Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Majel Roddenberry Dies At 76

Posted by timothy on from the her-voice-prints-will-live-on dept.

unassimilatible writes "If there was ever a sad day for nerds, it's today, as Majel Barrett-Rodenberry has passed away. The widow of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry is best remembered as the gorgeous Nurse Christine Chapel from the original series, the pesky and officious Lwaxana Troi from The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, and of course the ubiquitous voice of Star Trek computers in movies, TV, and animated films (who hasn't used her voice as a system sound on their PC?). Majel also attended Star Trek conventions yearly and was a producer of Andromeda. Fortunately, Majel just finished her voice over work for the computers in J.J. Abrams' latest Trek movie. I have to admit, this made me sad, just having caught up on the entire TNG and DS9 series on DVD."

16 of 356 comments (clear)

  1. Who will replace her? by iSzabo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Her voice was unique - ironically I don't think a digital voice would do the computer justice, and posers ain't cool. :(

    1. Re:Who will replace her? by Matt+Perry · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Who will replace her?

      Sound Forge and a dialogue editor. There is enough of her computer dialog from all the trek episodes and movies that an editor could splice together a variety of sentences without much effort.

      --
      Slashdot: Failed Car Analogies. Amateur Lawyering. Anecdote Battles.
    2. Re:Who will replace her? by Tekoneiric · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I'm suprised she didn't market her voice to the electronics industry for products like GPS devices.

      --
      *It's not what you can do for the Dark Side but what the Dark Side can do for you!*
  2. Number One! by Bieeanda · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Let's not forget that she was cast as the first officer in the original Star Trek pilot episode too.

    1. Re:Number One! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Little known fact... Had the original Star Trek pilot cast gone to series and into a second season, she like Jonathan Frakes would've grown a beard.

    2. Re:Number One! by profplump · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Guys, we all need to stop eating and switch to IV-delivered glucose. Poop is gross, and your digestive tract is mostly unnecessary with modern technology.

      I'm not against a hair styling -- be it head, face, or otherwise -- but to suggest that a standard bit of anatomy is "gross" and must be entirely removed is absurd.

  3. A fitting epitaph by dr_dank · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Computer...

    End program.

    --
    Where does the school board find them and why do they keep sending them to ME?
    1. Re:A fitting epitaph by donig · · Score: 5, Funny

      She's dead, Jim.

  4. "Death is that state... by Azgaard · · Score: 5, Insightful

    in which one exists only in the memory of others." - Natasha Yar

    Thankfully we have DVDs.

    God speed Majel. Say hi to Gene for us.

  5. Re:c'mon ppl,this is really sad,please hold the jo by l0ungeb0y · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Out of respect for the dearly departed, please... DO MAKE ALL THE JOKES YOU CAN THINK OF. Only a self important sourpuss would want people crying over their passing.

    I'm going to do what Scotty would have done: Drink a bottle of something good and bask in the fond memories.

  6. Re:computer voice similarity explained by Chairboy · · Score: 5, Informative

    The Rift by Peter David
    http://startrek.wikia.com/wiki/The_Rift

    I'm a nerd.

  7. Re:May I be the first to say... by Teresita · · Score: 5, Funny

    "She's dead, Jim"

    No, it's "She's dead, get off her Jim!"

  8. Re:c'mon ppl,this is really sad,please hold the jo by M1rth · · Score: 5, Insightful

    No shit.

    The best way to memorialize someone isn't to cry boo-hoo over the fact that they died... but to celebrate what they gave us in their life. I'm sure there are an absolute ton of wonderful stories about her, and if you feel the need to make a joke related to her career... you validate her career and life by doing so.

    "She's dead, Jim." But at the same time the memories of her live on, and all she contributed to our lives will not be soon forgotten.

    Raise a glass and make a toast: to Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, who Boldly Went Where No Woman Had Gone Before starting at the very beginning.

    --
    If you can read this sig, congratulations, you have your glasses on!
  9. Re:Iconic... by cavefrog · · Score: 5, Funny

    "My wife and I were just discussing her the other evening; while watching WALL-E. Feeling sad that pixar didn't cast her as the voice of the ship's computer. Instead we got a vague homage to Alien in Sigourney Weaver."

    Hmm. And Sigourney Weaver played the part of Gwen DeMarco in Galaxy Quest - a person who's job it was to repeat what the computer was saying.

  10. Things like this... by patryn20 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...make you realize just what you take for granted. That voice was the same from day one. Yet it never dawned on me there was a person (and, it turns out, a relatively prominent one) behind that sound. Another talent gone. Another memory created. Another ubiquitous item in our lives that will have to be replaced. The voice will never be the same. Godspeed, Majel.

  11. Re:c'mon ppl,this is really sad,please hold the jo by CharlieG · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's OK if you can't manage it. I remember when Dad passed, some folks had funny stories about Dad (including a time he was arrested that I didn't know about!! - and I was in my 30s when it happened - charges dismissed). I was unable to make the jokes Dad would have appreciated, but I myself appreciated hearing them

    --
    -- 73 de KG2V For the Children - RKBA! "You are what you do when it counts" - the Masso