirational how she was able to turn her life around. I met her at Fan Con a few years back and she was amazing. God bless her.

Very inspiring indeed. Very personal and moving.

 

[Cakes488]

I'd like to know the truth of the rumor that her problems were caused by sexual harassment on the show; i.e., that if she didn't put out, things would go badly for her.

I've read several places she was sexually assaulted by an executive with the studio she refuses to name.

I'm afraid these incidents were far too common in network tv and the studios. The ole' casting couch....

 

[Therin of Andor]

The person has been traced down before, and it wasn't Roddenberry. Roddenberry's sin, in this case, was that he didn't go to bat for Grace Lee Whitney, and instead towed the line (largely to protect his OWN behavior).

Mixed into the incident, of course, was that Grace had been signed to a quite lucrative 13 episode contract. She was paid whether a script needed her or not, IIRC, and the writers weren't finding enough for the character to do, whereas Nichelle and Majel were only paid for the days they worked. Grace also knew that her battles with diet pills, etc, were giving the makeup guys a hard time making her look good.

The assault incident was terrible, yes, but not so unusual in showbiz. Weirdly enough, history repeated itself. When the dismissal of Gates McFadden happened at the end of Season One TNG, the concern leaked to the public was "the character isn't working", but there were similar issues about complaints of delays on the set due to Gates' hair not holding its style long enough under studio lights (hence the wigs in Season Three), and harrassment problems, sometimes called "professional differences".

When this stuff happens, a solution that saves time and money usually wins out, and is easier to defend. The problem is "solved", but not really resolved. Especially not for the poor victim of a workplace incident. And especially in the 60s. Today, hopefully, there are avenues that permit the resolution of grievances without further retribution. In those days, you were simply blackbanned. ("You'll never work in this town again.")