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Gates McFadden

Gates McFadden

Actor, also producer · Born March 2, 1949 (77) · Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA

Cheryl Gates McFadden (born March 2, 1949) is an American actress and choreographer. She is best known for portraying the character of Dr. Beverly Crusher in the television and film series Star Trek: The Next Generation. She attended Brandeis University earning B.A Cum Laude in Theater Arts. After graduating from Brandeis, she moved to Paris and studied theater with actor Jacques LeCoq. Before Star Trek: The Next Generation, she was mostly known as a choreographer, often working on Jim Henson productions including the films The Dark Crystal, for which she was a choreographer, Labyrinth, for which she served as Director of Choreography and Puppet Movement, and The Muppets Take Manhattan, in which she has a brief on-screen appearance. As a way of distinguishing her acting work from her choreography, she is usually credited as "Gates McFadden" as an actress and "Cheryl McFadden" as a choreographer. She appeared briefly in the Woody Allen film Stardust Memories, and in The Hunt for Red October as Jack Ryan's wife Cathy, though most of her scenes were cut in post-production. In 1987, McFadden was cast as Dr. Beverly Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation. The Crusher character was slated to be Captain Jean-Luc Picard's love interest, and this aspect of the character is what attracted McFadden to the role. Another important aspect of the character was being a widow balancing motherhood and a career. McFadden left after the first season, in part because series executive producer Gene Roddenberry was never enthusiastic about casting McFadden in the first place. Roddenberry also wanted to give the role of ship's doctor to actress Diana Muldaur, with whom he had worked on the original Star Trek series and other occasions. Muldaur's character, Dr. Katherine Pulaski, proved very unpopular with fans and left the show after the second season. McFadden was approached to return for the third season. At first she was hesitant, but after a phone call from co-star Patrick Stewart, McFadden was persuaded to reprise her role.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 2, 1949 (77)
From
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 40 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Up 39% in 30 days

What are Gates McFadden's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
33%
Self
27%
Society
14%
Power
9%
Bonds
7%
Survival
7%
Ideas
4%
Identity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 3 · Serious 2 · Dark 4

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 3 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 5 · Intense 2

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 4 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 3 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Hopeful
5
Melancholic
5
Joyful
3
Contemplative
3
Other
12

How their films linger

Hopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Gates McFadden's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Paramount+ (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Gates McFadden's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

40 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page; 13 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • X-Men '97(2024)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mother Askani (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Masters of the Universe: Revolution(2024)

    Show 4 episodes · as Queen Marlena (voice)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: very Short Treks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Crusher (voice)

  • Star Trek: Picard - The IMAX Live Series Finale Event (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Dr. Beverly Crusher

  • The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek(2021)

    Show 4 episodes · Executive Producer · as Self / Narrator

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Prodigy(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · as Beverly Crusher (voice) · as Dr. Beverly Crusher (voice)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Hexengeddon: Witches vs. the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Madame Hexxina

  • Star Trek: Picard(2020)

    Show 10 episodes · as Dr. Beverly Crusher

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • A Neighbor's Deception(2017)

    as Dr. Constance Abrams

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Mattresside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Nurse

  • Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Dr. Beverly Crusher

  • Star Trek: The Next Generation - Chain of Command (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • Star Trek: The Next Generation - Unification (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Actor

  • Star Trek: The Next Generation - Redemption (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Dr. Beverly Crusher

  • Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Best of Both Worlds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Dr. Beverly Crusher (archive footage)

  • Franklin & Bash(2011)

    Show 4 episodes · as Judge Mallory Jacobs

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Make the Yuletide Gay(2009)

    as Martha Stanford

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Dirty(2005)

    as Wife

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • NCIS(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Belmont

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Nemesis(2002)

    as Dr. Beverly Crusher

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Division (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Petersen

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Gates McFadden (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Insurrection(1998)

    as Doctor Beverly Crusher

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Emily Harrison

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Crowned and Dangerous (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Patrice Baxter

  • Star Trek: First Contact(1996)

    as Commander Beverly Crusher

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Marker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 13 episodes · as Kimba

  • Star Trek: Generations(1994)

    as Dr. Beverly Crusher

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Party of Five(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Greer Erikson

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Behind the Scenes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Beverly Crusher

  • Mad About You(1992)

    Show 4 episodes · as Allison Rourke

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Federation Science (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • Taking Care of Business(1990)

    as Diane Connors

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Dream On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Ina Dreikoff

  • The Hunt for Red October(1990)

    as Caroline Ryan

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Star Trek: The Next Generation(1987)

    Show 154 episodes · Director · as Beverly Crusher

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Wizard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Cosby Show(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • The Muppets Take Manhattan(1984)

    as Mr. Price's Secretary

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Saturday Night Live(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Woman in audience kissed by Bill Murray (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 40 titles from 1975 to 2024; peak year 1995.

Biggest box office

Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

$146M worldwide

Highest rated

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

19752024

Peak 1995 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting39 of 40: 38 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score69thDirecting1 of 40: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 40: 1 only producing, 0 with another role

By decade

1970s1 · acting1980s4 · 4 acting · 1 crew1990s14 · acting2000s5 · acting2010s8 · acting2020s8 · 7 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 7 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Gates McFadden's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 10; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 56th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 24 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Make the Yuletide Gay (2009)

68th percentile spread · 17% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, director

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Midcredits 98th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 43. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Gates McFadden's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and alcohol & drugs run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles35–58 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles14–29 · median 21 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles21–31 · median 29 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles18–31 · median 22 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles43–50 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Gates McFadden work with?

People who share at least 2 of Gates McFadden's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jonathan Frakes shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers