Last remaining member of Star Trek pilot, Laurel Goodwin, dies

Laurel Goodwin passed away at the age of 79.

Laurel Goodwin, who played the role of Yeoman Colt, on the original pilot episode of Star Trek, “The Cage,”  that also starred Leonard Nimoy, and Majel Barrett, passed away on February 25 as reported by Deadline. The actress was the last remaining cast member of the pilot.

When the first pilot for Star Trek was rejected by NBC, the series was retooled, and Goodwin’s part was eliminated. She later was ranked as one of Star Trek’s Most Beautiful Women and began appearing at conventions in 2005 where she enjoyed a loyal fan following.

Laurel Goodwin began her career with Elvis Presley.

Four years before Goodwin donned the uniform that would make her a part of Star Trek forever, the actress portrayed Laurel Dodge, one of Elvis Presley’s love interests on Girls! Girls! Girls! Goodwin and her husband, producer, Walter Wood (d. 2010), produced the1983 Burt Reynolds-Loni Anderson NASCAR comedy Stroker Ace in 1983, and that was Goodwin’s last work in show business. After losing the role of Yeoman Colt, Goodwin grew tired of the business and left to pursue a career in home health care nursing.

She told Startrek.com in 2016 that she’d had a wonderful life, in many ways, a life that people would give their right arm for despite the ups and downs.

"And you really are everything that you’ve ever done in your life. Even if you mess it up terribly in the end, or mess it up in the beginning, if you mix it all up and you’ve done some good stuff in between, it’s a good life. I’ve had adventure, and a wonderful life, in so many ways, that people would give their right arm for. So how can I not be happy and content? How can I not get a kick out of seeing these people who still think I’m wonderful and beautiful? So many people have come and said, “You’re still beautiful.” True or not true, it’s lovely to hear."

Goodwin is survived by her sister, Maureen Scott, and, according to Scott, a multitude of friends and relatives from around the world.