Site Revisions Underway Some Features May Not Work
Photo of Gates McFadden

Gates McFadden

Acting 77 years old Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA ★ 0.8
Born: March 2, 1949

Biography

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

Acting Credits (52)

X-Men '97
X-Men '97 Mother Askani (voice) 2024
Masters of the Universe: Revolution
Masters of the Universe: Revolution Queen Marlena (voice) 2024
Star Trek: very Short Treks
Star Trek: very Short Treks Dr. Crusher (voice) 2023
Star Trek: Picard - The IMAX Live Series Finale Event
Star Trek: Picard - The IMAX Live Series Finale Event Dr. Beverly Crusher 2023
The Shuttlepod Show
The Shuttlepod Show Self 2022
The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek
The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek Self / Narrator 2021
Star Trek: Prodigy
Star Trek: Prodigy Dr. Beverly Crusher (voice) 2021
Star Trek: Prodigy
Star Trek: Prodigy Beverly Crusher (voice) 2021
Hexengeddon: Witches vs. the World
Hexengeddon: Witches vs. the World Madame Hexxina 2020
Star Trek: Picard
Star Trek: Picard Dr. Beverly Crusher 2020
That Guy... Who Was In That Thing 3: Trek Stars
That Guy... Who Was In That Thing 3: Trek Stars Self & Narrator 2019
The Ready Room
The Ready Room Self 2019
A Neighbor's Deception
A Neighbor's Deception Dr. Constance Abrams 2017
50 Years of Star Trek
50 Years of Star Trek Self 2016
Mattresside
Mattresside Nurse 2015
Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things...
Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things... Dr. Beverly Crusher 2014
Chaos on the Bridge
Chaos on the Bridge Self 2014
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Chain of Command
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Chain of Command 2014
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Unification
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Unification 2013
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Redemption
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Redemption Doctor Beverly Crusher 2013
The Captains Close Up
The Captains Close Up Self 2013
Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Best of Both Worlds
Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Best of Both Worlds Dr. Beverly Crusher (archive footage) 2013
Reunification - 25 Years After Star Trek: The Next Generation
Reunification - 25 Years After Star Trek: The Next Generation Self 2012
Franklin & Bash
Franklin & Bash Judge Mallory Jacobs 2011
Make the Yuletide Gay
Make the Yuletide Gay Martha Stanford 2009
Dirty
Dirty Wife 2005
NCIS
NCIS Mrs. Belmont 2003
Star Trek: Nemesis
Star Trek: Nemesis Dr. Beverly Crusher 2002
The Division
The Division Mrs. Petersen 2001
Family Guy
Family Guy Gates McFadden (voice) 1999
Star Trek: Insurrection
Star Trek: Insurrection Doctor Beverly Crusher 1998
The Practice
The Practice Judge Emily Harrison 1997
Crowned and Dangerous
Crowned and Dangerous Patrice Baxter 1997
Star Trek: First Contact
Star Trek: First Contact Commander Beverly Crusher 1996
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond Self 1996
Marker
Marker Kimba 1995
Star Trek: Generations
Star Trek: Generations Dr. Beverly Crusher 1994
Party of Five
Party of Five Greer Erikson 1994
Journey's End - The Saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation
Journey's End - The Saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation Self 1994
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Behind the Scenes
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Behind the Scenes Beverly Crusher 1993
Mad About You
Mad About You Allison Rourke 1992
Star Trek: Federation Science
Star Trek: Federation Science 1992
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special Self 1991
Taking Care of Business
Taking Care of Business Diane Connors 1990
Dream On
Dream On Ina Dreikoff 1990
The Hunt for Red October
The Hunt for Red October Caroline Ryan 1990
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation Beverly Crusher 1987
Inside the Labyrinth
Inside the Labyrinth Self 1986
The Wizard
The Wizard 1986
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show 1984
The Muppets Take Manhattan
The Muppets Take Manhattan Mr. Price's Secretary 1984
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live Woman in audience kissed by Bill Murray (uncredited) 1975

Powered by

TMDB
× Person photo
Back to Person Search