From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Cheryl Gates McFadden (born March 2, 1949), usually credited as Gates McFadden, 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.
Known For
X-Men '97
Mother Askani (voice) · (1 episode)
2024
Masters of the Universe: Revolution
Queen Marlena (voice) · (4 episodes)
2024
Star Trek: very Short Treks
Dr. Crusher (voice) · (1 episode)
2023
Star Trek: Picard - The IMAX Live Series Finale Event
Dr. Beverly Crusher
2023
The Shuttlepod Show
Self · (1 episode)
2022
The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek
Self / Narrator · (10 episodes)
2021
Star Trek: Prodigy
Dr. Beverly Crusher (voice) · (1 episode)
2021
Star Trek: Prodigy
Beverly Crusher (voice) · (2 episodes)
2021
Hexengeddon: Witches vs. the World
Madame Hexxina
2020
Star Trek: Picard
Dr. Beverly Crusher · (10 episodes)
2020
That Guy... Who Was In That Thing 3: Trek Stars
Self & Narrator
2019
The Ready Room
Self · (2 episodes)
2019
A Neighbor's Deception
Dr. Constance Abrams
2017
50 Years of Star Trek
Self
2016
Mattresside
Nurse
2015
Chaos on the Bridge
Self
2014
The Captains Close Up
Self · (1 episode)
2013
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
Self
2012
Honest Trailers
Beverly Crusher (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2012
Franklin & Bash
Judge Mallory Jacobs · (1 episode)
2011
Make the Yuletide Gay
Martha Stanford
2009
Dirty
Wife
2006
Star Trek: Nemesis
Dr. Beverly Crusher
2002
The Division
Mrs. Petersen · (1 episode)
2001
Family Guy
Gates McFadden (voice) · (1 episode)
1999
Star Trek: Insurrection
Doctor Beverly Crusher
1998
The Practice
Judge Emily Harrison · (1 episode)
1997
Crowned and Dangerous
Patrice Baxter
1997
Star Trek: First Contact
Commander Beverly Crusher
1996
Marker
Kimba · (13 episodes)
1995
Star Trek: Generations
Dr. Beverly Crusher
1994
Party of Five
(1 episode)
1994
Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things...
Doctor Beverly Crusher
1994
Journey's End - The Saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation
Self
1994
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Gambit
Dr. Beverly Crusher (archive footage)
1993
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Descent
Beverly Crusher
1993
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Birthright
Beverly Crusher
1993
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Behind the Scenes
Beverly Crusher
1993
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Chain of Command
Dr. Beverly Crusher (archive footage)
1992
Mad About You
Allison Rourke · (4 episodes)
1992
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Time's Arrow
Dr. Beverly Crusher (archive footage)
1992
Star Trek: Federation Science
1992
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Unification
Dr. Beverly Crusher (archive footage)
1991
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
Self
1991
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Redemption
Beverly Crusher (archive footage)
1991
Taking Care of Business
Diane Connors
1990
Dream On
Ina Dreikoff · (1 episode)
1990
The Hunt for Red October
Caroline Ryan
1990
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Beverly Crusher · (154 episodes)
1987
Star Trek: The Next Generation - electronic press kit
Self
1987
Inside the Labyrinth
Self
1986
The Wizard
(1 episode)
1986
The Cosby Show
(1 episode)
1984
The Muppets Take Manhattan
Mr. Price's Secretary
1984
Saturday Night Live
Self - Audience Member (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1975