Empire, Hidden Figures Star Taraji P. Henson Honors Late Katherine Johnson

Katherine Johnson, the brilliant NASA mathematician portrayed in the 2016 film by Taraji P. Henson, has died. She was 101 years old at the time and an inspiration to so many.

Katherine Johnson Remembered

NASA announced Johnson’s passing on its Twitter account. “We’re saddened by the passing of celebrated #HiddenFigures mathematician Katherine Johnson. Today, we celebrate her 101 years of life and honor her legacy of excellence that broke down racial and social barriers…”

“Ms. Johnson helped our nation enlarge the frontiers of space even as she made huge strides that also opened doors for women and people of color in the universal human quest to explore space,” said Jim Bridenstein, NASA Administrator, in a statement.

Born on August 16, 1918, in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia, Johnson graduated from West Virginia State College with high honors in 1937. She attended graduate school and worked as a public school teacher before being hired in 1953 by the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory, which is known today as NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

Johnson’s achievements were brought to light in Hidden Figures, which was first a book and then a movie. Hidden Figures tells the story of Johnson and other African American women who were instrumental in helping NASA reach goals in the early years of the space program.

Taraji P. Henson’s Tribute

“Thank you QUEEN #KatherineJohnson for sharing your intelligence, poise, grace and beauty with the world!” posted Henson on Instagram. The actress and the cast of Hidden Figures won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. “Because of your hard work little girls EVERYWHERE can dream as big as the MOON!!!

“Your legacy will live on FORVER AND EVER!!! You ran so we could fly!!! I will forever be honored to have been apart of bringing your story to life. You/your story was hidden and thank GOD you are #hiddennomore🚀 God bless your beautiful family. I am so honored to have sat and broke bread with you all. My thoughts and prayers are with you! #RIHKatherineJohnson #representationmatters.”

Henson and fellow Hidden Figures cast members Octavia Spencer (an Oscar nominee), who played Dorothy Vaughan, and Janelle Monáe, who played Mary Jackson, appeared with Johnson at the 2017 Oscars as presenters. “What a night #oscars2017” Henson posted.

President Barack Obama awarded her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest honor for civilians, in 2015. NASA renamed a building in her home state of West Virginia after Johnson in 2019. Entertainment Hub sends sincere sympathies to Johnson’s family and loved ones at this time.