Star Trek: TNG Actors

Patrick Stewart Portrays Jean-Luc Picard

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. Following a spell with the Royal National Theatre in the mid 80s, he went to Los Angeles to star in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987), which ran from 1987-1994, playing the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

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.

Picard is depicted as a deeply moral, highly intelligent man who is a master of diplomacy and debate. He prefers to peacefully resolve disputes rather than fight, although as captain of the most powerful ship in the fleet, he is well equipped to do so, and when forced into combat, very few can match his tactical prowess.

Stewart was married to former Star Trek: The Next Generation and Voyager producer Wendy Neuss.

Jonathan Frakes Portrays Commander William Riker

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."

Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Jonathan was an undergraduate at Penn State and continued his education at Harvard, spending several seasons with the Loeb Drama Center. He then spent five years in New York, appearing on and off Broadway in several regional theater productions.

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.

Jonathan is married to actress Genie Francis and resides in Los Angeles.

Brent Spiner Portrays Commander Data

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. In 2005, Brent was tapped to play a part in a new series that is co-produced by Brannon Braga called "Threshold."

Gates McFadden Portrays Dr.Beverly Crusher

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.

Prior to joining the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation, McFadden worked extensively on the New York stage, both acting and directing. Her roles include leads in the New York productions of "To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday," "How to Say Goodbye," "Cloud 9" and "Emerald City."

Marina Sirtis Portrays Deanna Troi

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.

Born in East London to Greek parents, and brought up in North London, Marina attended the Guild Hall School of Music and Drama. Shortly after graduation, she became a member of the Worthing Repertory Theater, where she portrayed Ophelia in "Hamlet," among other classical roles.

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.

LeVar Burton Portrays Geordi La Forge

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.

As the president of Eagle Nation Films, LeVar is currently developing projects for film and television, some of which he will direct as well as produce.

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."

LeVar featured in all four of the TNG films, including the latest, "Star Trek Nemesis."

Michael Dorn Portrays Worf

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.

Besides the "Star Trek" films, Dorn has been seen in theaters in such independent features as "Timemaster" in 1995 and "Shadow Hours" in 2000. He played the "Sandman" in Disney's "The Santa Clause 2" and "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause." On the smaller screen he starred in the 1995 Showtime tele-film "Amanda and the Alien," and also did a star turn in the Showtime series The Outer Limits, and acted as host of the Discovery Channel's popular series The World of Wonder.

More recently you might have seen him on the Sci-Fi Channel in "A.I. Assault" with Robert Picardo and George Takei - which has now been released on DVD under the title "Shockwave"

In what free time he has, Dorn enjoys flying in his single-seat military training jet, an F-86. He flies to air shows around the country and uses his plane as the ultimate private getaway.

He also appears regularly at conventions, often with good pal Sirtis. At the 40th anniversary Star Trek celebration in Las Vegas in 2006, Dorn said he was celebrating his 30th year in show business. "And my mother is still waiting for me to get a job. She still wants me to work at the post office, because 'they have good benefits'!" he exclaimed.

Denise Crosby Portrays Natasha Yar

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."

Denise is married to Ken Sylk, and they have one son named August William Sylk.