---
name: "Gates McFadden"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/gates-mcfadden"
fi1m_id: "gates-mcfadden"
imdb_id: "nm0000533"
tmdb_id: 2392
wikidata_id: "Q253764"
roles: ["Actor","Director"]
born: "2 March 1949"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 64
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-09-24T05:21:36.428278+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Gates McFadden

## Identity

Gates McFadden

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/gates-mcfadden
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** gates-mcfadden
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000533
- **TMDB ID:** 2392
- **Wikidata ID:** Q253764
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gates_McFadden, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q253764, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000533/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2392

Actor and director. Born 2 March 1949 in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Director
- **Born:** 2 March 1949, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA
- **Active:** 1987–2002
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 6: 5 acting, 1 directing
- **Frequently works with:** [Brent Spiner](https://film.one/person/brent-spiner.md), [Jonathan Frakes](https://film.one/person/jonathan-frakes.md), [Patrick Stewart](https://film.one/person/patrick-stewart.md), [Peter Lauritson](https://film.one/person/peter-lauritson.md), [LeVar Burton](https://film.one/person/levar-burton.md), [Michael Dorn](https://film.one/person/michael-dorn.md), [Rick Berman](https://film.one/person/rick-berman.md), [Brannon Braga](https://film.one/person/brannon-braga.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 64, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 84 (1), 1990s 68 (4), 2000s 50 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 64 to 61 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Action 5, Thriller 5, Adventure 4, Science Fiction 4
- **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $645m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gates_McFadden, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q253764, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000533/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2392

## Streaming the US now

- **Hulu:** [*Star Trek: First Contact*](https://film.one/film/star-trek-first-contact.md) (82), [*Star Trek: Insurrection*](https://film.one/film/star-trek-insurrection.md) (58), [*Star Trek: Generations*](https://film.one/film/star-trek-generations.md) (48)
- **Paramount+:** [*Star Trek: The Next Generation*](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-the-next-generation.md) (84)
- **Apple TV:** [*Star Trek: Nemesis*](https://film.one/film/star-trek-nemesis.md) (50)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Gates McFadden

> Gates McFadden was a choreographer before she was a doctor on the Enterprise, and it shows: she knows exactly what to do while somebody else is talking. The writing rarely rewarded her for it.

In *Star Trek: Nemesis* (2002), Beverly Crusher stands behind Picard. That is most of what she is asked to do in 116 minutes, and it is worth watching how she does it: still, upright, attentive, listening. Gates McFadden came to television from choreography and physical theatre, having studied with Jacques Lecoq in Paris, and the training is visible whenever the camera is not on her. She is never slack in the frame. It is a small gift and a real one, and *Star Trek* leaned on it for the better part of two decades.

By the mid-1980s she was arranging puppet movement for Jim Henson on *The Muppets Take Manhattan* (1984) and *Labyrinth* (1986). Then came *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (1987) and Crusher, the chief medical officer who is also a mother and, on occasion, Picard's love interest. It did not begin smoothly. Her contract was not renewed after the first season, after clashes over how the character was written; she has said she kept asking the writers "Why is it that I've raised this genius kid...and yet every time there's anything serious it's only the male characters who talk to him?" The audience wanted her back, Patrick Stewart telephoned, and she returned for seasons three to seven.

The series is her best work, because it is the only place that gave her time. She plays Crusher with quiet authority and an evident compassion, and in our review we counted her among the people who make the ensemble feel like company worth returning to, which in a programme this solemn is not a small thing. She also went behind the camera, directing the 1994 episode "Genesis" and choreographing another, and she has called that final season her best. The films are another matter. In *Star Trek: Generations* (1994) she gets a scene or two; *Star Trek: First Contact* (1996) does not need her for much; in *Nemesis* she stands behind Picard, and we found we minded that more than the film did, since the cutting plainly removed whatever she had been given.

The pattern of her career is that of an actor cast as physicians, judges and executives, women whose competence is the point, and then written as if competence were enough to fill a scene. It is not, and she knows it is not, which is why she keeps giving the frame something to look at. She came back to Crusher in *Star Trek: Picard* in 2023. If you want to see what she does, watch the series, where there is room for it. The films will show you a good doctor standing where the script left her.

## Biography

Gates McFadden is an American actress and choreographer. Born on 2 March 1949, she studied theatre arts at Brandeis University, graduating cum laude, and later trained with Jacques Lecoq in Paris. Before becoming widely known as an actor she worked extensively as a choreographer and movement director, notably on Jim Henson productions including *Labyrinth* (1986), for which she served as director of choreography and puppet movement, and *The Muppets Take Manhattan* (1984), in which she also appeared on screen.

She is best known for portraying Dr. Beverly Crusher in the television series *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (1987–1994, with a season-two absence) and its four feature films: *Star Trek Generations* (1994), *Star Trek: First Contact* (1996), *Star Trek: Insurrection* (1998) and *Star Trek: Nemesis* (2002). She reprised the role in the third season of *Star Trek: Picard* (2023). Other film credits include *The Hunt for Red October* (1990). McFadden has also appeared in guest roles on series such as *Mad About You* and *Marker*, and maintains a career in stage acting, directing and teaching.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (6)

### Performed in (5) — the average rests on these

- *Star Trek: Nemesis* (2002), Fi1m 50, as Dr. Beverly Crusher — [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-nemesis.md)
- *Star Trek: Insurrection* (1998), Fi1m 58, as Doctor Beverly Crusher — [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-insurrection.md)
- *Star Trek: First Contact* (1996), Fi1m 82, as Commander Beverly Crusher — [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-first-contact.md)
- *Star Trek: Generations* (1994), Fi1m 48, as Dr. Beverly Crusher — [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-generations.md)
- *The Hunt for Red October* (1990), Fi1m 82, as Caroline Ryan — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hunt-for-red-october.md)

### Directed (1)

- *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (1987), Fi1m 84, as Beverly Crusher — [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-the-next-generation.md)

## Complete filmography (40)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Center Seat II: 60 Years of Star Trek* (2026), series, as Narrator
- *X-Men '97* (2024), series, as Mother Askani (voice)
- *Masters of the Universe: Revolution* (2024), series, as Queen Marlena (voice)
- *Star Trek: very Short Treks* (2023), series, as Dr. Crusher (voice)
- *Star Trek: Picard - The IMAX Live Series Finale Event* (2023), as Dr. Beverly Crusher
- *The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek* (2021), series, Executive Producer
- *Star Trek: Prodigy* (2021), series, as Dr. Beverly Crusher (voice), Beverly Crusher (voice)
- *Hexengeddon: Witches vs. the World* (2020), as Madame Hexxina
- *Star Trek: Picard* (2020), series, as Dr. Beverly Crusher — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-picard.md)
- *A Neighbor's Deception* (2017), as Dr. Constance Abrams
- *Mattresside* (2015), as Nurse
- *Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things...* (2014), as Dr. Beverly Crusher
- *Star Trek: The Next Generation - Chain of Command* (2014), as Dr. Beverly Crusher
- *Star Trek: The Next Generation - Unification* (2013), as Dr. Beverly Crusher
- *Star Trek: The Next Generation - Redemption* (2013), as Dr. Beverly Crusher
- *Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Best of Both Worlds* (2013), as Dr. Beverly Crusher (archive footage)
- *Franklin & Bash* (2011), series, as Judge Mallory Jacobs
- *Make the Yuletide Gay* (2009), as Martha Stanford
- *Dirty* (2005), as Wife
- *NCIS* (2003), series, as Mrs. Belmont — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/ncis.md)
- *Star Trek: Nemesis* (2002), as Dr. Beverly Crusher — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-nemesis.md)
- *The Division* (2001), series, as Mrs. Petersen
- *Family Guy* (1999), series, as Gates McFadden (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md)
- *Star Trek: Insurrection* (1998), as Doctor Beverly Crusher — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-insurrection.md)
- *The Practice* (1997), series, as Judge Emily Harrison
- *Crowned and Dangerous* (1997), as Patrice Baxter
- *Star Trek: First Contact* (1996), as Commander Beverly Crusher — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-first-contact.md)
- *Marker* (1995), series, as Kimba
- *Star Trek: Generations* (1994), as Dr. Beverly Crusher — Fi1m 48, [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-generations.md)
- *Party of Five* (1994), series, as Greer Erikson — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/party-of-five.md)
- *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Behind the Scenes* (1993), as Beverly Crusher
- *Mad About You* (1992), series, as Allison Rourke
- *Star Trek: Federation Science* (1992), Actor
- *Taking Care of Business* (1990), as Diane Connors
- *Dream On* (1990), series, as Ina Dreikoff
- *The Hunt for Red October* (1990), as Caroline Ryan — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hunt-for-red-october.md)
- *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (1987), series, as Beverly Crusher · Director — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-the-next-generation.md)
- *The Wizard* (1986), series, Actor
- *The Cosby Show* (1984), series, Actor
- *The Muppets Take Manhattan* (1984), as Mr. Price's Secretary

## Gallery

- ![Gates McFadden](https://film.one/media/person/86966/gallery-e4860ef9731d.jpg) Gates McFadden — John Manard, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Gates_McFadden_2025.jpg/1280px-Gates_McFadden_2025.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Star Trek Tour 2018 Trekonderoga](https://film.one/media/person/86966/gallery-9c9caa91889d.jpg) Star Trek Tour 2018 Trekonderoga — Firstcontact1977, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/2018_Trekonderoga_Panel.jpg/1280px-2018_Trekonderoga_Panel.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Gates McFadden, August 2016, at 50 Year Mission Tour Convention in New Jersey.](https://film.one/media/person/86966/gallery-67c23159fc9f.jpg) Gates McFadden, August 2016, at 50 Year Mission Tour Convention in New Jersey. — Firstcontact1977, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Gates_August_2016.jpg/1280px-Gates_August_2016.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Gates McFadden in 2016](https://film.one/media/person/86966/gallery-c218bc1def67.jpg) Gates McFadden in 2016 — Mike Muegel, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Gates_McFadden_%2829433273821%29.jpg/1280px-Gates_McFadden_%2829433273821%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Gates McFadden](https://film.one/media/person/86966/gallery-b67253b1099a.jpg) Gates McFadden — Image via TMDB
- ![Gates McFadden](https://film.one/media/person/86966/gallery-a301de59a589.jpg) Gates McFadden — Image via TMDB
- ![Gates McFadden](https://film.one/media/person/86966/gallery-8787abdab7a0.jpg) Gates McFadden — Image via TMDB
- ![Gates McFadden in 2016](https://film.one/media/person/86966/gallery-90e30d2a6ee4.jpg) Gates McFadden in 2016 — Mike Muegel, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Gates_McFadden_%2829433274461%29.jpg/1280px-Gates_McFadden_%2829433274461%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Beverly Crusher briefly takes control of the Enterprise during the Nex Gen episode "Descent" and as a prank had the set team dress the bridge in pictures of Wes (2017)](https://film.one/media/person/86966/gallery-5dfa6561ad4f.jpg) Beverly Crusher briefly takes control of the Enterprise during the Nex Gen episode "Descent" and as a prank had the set team dress the bridge in pictures of Wes (2017) — Terry Robinson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Gates_McFadden_%2837441371160%29.jpg/1280px-Gates_McFadden_%2837441371160%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Gates McFadden](https://film.one/media/person/86966/gallery-4b12c6069afa.jpg) Gates McFadden — Image via TMDB
- ![Gates McFadden](https://film.one/media/person/86966/gallery-07ccb7c9016b.jpg) Gates McFadden — Image via TMDB
- ![Gates McFadden](https://film.one/media/person/86966/gallery-725fc05c68fe.jpg) Gates McFadden — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/gates-mcfadden