Gates McFadden
Actor
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Biography:
Born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Gates McFadden has had a life-long passion for the performing arts. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in theatre arts from Brandeis University and upon attaining her degree moved to Paris where she continued to study theatre with actor Jacques Lecoq.
During her early career she often worked for Jim Henson productions as Cheryl McFadden. Originally Gates was her middle name. While there she served as choreographer on the film The Dark Crystal, Directory of Choreography and Puppet Movement on Labyrinth, and again as choreographer in The Muppets Take Manhattan, where she had a brief on screen appearance.
Her early acting work includes the Troma film When Nature Calls (1985), an appearance in the third season of The Cosby Show, and as the wife of Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin) in The Hunt for Red October.
1987 marked the beginning of the role for which Gates McFadden is best known for, Dr. Beverly Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation. The character of Beverly Crusher was originally designed as a love interest of sorts for Captain Picard. The fact that Dr. Crusher would have to balance her personal feelings, her duty to Starfleet, and the responsibility of being a widowed single parent are among the many factors that attracted McFadden to the role.
Gates was replaced by actress Diana Muldar in the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, however Patrick Stewart was able to convince her to return and reprise her role. For the remaining five seasons Gates would play Dr. Crusher. In addition to her acting she also directed the episode "Genesis" and choreographed the dance routine in the episode "Data's Day".
She reprised her role in all subsequent Star Trek: The Next Generation films which include Star Trek: Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek: Nemesis. She also lent her voice to the PC games Star Trek: A Final Unity and Star Trek: Generations.
Other notable roles include Taking Care of Business in 1990 where she starred with James Belushi and fellow TNG star John de Lancie, a 1992 stage production of Every Good Boy Deserves a Favour alongside her fellow shipmates Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, and Colm Meany that performed in four cities. Additional television roles include Marker (1995) alongside Richard Grieco, the television movie Crowned and Dangerous with Yasmine Bleeth (1997), and the role of Allison Rourke in the hit sitcom Mad About You where she portrayed the boss of Paul Buchman (Paul Reiser).
In addition to acting, Gates has also contributed to higher education. She has taught courses at several universities including Brandeis, Harvard, Purdue, and the University of Pittsburgh. She has served as the Artistic Director of Ensemble Studio Theatre of Los Angeles and as an adjunct faculty member at the School of Theater at the University of Southern California.
Anime Convention Guest Appearances
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2024
- Dragon Con 2024 - August 29 - September 2, 2024 in Atlanta, GA, USA
- GalaxyCon San Jose 2024 - August 16-18, 2024 in San Jose, CA, USA
- Montreal Comiccon 2024 - July 5-7, 2024 in Montreal, QC
- GalaxyCon Oklahoma City 2024 - May 24-26, 2024 in Oklahoma City, OK, USA 2023
- Edmonton Expo 2023 - September 15-17, 2023 in Edmonton, AB
- GalaxyCon Austin 2023 - September 1-3, 2023 in Austin, TX, USA
- Fan Expo Canada 2023 - August 24-27, 2023 in Toronto, ON
- GalaxyCon Raleigh 2023 - July 27-30, 2023 in Raleigh, NC, USA
- Fan Expo Denver 2023 - June 30 - July 2, 2023 in Denver, CO, USA
- MegaCon Orlando 2023 - March 30 - April 2, 2023 in Orlando, FL, USA
- GalaxyCon Richmond 2023 - March 24-26, 2023 in Richmond, VA, USA
- Fan Expo Vancouver 2023 - February 18-20, 2023 in Vancouver, BC
- Fan Expo Portland 2023 - February 17-19, 2023 in Portland, OR, USA 2022
- GalaxyCon Columbus 2022 - December 2-4, 2022 in Columbus, OH, USA
- Fan Expo San Francisco 2022 - November 25-27, 2022 in San Francisco, CA, USA
- Dallas Fan Festival 2022 - October 14-16, 2022 in Irving, TX, USA
- Fan Expo Chicago 2022 - July 7-10, 2022 in Rosemont, IL, USA
- Fan Expo Philadelphia 2022 - April 8-10, 2022 in Philadelphia, PA, USA 2021
Armageddon Auckland 2021 - December 17-19, 2021 in Auckland, New ZealandConvention CancelledArmageddon Auckland 2021 - November 26-28, 2021 in Auckland, New ZealandConvention PostponedFan Expo Denver: Special Edition 2021 - October 29-31, 2021 in Denver, CO, USACancelled AppearanceFanExpo Canada Limited Edition 2021 - October 22-24, 2021 in Toronto, ONCancelled AppearanceFan Expo Dallas 2021 - September 17-19, 2021 in Dallas, TX, USACancelled AppearanceFan Expo Boston 2021 - September 3-5, 2021 in Boston, MA, USACancelled Appearance 2019- Comicpalooza 2019 - May 10-12, 2019 in Houston, TX, USA 2018
- Florida Supercon 2018 - July 12-15, 2018 in Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA 2017
- Dragon Con 2017 - September 1-4, 2017 in Atlanta, GA, USA
- Pensacon 2017 - February 17-19, 2017 in Pensacola, FL, USA 2016
- Phoenix Comicon 2016 - June 2-5, 2016 in Phoenix, AZ, USA 2014
- New York Comic Con 2014 - October 9-12, 2014 in New York, NY, USA
- Fandomfest 2014 - August 1-3, 2014 in Louisville, KY, USA 2013
- MegaCon 2013 - March 15-17, 2013 in Orlando, FL, USA 2012
- London Film & Comic Con 2012 - July 6-8, 2012 in London, UK 2011
- Dragon*Con 2011 - September 2-5, 2011 in Atlanta, GA, USA 2005
- Supanova Pop Culture Expo - Sydney 2005 - October 15-16, 2005 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
29 confirmed guest appearances
View Gates McFadden on FanCons.com for 87 additional guest appearances