The Secret Life of Grace Lee Whitney (Janice Rand from Star Trek)

he you uh tried to and because he couldn't he was Furious it got violent and I I'm very fortunate to have gotten out of his office ever wondered what really went down behind the scenes of Star Trek in this video we will uncover the hidden depths of The Secret Life Of Grace Lee Whitney the Beloved actress who brought Janice ran to life in the Star Trek universe in the first season of Star Trek Grace Lee Whitney captivated audiences with her Talent and Charisma but despite the promising start her sudden departure from the show comes with a Twist no one expected however in order to get a better idea of what caused this let's take a look at where it all began who were her parents she was born Maryanne Chase illegitimately in Michigan to parents who weren't married but fate had a different path for her Gordon and GAA Whitney kind Souls adopted her and gave her a new name Grace Elaine Whitney at the age of seven she was told that her parents were not her real parents now young Grace had a curious mind as all children do she asked them who are my real parents to her surprise her parents didn't have all the answers we don't know who your father is they gently confessed your mother gave you up for adoption because your father wouldn't marry her imagine the weight of those words on a tender young heart she later reflected on the moment describing the emotional turmoil she faced from the tender age of seven I knew what it felt like to be rejected she recalled however Grace understood her adoptive parents meant well they thought they were doing what was best for her as Grace Grew Older she discovered a deep passion for music her journey into the world of entertainment began at the tender age of 14 when she stepped into the Limelight as a girl singer on Detroit's WJR radio in her late teens she set off for Chicago ready to chase her dreams there she found herself sharing the stage with Legends like Billy Holiday and Buddy Rich bringing her music to life in the vibrant pulse of nightclubs she even embarked on tours with the renowned Spike Jones and Fred wearing bands spreading her musical magic she adopted the stage name Lee Whitney a moniker that would soon become synonymous with her Artistry but later she decided to add her first name to the mix but Grace's talents didn't end with singing she had a flare for the theater too her journey into acting began with a song and dance portraying Miss Holland alongside the legendary Phil Silvers in the Broadway musical Top Banana she even graced the Silver Screen in the 1954 film adaptation then for her role as Lucy Brown in three peny Opera Grace had to undergo a complete transformation she dyed her hair dark and even put on 20 lb when she stepped onto the stage for the opening of the show her own mother couldn't recognize her that's how committed she was to her craft one of her memorable roles was as a member of an all female band in the Beloved film Some Like It Hot released back in 1959 but that was just the beginning of her Silver Screen Journey she ventured into the West with roles in popular Western shows like Death Valley days and Bonanza she even made her Mark in iconic series like The Rifleman and bewitched and let's not forget her involvement in the pilot of police story where she worked alongside the legendary Jean Roddenberry little did she know this collaboration would pave the way for her biggest role yet yes you guessed it right she got the role in the groundbreaking series Star Trek it was her largest and longest role to date a journey that would define her career in ways she never imag ined but unfortunately it came with its share of challenges her role on Star Trek the iconic series Star Trek was about the crew of the Starship USS Enterprise that embarks on daring missions in the vast expanse of space all set in the 23rd Century at the heart of this epic adventure is Captain James T Kirk a fearless leader who commands the Enterprise with wisdom and courage alongside him are Unforgettable characters like half human half Vulcan science officer Spock Dr McCoy known affectionately as bones and a diverse crew including COV Ura Sulu and the ever reliable Scotty together they Traverse the cosmos encountering strange alien races and exploring Uncharted worlds but amidst the Thrills of space exploration there's one character who leaves a lasting impression Janice Rand Captain Kirk's trusted assistant Grace Lee Whitney brought this character to life in eight memorable episodes of Star Trek earning herself a spot in the annals of television history now Janice rand's story is one of loyalty love and the complexities of human emotion you see She was drawn to Captain Kirk but Kirk being The Honorable man he is had to resist his feelings for her to maintain his authority it wasn't until a transporter mishap split Kirk into two a good and an evil version that things took a dramatic turn in a heart-pounding moment aboard the Enterprise Janice ran finds herself face to face with the darker side of her beloved Captain but she's no Damsel in Distress with courage and determination she fights back leaving her mark on the captain's face as she escapes his grasp throughout this gripping episode Grace Lee Whitney's Talent shines brightly as she brings Janice Ran's inner turmoil to life she was fired from Star Trek now yman Janice ran was meant to be a big part of the show but then she disappeared after just one season now here's a little gossip from behind the scenes about why they wrote her off well Grace said the producers felt there was too much Sizzle between Janice and Captain Kirk they were worried it would steal the spotlight from Kirk's other love interests it's like they wanted Kirk to flirt his way through the Galaxy without any complications Grace Lee Whitney mentioned a scene she did with William Shatner that scared the producers they thought things were heating up too much between them even behind the cameras there were sparks flying there were three women on the show two blondes and one darker skinned woman Nichelle Nichols who played Ura was a stronger character so couldn't be fired but poor Janice they wrote her out After Eight Episodes why well politics one of the blondes had to go the other blonde was engaged to the big boss so Grace had to leave now the official story was that Jean bberry the Creator said it was all about cutbacks but turns out there might have been a darker reason behind Janice's sudden exit darker reason behind her abrupt departure she shared some shocking truths in her Memoir the longest Trek my tour of the Galaxy Grace revealed that she was sexually assaulted by one of The Producers during her time on the show she never named who did it but not long after that awful incident she found herself out of a job apparently they were so embarrassed by what happened that they just didn't want to face her so they wrote her character off the show but you know Grace had a feeling she was on her way out even before they told her she didn't have many lines in the show to begin with but there was this one scene in the episode conscience of the king that spoke volumes she just walked past Shatner handed him a clipboard winked and walked away no words exchanged that was her sign her gut feeling confirming what she already knew deep down Grace felt cheated by the whole experience getting fired like that made her character Janice Rand into somewhat of an underdog it's heartbreaking to hear how her time on the show wasn't the dream she hoped for Star Trek was always dealing with tight budgets and to fit into that Starfleet uniform she resorted to Extreme Measures like starving herself and using amphetamines although they never gave a clear reason for letting her go from the show all of a sudden Grace had a strong feeling it had something to do with the assault and you know what's even worse being written out of Star Trek just stirred up her childhood trauma of being adopted in 2011 she opened up about how it all affected her saying from the age of seven until I got written out of Star Trek I managed to keep going but being turned away from Star Trek and pushed out of the show it really hit me hard she battled with substance abuse the rejection from the show sent her spiraling into a dark place she struggled with alcoholism for many years after that in her book the longest Trek my tour of the Galaxy she wrote I just about killed myself over that rejection I drowned my sorrows in alcohol thinking it would ease the pain she even admitted in a chat with star trek.com in 2011 that she'd turn up to audition smelling of alcohol as the 60s came to a close her acting gigs dried up despite appearing in over a 100 TV shows she only landed four minor roles in the 70s life took a nose dive and she ended up being homeless things reached a tragic low when she was attacked by some men and left for dead but in the darkness she found a glimmer of light thanks to Leonard neoy the guy who played Spock he battled his own demons with addiction and was a guiding star for her with his support she took the brave step to join Alcoholics Anonymous and Tackle her addiction headon finding Faith also lifted her spirits she leaned on God and became a born- again Christian which gave her strength this new found belief became her driving force and she dedicated herself to helping others in similar struggles with addiction and abuse on the other hand as time passed and Star Trek faded from the screen fans were still left wondering about the sudden disappearance of yman Janice Rand even into the early 70s people at conventions couldn't stop asking asking what happened to Yan Janice Rand it seemed like a mystery with no solution in sight not even the former cast members had any concrete answers to offer then a stroke of luck changed everything DeForest Kelly known as bones McCoy on Star Trek crossed paths with Whitney in an unemployment line he shared with her the fans eagerness to uncover her story Whitney gives credit to Kelly for reigniting her passion for acting and that's when the truth came to light it turns out she hadn't been let go because of some coverup regarding the assault the truth was different from what she perceived in a candid interview with star trek.com in 2011 she revealed I was let go from the show but later I found out it was already in the works before the assault happened for years I blamed the assault for everything until about 30 years ago when I got sober facing my ADD forced me to confront the past I had to make amends including talking to people at Paramount even Jee Roddenberry himself looking back Jean Roddenberry the creator of Star Trek realized he made a big mistake by letting her go he admitted that bowing to network pressure to free Captain Kirk from a single love interest by writing off Janice Rand was the dumbest mistake he ever made roddenberry's apology showed just how much of of an impact Whitney's character had on the show Janice Rand had the potential to become a major player in the Star Trek universe eventually she made a comeback to the Star Trek franchise appearing in four of the film spin-offs in the first one Star Trek the motion picture in 1979 she played a transporter Chief but in later films her roles varied from a brief Cameo as woman in cafeteria in Star Trek 3 the Search for Spock in 1984 to portraying Commander Rand of Starfleet command in Star Trek 4 the Voyage Home in 1986 and a Communications officer in Star Trek I 6th the Undiscovered Country in 1991 returning to her role as Janice Rand she inspired countless fans with her resilience and bravery finding out she was already being written out of the show changed her perspective on everything it made it easier for her to return because she didn't have any lingering resentment towards anyone 5 years later to Mark the 30th anniversary of the franchise she made a special appearance in the 1996 Star Trek Voyager episode flashback alongside George Taki Beyond her contributions to Star Trek she continued to make a name for herself in the entertainment industry throughout the 1970s and Beyond in the 1970s she graced our screens and shows like the Bold ones Cannon and heart to heart in 1983 she even shared the screen with the famous Gary Coleman in the kid with the 200 IQ on top of that she made a delightful appearance alongside her Star Trek coars George T Walter kig and Mel Barrett in an episode of diagnosis murder in 1998 it was like a mini reunion for them now let's talk about her talents Beyond acting Whitney also had a passion for music and possessed a remarkable singing voice which she often showcased during her performances back in the 60s and 7s she sang alongside various orchestras and bands including the Lively Keith Williams Orchestra from Jazz to pop she conquered it all and guess what she didn't stop at singing she even tried her hand at songwriting alongside her second husband Jack Dale she penned some catchy Star Trek inspired Tunes they even released a record back in 1976 featuring groovy tracks like disco treken and Starchild Whitney also lent her golden voice to tracks like Charlie X Miri Enemy Within and USS Enterprise capturing the essence of the iconic series fast forward to the late 90s and Whitney was still winning hearts with her melodic voice in 1996 she graced us with the album light at the end of the tunnel followed by the delightful Yan Rand sings in 1999 with each note she sang Whitney showcased not just her talent but her passion for music that touched the hearts of fans she revealed some secrets in her autobiography now Whitney's talents weren't confined to the stage or the recording studio she was also a publisher author she poured her heart into writing her life story which she titled the longest Trek my tour of the Galaxy in this book she shared everything from her struggles with addiction to her adventures in Showbiz including her time on Star Trek and even her stint as the first chicken of the sea mermaid but you know she didn't shy away from sharing some juicy details either she opened up about her romances with Buzz Aldren and harlon Ellison even though she was still married to her second husband at the time speaking of family Whitney had two sons Scott and Jonathan dwick she divorced her first husband in 1966 and married her second husband in 1970 later on she headed to cor gold California to be near her son Jonathan now let's talk about Whitney's Everlasting connection with Star Trek from the 80s onwards she made it a ritual to show up at Star Trek and sci-fi fan Gatherings her final appearance on film as a Star Trek character was in a fanfiction movie called of Gods and Men back in 2007 directed by Tim Russ who was also in the movie it gave Whitney a chance to step back into the shoes of her iconic character Janis Rand even though it wasn't a big budget Hollywood flick it sure made a splash among Star Trek fans and you know what it was a wonderful opportunity for Whitney to reconnect with her character and the incredible fan community that adored the franchise after her role in of Gods and Men she made her last on-screen appearance in a special documentary by William Shatner called the captains back in 2011 now this was something special in this documentary William Shatner who portrayed Captain James T Kirk in the original Star Trek series embarked on a journey to interview all the actors who played captains in Star Trek and Whitney was one of them Whitney's participation in the documentary offered fans a heartfelt glimpse into her life and career showcasing her enduring connection to the Star Trek Legacy and her contributions to the iconic science fiction Universe fans never left her side now even though Grace's time on the original Trek might have been shorter than some hoped she found something truly special love and support from the fans in 2013 Grace mentioned in an interview I shared with the fans that I was battling alcoholism and they applauded when I revealed my commitment to a higher power they cheered again I'm in a wonderful place now because I've gone full circle a journey of recovery from alcoholism LED Whitney to extend her helping hand to others especially in women's prisons and through the Salvation Army in the final Decades of her life Whitney became an engaging and charismatic public speaker of invited to events to share her experiences and insights she used her platform to inspire others and to promote messages of resilience hope and empowerment Beyond her role as a heroic figure on screen Grace Lee Whitney was a hero in the real world according to her son Jonathan DW she wished to be remembered most for her efforts in battling substance abuse she dedicated herself entirely to aiding herself and others in finding sobriety and spiritual guidance out of addiction he shared in 2011 when Star trek.com had an interview with Whitney she painted a happy picture of her life living on a cozy 30 acre spot not far from yosity National Park she became the happiest grandmother she was excited while talking about her family especially her son Jonathan who had built on a home at the end of her land her family including her grandchildren add a spark of joy to her days she said they are going to look after her as she moves through life to her home in heaven but for now she was of Maximum service to them taking them to school and back all while making memories along the way and would you believe it to stay active even at that age she was dancing once a week and hitting the gym three times a week she claimed my life is Happy joyous free sober and saved and a lot of fun too I have a lot of fun but as life goes Whitney passed away peacefully at her home in cors gold on May 1 ver 2015 surrounded by the love she'd sown throughout her life she was 85 a testament to resilience and strength her journey was like a beacon guiding others going through difficult times and even though she's left this world her Legacy lives on a reminder of the power of love and laughter so what aspects of her story surprised you the most share your thoughts in the comments below and don't forget to hit that subscribe button for more video updates until next time stay tuned

Channel: Golden Rewind

Views: 40,499

Keywords: celebrity, hollywood celebrities, 70s celebrities, 1960s, 1970s, celebrities then vs now, then vs now, how they look now, old hollywood celebrities, golden age, grace lee, grace, lee, whitney, grace lee whitney, janice, rand, janice rand, star trek

Id: 6007peTtReM

Length: 20min 30sec (1230 seconds)

Published: Fri Apr 26 2024