SciFi.Radio regrets to confirm the death of Star Trek’s Laurel Goodwin on February 25, 2022 in Cathedral City, California. She was 79.
Laural Goodwin is memorable in her role as Captain Christopher Pike’s personal yeoman in the original pilot for Star Trek: the Original Series, “The Menagarie”. Her character was abducted by the Talosians, who described her as having “youth and strength as well as unusually strong female drives.” Laurel Goodwin was the last surviving member of the Cast of “The Menagerie” or “The Cage.” Her death is the end of an era.
Goodwin would have been part of the second pilot had Hunter stuck with the series; it was when he exited that NBC chose to keep Nimoy and drop Goodwin, while Barrett ended up with the role of Nurse Chapel. And so Goodwin was very, very nearly along for the ride and, in her own way, she still has been part of Trek’s trek. A fan favorite at Star Trek and science fiction conventions, Ms. Goodwin did the convention circuit for years, as a much beloved part of the Star Trek phenomenon.
Laurel D. Goodwin was born in Wichita, Kansas, on August 11, 1942. A child model, her acting career only lasted from 1962-1978. She signed her contract with Paramount at the tender age of 19. She made her silver screen debut as Laurel Dodge, in the Elvis Presley movie Girls, Girls Girls! (1972).
She intended to retire from acting in 1971 after appearingin The Partners, but she came back for one mini-series in 1978. Otherwise, she applied herself to a career in home nursing. She married producer Walter Wood in 1971, When her husband became iil in 2008, she devoted herself to nursing him until his death in 2010.
Farewll, Yeoman J. M. Colt. You will be missed … and remembered, May your soul fly among the stars.
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Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress #30”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.
