Acting
Gates McFadden
Cheryl Gates McFadden (born March 2, 1949) is an American actress and choreographer. She is best known for portraying the character of Dr. Beverly Crusher in the television and film series Star Trek: The Next Generation. She attended Brandeis University earning B.A Cum Laude in Theater Arts. After graduating from Brandeis, she moved to Paris and studied theater with actor Jacques LeCoq. Before Star Trek: The Next Generation, she was mostly known as a choreographer, often working on Jim Henson productions including the films The Dark Crystal, for which she was a choreographer, Labyrinth, for which she served as Director of Choreography and Puppet Movement, and The Muppets Take Manhattan, in which she has a brief on-screen appearance. As a way of distinguishing her acting work from her choreography, she is usually credited as "Gates McFadden" as an actress and "Cheryl McFadden" as a choreographer. She appeared briefly in the Woody Allen film Stardust Memories, and in The Hunt for Red October as Jack Ryan's wife Cathy, though most of her scenes were cut in post-production. In 1987, McFadden was cast as Dr. Beverly Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation. The Crusher character was slated to be Captain Jean-Luc Picard's love interest, and this aspect of the character is what attracted McFadden to the role. Another important aspect of the character was being a widow balancing motherhood and a career. McFadden left after the first season, in part because series executive producer Gene Roddenberry was never enthusiastic about casting McFadden in the first place. Roddenberry also wanted to give the role of ship's doctor to actress Diana Muldaur, with whom he had worked on the original Star Trek series and other occasions. Muldaur's character, Dr. Katherine Pulaski, proved very unpopular with fans and left the show after the second season. McFadden was approached to return for the third season. At first she was hesitant, but after a phone call from co-star Patrick Stewart, McFadden was persuaded to reprise her role.
Filmography
The Sixty Year Mission: How Star Trek Changed Television and the World
Film · 2026
The Center Seat II: 60 Years of Star Trek
Series · 2026
X-Men '97
Series · 2024
Masters of the Universe: Revolution
Series · 2024
Star Trek: Picard - The IMAX Live Series Finale Event
Film · 2023
Star Trek: very Short Treks
Series · 2023
The Shuttlepod Show
Series · 2022
The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek
Series · 2021
Star Trek: Prodigy
Series · 2021
Star Trek: Prodigy
Series · 2021
Hexengeddon: Witches vs. the World
Film · 2020
Star Trek: Picard
Series · 2020
That Guy... Who Was In That Thing 3: Trek Stars
Film · 2019
The Ready Room
Series · 2019
A Neighbor's Deception
Film · 2017
50 Years of Star Trek
Film · 2016
Mattresside
Film · 2015
Chaos on the Bridge
Film · 2014
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Chain of Command
Film · 2014
Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things...
Film · 2014
Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Best of Both Worlds
Film · 2013
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Unification
Film · 2013
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Redemption
Film · 2013
The Captains Close Up
Series · 2013
Reunification - 25 Years After Star Trek: The Next Generation
Film · 2012
Franklin & Bash
Series · 2011
Make the Yuletide Gay
Film · 2009
Dirty
Film · 2005
NCIS
Series · 2003
Star Trek: Nemesis
Film · 2002
The Division
Series · 2001
Family Guy
Series · 1999
Star Trek: Insurrection
Film · 1998
Crowned and Dangerous
Film · 1997
The Practice
Series · 1997
Star Trek: First Contact
Film · 1996
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
Film · 1996
Marker
Series · 1995
Star Trek: Generations
Film · 1994
Journey's End - The Saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation
Film · 1994
Party of Five
Series · 1994
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Behind the Scenes
Film · 1993
Star Trek: Federation Science
Film · 1992
Mad About You
Series · 1992
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
Film · 1991
Taking Care of Business
Film · 1990
The Hunt for Red October
Film · 1990
Dream On
Series · 1990
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Series · 1987
Inside the Labyrinth
Film · 1986
The Wizard
Series · 1986
The Muppets Take Manhattan
Film · 1984
The Cosby Show
Series · 1984
Saturday Night Live
Series · 1975
Make-Up Man: The Michael Westmore Documentary
Film