GM
Gates McFadden
Actor, Director, ProducerBorn March 2, 1949 (76 years)
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.
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.
Gates McFadden Filmography
| 2024 | X-Men '97 (TV Series) · as Mother Askani (voice) |
| 2024 | Masters of the Universe: Revolution (TV Series) · as Queen Marlena (voice) |
| 2023 | Star Trek: Very Short Treks (TV Series) · as Dr. Crusher (voice) |
| 2021 | Star Trek: Prodigy (TV Series) · as Beverly Crusher (voice) |
| 2020 | Star Trek: Picard (TV Series) · as Dr. Beverly Crusher |
| 2017 | A Neighbor's Deception · as Dr. Constance Abrams |
| 2013 | Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Best of Both Worlds · as Dr. Beverly Crusher (archive Footage) |
| 2011 | Franklin & Bash (TV Series) · as Judge Mallory Jacobs |
| 2009 | Make the Yuletide Gay · as Martha Stanford |
| 2005 | How William Shatner Changed the World · as Doctor Beverly Crusher |
| 2005 | Dirty · as Wife |
| 2003 | The Handler (TV Series) · as Siobhan |
| 2003 | NCIS (TV Series) · as Mrs. Belmont |
| 2002 | Star Trek: Nemesis · as Dr. Beverly Crusher |
| 2001 | The Division (TV Series) · as Mrs. Petersen |
| 1999 | Ultimate Trek: Star Trek's Greatest Moments · as Doctor Beverly Crusher |
| 1999 | Family Guy (TV Series) · as Gates Mcfadden (voice) |
| 1998 | Star Trek: Insurrection · as Doctor Beverly Crusher |
| 1997 | Crowned and Dangerous · as Patrice Baxter |
| 1997 | The Practice (TV Series) · as Judge Emily Harrison |
| 1996 | Star Trek: First Contact · as Commander Beverly Crusher |
| 1995 | Marker (TV Series) · as Kimba |
| 1994 | Star Trek: Generations · as Dr. Beverly Crusher |
| 1994 | Party of Five (TV Series) · as Greer Erikson |
| 1994 | Comic Relief VI · as Dr. Beverly Crusher |
| 1993 | 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine': Behind the Scenes · as Beverly Crusher |
| 1992 | Mad About You (TV Series) · as Allison Rourke |
| 1990 | Taking Care of Business · as Diane Connors |
| 1990 | Dream On (TV Series) · as Ina Dreikoff |
| 1990 | The Hunt for Red October · as Caroline Ryan |
| 1987 | Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) · as Beverly Crusher |
| 1986 | L.A. Law (TV Series) · as Uta Keller |
| 1986 | The Wizard (TV Series) |
| 1985 | When Nature Calls · as Gena ("gena's Story" Trailer) |
| 1984 | The Cosby Show (TV Series) |
| 1984 | The Muppets Take Manhattan · as Mr. Price's Secretary |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live (TV Series) · as Woman In Audience Kissed By Bill Murray (uncredited) |
| 1970 | All My Children (TV Series) · as Dr. Lisa Mallory (1988) |
| 1964 | Another World (TV Series) · as Mrs. Swift |
| 1956 | The Edge of Night (TV Series) · as Tammy Dryden |
| 1987 | Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) |
| 2021 | The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek (TV Series) · as Self / Narrator |
| 2020 | Face to Face with David (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2019 | The Ready Room (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2018 | The Issue Is (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2016 | 50 Years of Star Trek · as Self |
| 2014 | Chaos on the Bridge · as Self |
| 2013 | The Captains Close Up (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2013 | Welcome to Comic-Con! · as Self (in Salute To Star Trek Segment) |
| 2012 | Home & Family (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1997 | The View (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond · as Self |
| 1994 | |
| 1991 | Star Trek 25th Anniversary Special · as Self |
| 1986 | Inside the Labyrinth · as Self |
| 1981 | Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2021 | The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek (TV Series) · as Executive Producer |