Biography for
Gates McFadden More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

2 March 1949, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA

Birth Name

Cheryl Gates McFadden

Height

5' 8" (1.73 m)

Spouse

John Talbot

(? - present) 1 child

Trade Mark

The role of Doctor Beverly Crusher on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987)

Red hair and blue eyes

Trivia

Brent Spiner is the godfather of Gates's son.

Graduated from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts (Class of 1970).

Her son, James Cleveland McFadden-Talbot, was born on June 10th, 1991.

She was a Muppeteer and movement coordinator for Jim Henson prior to her role on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987).

She choreographed the ballroom scene in the Jim Henson film Labyrinth (1986).

Studied acting in Paris with famed teacher Jacques Lecoq.

Personal Quotes

"It's wonderful that the show was so imaginative and creative. I'm glad to be a part of it. I get many kids telling me that they would like a mom like Beverly Crusher, and they feel I can solve their problems. It's not an easy world to grow up in. It's tough. And it's nice to think we are doing our bit to help. I always wish I had more to do, but I got my moments and direction [the seventh season episode] "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Genesis (#7.19)" (1994) was, without question, the high point of my years with the show, really the culmination of my Star Trek experience" (1994).

About the boat scene in Star Trek: Generations (1994): "Shooting the boat sequences, I think, is probably something all of us have a story to tell about. I can tell you that the boat was supposed to be pitching back and forth, so we all had to really pitch back and forth... for days. At times, it was very funny and we were all having a good laugh, and at other times, it wasn't at all funny and it could be quite tiring. But it's a terrific scene." (1994)

"Theater really is my first love. I love the stage, performing for an audience. Some of my favorite credits would have to be the Shakespeare work I did in New York and "To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday". I also loved working with Jim Henson on The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) and Labyrinth (1986). I've also loved "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987)" (1994).

On auditioning for "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987): "I walked in and was told they had three parts, and I could play any part I wanted. 'Okay', I asked, 'Which one is the funniest?' Beverly Crusher. I swear to god. Seriously! So I go, 'Okay, fine' and I look at the scene and it's a scene from "The Naked Now" and that's funny because she's kind of drunk and I thought, 'This is funny.' So, that's about the only funny scene in seven seasons!" (Star Trek Magazine, April 2006)