GATES MCFADDEN
Name: Cheryl Gates McFadden
Born: 2 March 1949 Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, United States
Cheryl Gates McFadden (born March 2, 1949, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), 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.
McFadden also appeared in the made-for-television movie Crowned and Dangerous
with Yasmine Bleeth in 1997.
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 many 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.
At the Dallas Comic Con, 2006.
Photo by Corey Bond.
From the third season on, Crusher was still under-used, but the character was
mellowed slightly. McFadden remained vocal about her disappointing screen time,
especially during TNG movies. McFadden also directed the TNG episode "Genesis"
and choreographed the dance routine in "Data's Day". In interviews, she
expressed disappointment over not being given the opportunity to direct more
episodes despite her requests.
In the spring of 2006, McFadden appeared in a series of television commercials
for Microsoft.
She has taught at several universities and is currently listed as an adjunct
faculty member in the School of Theater at the University of Southern California.
Name: Cheryl Gates McFadden
Born: 2 March 1949 Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, United States
Cheryl Gates McFadden (born March 2, 1949, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), 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.
McFadden also appeared in the made-for-television movie Crowned and Dangerous
with Yasmine Bleeth in 1997.
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 many 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.
At the Dallas Comic Con, 2006.
Photo by Corey Bond.
From the third season on, Crusher was still under-used, but the character was
mellowed slightly. McFadden remained vocal about her disappointing screen time,
especially during TNG movies. McFadden also directed the TNG episode "Genesis"
and choreographed the dance routine in "Data's Day". In interviews, she
expressed disappointment over not being given the opportunity to direct more
episodes despite her requests.
In the spring of 2006, McFadden appeared in a series of television commercials
for Microsoft.
She has taught at several universities and is currently listed as an adjunct
faculty member in the School of Theater at the University of Southern California.