Gates McFadden
Known for Acting · 51 credits
- Born
- 1949-03-02 (age 77)
- Place of birth
- Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA
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.
Known For
TV Shows (22)
NCIS
2003
as Mrs. Belmont
Family Guy
1999
as Gates McFadden (voice)
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Woman in audience kissed by Bill Murray (uncredited)
Star Trek: The Next Generation
1987
as Beverly Crusher
The Practice
1997
as Judge Emily Harrison
The Cosby Show
1984
Mad About You
1992
as Allison Rourke
Franklin & Bash
2011
as Judge Mallory Jacobs
Party of Five
1994
as Greer Erikson
The Division
2001
as Mrs. Petersen
Star Trek: Picard
2020
as Dr. Beverly Crusher
X-Men '97
2024
as Mother Askani (voice)
Star Trek: Prodigy
2021
as Dr. Beverly Crusher (voice)
The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek
2021
as Self / Narrator
Dream On
1990
as Ina Dreikoff
The Ready Room
2019
as Self
Masters of the Universe: Revolution
2024
as Queen Marlena (voice)
The Shuttlepod Show
2022
as Self
Marker
1995
as Kimba
The Wizard
1986
Star Trek: very Short Treks
2023
as Dr. Crusher (voice)
The Captains Close Up
2013
as Self
Movies (29)
The Hunt for Red October
1990
as Caroline Ryan
Star Trek: Nemesis
2002
as Dr. Beverly Crusher
Star Trek: First Contact
1996
as Commander Beverly Crusher
Star Trek: Insurrection
1998
as Doctor Beverly Crusher
Star Trek: Generations
1994
as Dr. Beverly Crusher
50 Years of Star Trek
2016
as Self
Taking Care of Business
1990
as Diane Connors
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
1996
as Self
The Muppets Take Manhattan
1984
as Mr. Price's Secretary
Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Best of Both Worlds
2013
as Dr. Beverly Crusher (archive footage)
Dirty
2005
as Wife
That Guy... Who Was In That Thing 3: Trek Stars
2019
as Self & Narrator
Journey's End - The Saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation
1994
as Self
Star Trek: Picard - The IMAX Live Series Finale Event
2023
as Dr. Beverly Crusher
Mattresside
2015
as Nurse
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Behind the Scenes
1993
as Beverly Crusher
Reunification - 25 Years After Star Trek: The Next Generation
2012
as Self
A Neighbor's Deception
2017
as Dr. Constance Abrams
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
1991
as Self
Crowned and Dangerous
1997
as Patrice Baxter
Inside the Labyrinth
1986
as Self
Make the Yuletide Gay
2009
as Martha Stanford
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Unification
2013
Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things...
2014
as Dr. Beverly Crusher
Chaos on the Bridge
2014
as Self
Hexengeddon: Witches vs. the World
2020
as Madame Hexxina
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Chain of Command
2014
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Redemption
2013
as Doctor Beverly Crusher
Star Trek: Federation Science
1992
About 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, f… With 51 credits spanning from 1975 to 2024, Gates McFadden has appeared in 29 films and 22 TV shows.
Fans searching for Gates McFadden movies, Gates McFadden filmography, or the latest projects starring Gates McFadden can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Gates McFadden Movies
- The Hunt for Red October (1990) — as Caroline Ryan
- Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) — as Dr. Beverly Crusher
- Star Trek: First Contact (1996) — as Commander Beverly Crusher
- Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) — as Doctor Beverly Crusher
- Star Trek: Generations (1994) — as Dr. Beverly Crusher
Where to Watch Gates McFadden Films
Most Gates McFadden movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Gates McFadden, check our movies catalogue and browse page.