Nichelle Nichols is best known for portraying the fictional character Uhura in the original “Star Trek” series in the 1960s. Now at 87 years old, the actress, who is reportedly suffering from dementia, has found herself involved in a legal battle with her manager, Gilbert Bell, according to IndieWire. Bell faces accusations of taking advantage of Nichols — to include financial abuse, intentional/negligent infliction of emotional distress and constructive fraud.
More specifically Bell allegedly forced Nichols to give him a “sweetheart deal” for the guest house he lives in, charging just $300 a month for the building that could rent for as high as $3,500 monthly. However, Bell, who is in his ’80s, claimed that Nichols wanted him to live rent-free on the property that he helped maintain and that it was Bell himself who insisted they draw up a lease once the arrangement became permanent.
According to the media outlet, the suit claims that Bell “exerted his undue influence and took control over Ms. Nichols’ assets and personal affairs” beginning in 2010, around the time that the actress started displaying “mental instability and poor judgment.” Per the report, Nichols was diagnosed with dementia and short-term memory loss in 2013. After suffering a stroke in 2015, the star began needing round-the-clock care.
Bell was apparently assigned with the task of managing the actress’s personal and business affairs while she resided at her San Fernando Valley property since 2012. Shortly after, Bell was named as power of attorney for Nichols.
The most recent court action came earlier this month, when Kyle Johnson, Nichols’ son, filed a cross-complaint against Bell. The complaint was in response to an original lawsuit filed in 2019 by Bell against Johnson, where the manager alleges that it was instead Johnson’s actions that had been harming Nichols — while he maintained he has always had the actress’s best interest in mind.
In the original suit, Bell claimed that “Johnson is trying to have Ms. Nichols and Mr. Bell removed from the adjoining properties so that he may sell it. He wishes to have her placed in an assisted care facility, against her express wishes.” Furthermore, Bell alleged that since Johnson took a more prominent role in his mother’s care after firing her caregiver, personal assistant, and physical therapists. Bell also claimed that Nichols had “repeatedly voiced concerns” that she didn’t want Johnson to be responsible for her affairs.
The ongoing legal battle has spanned over a decade and has led Nichols’ family to start a GoFundMe account to help raise money for the star’s legal fees.
“As a fan and admirer of Nichelle, we ask for your support by donating towards the accumulated and ongoing legal fees to defend her and ensure the continuing conservatorship by her son, Kyle,” the fundraising page reads. “These funds are necessary for defending Nichelle from Gilbert Bell’s baseless but damaging suit, our counter-suit and associated expenses of discovery, trial, etc., and to recover all or some of what he has stolen and mitigate the damage he has inflicted upon her. We appeal to your generosity and appreciate your support in any amount.” According to the National Council on Aging, “approximately 1 in 10 Americans aged 60-plus have experienced some form of elder abuse.”
Johnson has denied Bell’s accusations, and, in turn, Bell has not yet responded in court to Johnson’s allegations. Neither party involved has spoken publicly on the matter.
