# RIP Nurse Chapel, Lwaxana Troi, Computer Voice **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 18, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812 "2008-12-18T21:36:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812/61 "2008-12-19T19:15:46Z")
I have been ostensibly introduced to a few Star Trek actors, but Majel is the only one I ever had a (short) conversation with. Of course, it was something of an awkward talk, since the subject was the t-shirt I was wearing with the unlicensed image of the Enterprise, and she wanted to know who she should sue over it. But I did appreciate that she didn’t blame me for buying it, she just blamed the creator and vendor of the item. Since I bought it in the lobby after a lecture by her husband, I’d assumed it was kosher. She was a nice lady and businesswoman. I don’t think most folks remember that she ran Lincoln Enterprises, the company that marketed and licensed all the legally-allowed Star Trek stuff. She kept herself busy between calls from the movie and TV producers. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812/62 "2008-12-19T19:54:04Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I loved the episode of Babylon 5 she appeared in. She was a Centauri woman, one of the three widows of the recently dieceased emperor. > > A prophetess, she told Londo Mollari what he most wanted to hear, that someday he too would be Emperor of Centauri. Then she turned to his aide, Vir Kotto, and said “and so will you!” > > I loved her as Lwaxana Troi “But two people can’t be Emperor at once!” “No. One of you will be Emperor when the other dies.”😃 ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812/63 "2008-12-19T20:06:19Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > “But two people can’t be Emperor at once!” > > “No. One of you will be Emperor when the other dies.”😃 Hmm. It would have been better without pounding the nail on the head so hard, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812/64 "2008-12-19T20:20:45Z")
I thought Lwaxana Troi was a fabulous character - irritating, condescending, amazingly petty, and utterly real. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812/65 "2008-12-19T20:43:58Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > I thought Lwaxana Troi was a fabulous character - irritating, condescending, amazingly petty, and utterly real. But capable of some incredible acts of compassion when a moment of clarity intrudes upon her First Daughter of Betazed bubble. Lwaxana was one of the more three-dimensional characters in the Trek canon, both in TNG and DS9. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812/66 "2008-12-20T01:47:13Z")
> [@zev\_steinhardt](#): > > Personally, I thought that Number One (from The Cage) and Nurse Chapel were blah characters. Lwaxana, however, was a great character. She did a great job with her. I no longer have a link, but I watched an interview with Majel and her son, and her son said of Lwaxana, “That’s Mom.” She was essentially playing herself. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812/67 "2008-12-20T02:05:32Z")
Having had the pleasure of attending college with him (and shamelessly “using” him to rope his mom into coming to our SciFi convention- “Don’t you want to come visit your son?”), I would like to extend my sincere condolences to Rod. I can’t imagine what it must be like to be orphaned in such a… public way, at a reasonably young age (let’s see, he was around 2 years behind me, so he’s in his early 30s). ☹ ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812/68 "2008-12-20T02:29:05Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > “That’s Mom.” It is rumored that he had a Space 1999 lunchbox and didn’t believe his parents had anything to do with Trek. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812/69 "2008-12-20T03:35:25Z")
There was a little jolt for me when I read of Majel Barrett’s passing. My great Star Trek crush as a teen was for Spock, so I related to Nurse Chapel although I did not want her love for Spock to be returned. I’ve always enjoyed the original pilot, with Jeffrey Hunter and Majel as Number One, too. Lwaxana Troi, though, is probably her most memorable Trek character for me. It’s hard to overlook the voice she provided for so many computers down through the years, though! One thing is for certain: she will continue to “live” on through tv and film, in her many characters and voices. RIP, Majel; together again with Gene. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812/70 "2008-12-20T04:20:29Z")
RIP, Majel. You will be sorely missed. Peaceful journey to you. ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812/71 "2008-12-20T07:59:02Z")
Was sorry to hear this. Menage a Troi is one of my favorite Next Gen episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812/72 "2008-12-20T14:17:10Z")
This sucks. I agree that Nurse Chapel wasn’t the most interesting character, but she had her moments (and I always found Barrett surprisingly foxy in that platinum wig). And I agree that she managed to capture how annoying Lwaxana was to those around here without (mostly) making her annoying to the audience. I was very happy when she got included in Enterprise, small as her part was. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812/73 "2008-12-20T18:20:54Z")
What a lady. Her appearances as Lwaxana were always the high point of the season for me. Now when I hear her voice in the next movie, I’m gonna start crying. According to Wikipedia, she is also the voice that alerts Union Pacific train crews to problems. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812/74 "2008-12-20T18:36:57Z")
> [@Dr.Rieux](#): > > According to Wikipedia, she is also the voice that alerts Union Pacific train crews to problems. I can hear her voice in my head, “Warning, hobo on the tracks.” ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812/75 "2008-12-20T22:05:51Z")
The computer’s being rebooted… RIP, Majel ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812/76 "2008-12-20T22:39:02Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > Hmm. It would have been better without pounding the nail on the head so hard, I think. You’re right, but then we wouldn’t have got the scene with Londo and Vir sneaking suspicious looks at each other!😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812/77 "2008-12-23T05:34:33Z")
Another face and voice from my childhood fades away… Perhaps my favorite performance from her was the TOS ‘Return to Tomorrow’, when she reveals Spock’s “consciousness” (katra?) was stored in her. “It was beautiful”, she sighs. So was she. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812/78 "2008-12-23T07:34:31Z")
> [@Achren](#): > > Sad news. I grew up on Star Trek and I’m so used to her being a part of it. I had no idea she was 76 - she’s always seemed an odd mix of ageless/young. > > She died on my birthday. It feels odd, knowing that the two will be associated in my mind now. I know the feeling, if I can be permitted a hijack. Jim Henson and Sammy Davis, Jr., two supremely talented men, both died on my birthday in 1990. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812/79 "2008-12-23T22:45:23Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#): > > Another face and voice from my childhood fades away… > > Perhaps my favorite performance from her was the TOS ‘Return to Tomorrow’, when she reveals Spock’s “consciousness” (katra?) was stored in her. “It was beautiful”, she sighs. > > So was she. They weren’t saying katras then, but I assume it was one & the same. And yes, she was quite lovely in that scene, but she always looked better as a brunette. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-nurse-chapel-lwaxana-troi-computer-voice/477812.md?page=3)