'Star Trek' actress passes away

Grace Lee Whitney, popular for her character, as Yeoman Janice Rand, Captain Kirk's assistant on the original series of Star Trek, has died at the age of 85.

Whitney played Janice in the first eight episodes, she also reprised her role in subsequent 'Star Trek' films and an episode of 'Star Trek: Voyager' in 1996.

According to several reports, the actress and vocalist died of natural causes at her home in Coarsegold, California on May 1.

The actress who was a recovering alcoholic, spent 35 years helping others with addiction problems.