Star Trek: TNG Actors

Patrick Stewart was born on July 13, 1940 in Mirfield, West Yorkshire. Member of various local drama groups from about age 12. Left school at 15 to work as junior reporter on local paper; quit when Editor told him he was spending too much time at the theatre and not enough working. Joined Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966, to begin 27-year association.

In 1987, after attending a Shakespeare Seminar at UCLA, Stewart went to Los Angeles to star as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994), for which he received a 1995 Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for "Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series". From 1994 to 2002, he also portrayed Picard in the movie spin-offs Star Trek Generations (1994), Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Star Trek: Insurrection (1998), and Star Trek Nemesis (2002); and in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's pilot episode "Emissary".

During the first season of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987), he was so convinced that he was going to be fired from the series that he didn't unpack his bags for six weeks.

Stewart and his first wife, Sheila Falconer, have two children: Daniel Freedom and Sophie Alexandra. Stewart and Falconer divorced in 1990. In 1997, he became engaged to Wendy Neuss, one of the producers of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and they married on 25 August 2000, divorcing three years later. Having lived in Los Angeles for many years, Stewart moved back to the UK in 2004. In an interview with the BBC's Gavin Esler, he said this was because he was homesick and because he wanted to return to work in the theatre.

Having lived in Los Angeles for many years, Stewart moved back to the UK in 2004. In an interview with the BBC's Gavin Esler, he said this was because he was homesick and because he wanted to return to work in the theatre. He is the Chancellor and Professor of Performing Arts of the University of Huddersfield

Jonathan Frakes plays Commander William Riker, the U.S.S. Enterprise's executive officer and second-in-command. "Riker's job is to provide Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) with the most efficiently-run ship and the best prepared crew he can," Jonathan explains. "As a result, he maintains a more military bearing than the other characters, despite the fact that salutes and other military protocol no longer exist in the 24th century."

During the third season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Jonathan made his directorial debut with an episode of the series entitled "The Offspring." He so impressed the executive producers with his efforts that he directed a number of episodes in the remaining four seasons as well as episodes of Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Jonathan then had the double duty of acting and directing in his feature film directoral debut in Star Trek: First Contact. Jonathan repeated this effort to much success in Star Trek: Insurrection.

Frakes was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state. He is a 1970 graduate of Bethlehem's Liberty High School, where he ran track and played with the famous Liberty High School Grenadier Band. Frakes married soap opera actress Genie Francis on May 28, 1988. They live in Los Angeles with their son, Jameson (Jamo) Ivor Frakes, born in 1994, and daughter, Elizabeth (Eliza) Francis Frakes, born in 1997.

Jonathan works with The Workshops, The Waterfall Arts Center and The Saltwater Film Society, all located in Maine, where he teaches classes on film direction. He co-owns a home furnishings store with his wife in Belfast, Maine called The Cherished Home.

Brent Spiner, whose primary claim to fame is his portrayal of the beloved android Data on the television series "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987), was born and raised in Houston, Texas. The character of Data possesses super-strength and an incredible memory. He's virtually an encyclopedia, but only in terms of information, not behavior. Data may be totally innocent, but he does possess a sense of question and wonder that allows him to evolve.

During the fourth season hiatus of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Spiner co-produced and released his first album. Entitled "Ol' Yellow Eyes is Back," the album features some of the most popular classic standards ever recorded. Included on the album is the single "It's A Sin To Tell A Lie," which has background vocals provided by the "The Sunspots," more familiar to Star Trek: The Next Generation fans as Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton and Michael Dorn. Spiner returned to the Star Trek fold for a three-episode arc in Enterprise's fourth season playing Dr. Arik Soong.

Spiner was born in Houston, Texas (February 2, 1949), the son of Sylvia and Jack Spiner, who owned a furniture store. Spiner began to appear in popular television series like Night Court, Hill Street Blues, and Cheers. In 1987, Spiner won the role of Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation, a character whose artificial skin he would inhabit for seven seasons and four motion pictures. Spiner co-wrote the final TNG film, Star Trek Nemesis.

In recent years, the actor has split his time between New York and L.A., appearing in a critically-acclaimed Broadway revival of 1776, in films as diverse as Independence Day, The Aviator and Dude, Where's My Car?, and in the television series Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Leverage and Fringe.

Gates McFadden is Chief Medical Officer Dr. Beverly Crusher, in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Crusher has led the medical units aboard the Starship Enterprise of both Galaxy and Sovereign classes. With the rank of commander, she has the ability to relieve her commander, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, if he is deemed medically or psychologically unfit for duty. Her late husband Jack was killed on a mission saving Picard when the men served together on the U.S.S. Stargazer, so her relationship with her current captain is powerfully charged. She also is the mother of Wesley (Wil Wheaton), the Enterprise's brilliant young ensign.

McFadden was born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (March 2, 1949). She attended Brandeis University graduating cum laude with a bachelor of arts in theatre arts. After graduating from Brandeis, she moved to Paris and studied theatre with actor Jacques Lecoq. Before Star Trek: The Next Generation, McFadden often worked for Jim Henson productions, including the films The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth (as Director of Choreography and Puppet Movement), and The Muppets Take Manhattan (choreographer and a brief on-screen appearance). She also starred in the 1995 TV series Marker with Richard Grieco and appeared in the made-for-television movie Crowned and Dangerous with Yasmine Bleeth in 1997. Additional TV work was the role of Allison Rourke, Paul Buchman's boss, in four episodes of the sitcom Mad About You. 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. These days, McFadden has returned to her theatrical roots and serves as artistic director for Ensemble Studio Theatre LA. She recently finished construction on two small side-by-side theater spaces in Atwater Village, north of downtown Los Angeles.

Marina Sirtis is Counselor Deanna Troi, a half-human/half-alien (Betazoid) empath with the ability to read emotions and sense what is happening around her. "Deanna is also a very wise person with extensive knowledge of philosophy, psychology and different religions, and is called on to advise Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) in a variety of situations," says Marina. During the show's fifth season hiatus, Marina ventured into her own new frontier: marriage. A June bride, Marina wed musician Michael Lamper in a traditional Greek ceremony.

Star Trek: The Next Generation's viewers do not hear Marina's English accent, but rather a combination of several different accents that she has devised. "In the 24th century, geographical or nationalistic barriers are not so evident. The Earth as a planet is your country, your nationality. I didn't want anyone to be able to pin down my accent to any particular country, and being good at accents, the producers trusted me to come up with something appropriate," she explains.

Born in London (March 29, 1955) to Greek parents, Sirtis attended the Guild Hall School of Music and Drama. After graduating, she became a member of the Worthing Repertory Theater, where she made her debut as Ophelia in "Hamlet." She went on to appear in the productions of several European theatrical companies, including Coventry Rep's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (in the role of Esmeralda) and in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (as Magenta). Sirtis worked extensively in British television, but won roles in several American films, including The Wicked Lady with Faye Dunaway, Death Wish III opposite Charles Bronson, and Blind Date with Bruce Willis. Hoping to find more work in the U.S., she moved to Los Angeles in 1986, winning a role in Star Trek: The Next Generation the following year.

She is married to rock guitarist Michael Lamper

LeVar Burton plays the blind Lieutenant Geordi La Forge. "He's been blind since birth, but sees through the use of the VISOR (Visual Instrument and Sensory Organ Replacement) he wears over his eyes. In fact, I am told that my character is named after a disabled Star Trek fan who passed away," explains LeVar.

LeVar featured in all four of the TNG films, including the latest, "Star Trek Nemesis." LeVar has also directed several episodes of the modern Star Trek shows, including Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager and Enterprise. LeVar's directing duties on Voyager included starring and directing in the fifth season's - and 100th episode of the show - "Timeless."

Burton was born (February 16, 1957) to American parents at the U.S. Army Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in West Germany. His mother, Erma Jean, was a social worker, administrator, and educator. He attended Christian Brothers High School and graduated in the class of 1974. He is a graduate of University of Southern California's School of Theatre.

Burton has a daughter, born in 1994, with his wife, make-up artist Stephanie Cozart Burton. Burton and his wife and daughter currently live in Sherman Oaks, California. He is an avid poker player and participant in the World Poker Tour. LeVar Burton has also written a book called The Aftermath. He has also done work as a television director.

Michael Dorn portrays Lieutenant Commander Worf, the first Klingon warrior to serve in the Federation Starfleet. After serving seven years on the U.S.S. Enterprise on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Worf was brought to Deep Space Nine by Captain Benjamin Sisko to act as a diplomatic liaison with the Klingons.

Dorn has appeared on-screen in more Star Trek episodes and movies as the same character than anyone else. He appeared in 175 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, missing three: "Code of Honor", "Haven" and "Shades of Gray". He appeared in 101[citation needed] episodes of Deep Space Nine, missing four during his time on the show: "Rocks and Shoals", "The Magnificent Ferengi", "Chrysalis" and "Prodigal Daughter".

He has also appeared in five Star Trek movies bringing his total to 279 appearances as Worf (and one cameo appearance as a ancestor of Worf in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country). Colm Meaney is the only other person who has made over 200 appearances on Star Trek with 216 episodes; Majel Barrett had 233 "appearances" but many of these were voice only.

Dorn was born in Luling, Texas (December 9, 1952), the son of Allie Lee (née Nauls) and Fentress Dorn, Jr. He grew up in Pasadena, California. He studied radio and television production at the Pasadena City College. From there he pursued a career in music as a performer with several different rock music bands, travelling to San Francisco and then back to Los Angeles.

He first appeared as a guest on the television show W.E.B. in 1978. The producer was impressed with his work, so he introduced Michael to an agent who introduced him to acting teacher Charles Conrad to study acting for six months. He then landed a regular role on the television series CHiPs. The first movie he had a role in was Rocky (1976) as Apollo Creed's bodyguard.

Dorn enjoys flying, something he was not permitted to do while in The Next Generation but was apparently able to do after joining the cast of Deep Space Nine. He has flown with the Blue Angels as well as the Thunderbirds. Dorn has owned several aircraft, including a T-33 Shooting Star, an F-86 Sabre, and currently owns a North American Sabreliner. The T-33 was often referred to as "his starship." Michael Dorn also serves on several organizations, one of which is the Air Force Heritage Foundation where he is on the advisory board. Dorn has also done interviews for the "Private Jets" episode of Modern Marvels on The History Channel. He is also a fan of Comedy Central's South Park and admitted in an interview that he wished they'd asked him to guest voice himself in his appearance in the episode "Fun with Veal". He is a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)

As Lieutenant Natasha "Tasha" Yar on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Denise Crosby made quite an impression. Even though she was only on the show for the best part of a season before dying at the hands of evil alien Armus, Tasha continued to pop up in the most unlikely of places. She was a key figure in the alternate timeline for the classic episode "Yesterday's Enterprise" and showed up again in a recurring role as Sela, half-Romulan daughter of the alternate Tasha Yar. And, fittingly enough, she returned as Tasha in the final episode of the series, "All Good Things..."

"Well I just think its ironic that "Yesterday's Enterprise" was to me my favorite episode that I did and was one of the fans favorites of the series and that I had to die to actually get that episode written".

About leaving the show Star Trek: "Leaving the show was a really difficult decision to make. It was purely an artistic one. I was very, very frustrated as an actor on the show and I felt straight jacketed. I always kind of use the comparison of being drafted by the major leagues and then being benched so I just felt like I needed to keep going you know, keep running, but I had no idea that I would still have this continuous involvement (with Star Trek) you know".

On why she left Star Trek: "I wasn't looking to be the star of the show, but I needed more to do than just answering to the captain."

Crosby was born in Hollywood, California (November 24, 1957), the daughter of Marilyn Scott and actor Dennis Crosby. Her paternal grandfather was actor/singer/comedian Bing Crosby. She attended LeConte Junior High School with actress Rita Wilson (wife of Tom Hanks).

Crosby produced and narrated the 1997 documentary Trekkies, followed by the 2003 sequel, Trekkies 2. Both films star Crosby, who conducts interviews with devotees of Star Trek, more commonly known as "Trekkies."

Crosby is currently married to Ken Sylk. They have a son, August William Sylk.