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Denis Arndt, the familiar character actor who appeared on L.A. Law, Picket Fences and other shows for David E. Kelley and earned a Tony nomination for his turn opposite Mary-Louise Parker in the Broadway two-hander Heisenberg, has died. He was 86.

Arndt died Tuesday at his longtime cabin home in Ashland, Oregon, his family announced.

Arndt also portrayed the newlywed husband of Mary Tyler Moore’s character on the 1988 CBS sitcom Annie McGuire — Adrien Brody played his son — and he was one of the cops ogling Sharon Stone’s Catherine Tramell in the iconic interrogation scene in Paul Verhoeven’s Basic Instinct (1992).

Arndt started out with Kelley on NBC’s L.A. Law as lawyer Jack Sollers, who arrives in season five (1990-91) to represent the naughty Rosalind Shays (Diana Muldaur) in her sexual discrimination case against McKenzie Brackman.

He recurred as another lawyer, Franklin Dell, on CBS’ Picket Fences over four...

John Wayne won his first and only Academy Award for his memorable performance as cantankerous lawman Rooster Cogburn in True Grit. The 1969 Western marked Wayne’s last triumph within the genre, which he had virtually dominated since his star-making role in the 1939 Western film Stagecoach.

In the early 1970s, Wayne’s box-office standing was being threatened by the advance of a younger generation of Hollywood leading men, led by Clint Eastwood, whose rise to superstardom coincided with Wayne’s commercial decline. Wayne hastened this transition by turning down the titular starring role in the 1971 action thriller film Dirty Harry, which enabled Eastwood to transcend the international stardom he’d gained from Sergio Leone’s Dollars Trilogy film series and become Hollywood’s foremost action star.

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Dirty HarryRActionCrimeThrillerRelease DateDecember 23, 1971Runtime102 minutesDirectorDon SiegelCastSee...

Cheryl Gates McFadden was a dancer before she was an actress. She studied theater in college (she has a Bachelor of Arts degree) and lived in Paris for a spell, performing with the celebrated movement coach Jacques Lecoq. In New York in the 1970s, she taught dance at various colleges, and formed her own theater troupes and comedy companies. In the 1980s, she landed a few high-profile gigs serving as a choreographer and movement coach on "The Muppets Take Manhattan" and "Labyrinth." She can be seen giving her commentary in a making-of documentary on the "Labyrinth" DVD. 

McFadden, however, exploded in popularity in 1987 when she was selected to play Dr. Beverly Crusher, the chief medical officer on board the USS Enterprise on "Star Trek: The Next Generation." McFadden (who was just going by Gates back then) didn't get to do much dancing on "Star Trek," but she was given a mature,...

Diana Muldaur had huge shoes to fill when she was brought back to the Star Trek franchise for Star Trek: The Next Generation's second season. A veteran of the franchise already, Muldaur played two characters in the Original Series. First as Ann Mulhall in "Return to Tomorrow", and then as Dr. Miranda Jones in the episode "Is There Trutht in Beauty".

She would once again return to Star Trek in season two of The Next Generation. Instead of coming back for an episode or two, as she did in the series prior, she instead returned for the majority of the second season. She stood in as the new ship's doctor, Doctor Katherine Pulaski.

Pulaski was brought in to replace Gates McFadden, who left the show for a season. McFadden's character, Dr. Beverly Crusher, wasn't killed off the way her season one colleague was. McFadden wasn't the only woman to...

Diana Muldaur joined the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation in season 2 as Dr. Katherine Pulaski, replacing Gates McFadden's Dr. Beverly Crusher. During Tng's first season, the writer's room gained a reputation in Hollywood because writers came and went with such frequency. This led to an inconsistent season as the show struggled to define its characters and find its footing. Still, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew proved interesting enough to hold viewers' attention, and Tng went on to become one of the most beloved science fiction shows of all time.

Introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation's feature-length premiere, Dr. Beverly Crusher was the Chief Medical Officer of the USS Enterprise-d. Beverly lived on the ship with her child-prodigy teenage son, Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton), and had an interesting past with Captain Picard. Tng season 1 hinted at romantic feelings between Crusher and Picard, but...

Star Trek: Lower Decks has a surprising new version of Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan). Cast changes in previous Star Trek shows have been met with varying degrees of warmth by fans. Star Trek: The Next Generation's season 2 addition, Dr. Katherine Pulaski (Diana Muldaur), wasn't a fan-favorite, resulting in the return of Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden). The addition of Lt. Commander Worf (Michael Dorn) in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's 4th season cast was a calculated risk that paid off. Of course, Seven of Nine joining the cast of Star Trek: Voyager in season 4 was a huge hit with fans.

In Star Trek: Lower Decks season 2, episode 9, "wej Duj", viewers were treated to stories from the lower decks of Klingon and Vulcan ships in addition to Starfleet's USS Cerritos. The main character of Lower Decks' Vulcan storyline was T'Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz), who sometimes acted on hunches...

Once again, it was a Body & Soul kind of day on the Tuesday, October 8 episode of Days of Our Lives. Kate, Abe, and Leo prepared to send Hattie’s character, Charlemagne Delacroix, down the elevator shaft while Alex and Stephanie got hot and heavy in a hospital room. These scenes channeled classic and current TV juggernauts to help further the Bs drama.

TV Channeling L.A. Law

Hattie (Deidre Hall) diva’d herself into a corner. All of her maneuverings to get Bonnie (Judi Evans) kicked to the curb backfired against her. Ultimately, she ended up being the one to diva herself out of a job.

And so there they were at the hospital, ready to film Hattie’s death scene, which involved a blatant nod to classic TV history. Leo (Greg Rikaart) even said as much. Apparently, the show had to explain itself right before Hattie was supposed to...

Denise Crosby, unhappy with her role of Lt. Tasha Yar on Star Trek: The Next Generation, asked to be let out of the series in its first season. While the other actors decided to wait to see what would happen with their characters, she didn't want to be stuck on the bridge of the Enterprise just saying "aye-aye" all the time. In a recent interview by IGN, Crosby noted that her decision to leave threw things into a bit of a tailspin for the freshman sci-fi series.

Gates McFadden, who portrayed Dr. Beverly Crusher, during the first season of The Next Generation as well as seasons three throughseven, was fired at the end of the first season, and Marina Sirtis thought she was going to be fired as well. That would have left The Next Generation with no female characters. So Sirtis remained, and Diana Muldaur was hired as the second season's doctor,...

"Star Trek: The Next Generation" debuted on September 28, 1987 to much ballyhoo. A new version of "Star Trek," set a century after the events of the original "Star Trek"? With an all-new U.S.S. Enterprise and an all-new crew? Trekkies were excited, cautiously optimistic that the new show would be a hit. After a few rocky seasons, it was, and "Star Trek: The Next Generation" became a ratings bonanza. Also, while the first "Star Trek" only lasted three seasons, and the 1973 "Star Trek" animated series only lasted two, "Next Generation" would continue for seven year, racking up an impressive 176 episodes. Or 178, if you count the two-hour debut and finale episodes as two episodes each. 

Audiences loved the eight main characters on the show. The Enterprise was captained by the stern Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), and his first in command was William Riker (Jonathan Frakes). Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) was the ship's engineer,...

Even the most popular and successful science fiction television series see changes to their main cast over the years. From the grueling schedule of long filming hours to trying to seek new opportunities in one's career, there are numerous reasons actors leave fan-favorite roles behind. Of course, there are also more dramatic reasons that actors quit shows, spilling tea on creative differences and behind-the-scenes struggles years after their departure. Even legacy sci-fi properties like "Star Trek" and "Battlestar Galactica" have their own stories of high-profile cast departures, even at the height of their run.

Below, we've assembled some of the biggest instances of actors quitting beloved sci-fi shows and explained why each chose to step away from their respective television projects. While some instances were more cordial and professional, some resignations reveal intense drama and tension behind the scenes. Just remember, even though sci-fi can depict idealistic utopias, the working...

Dr. Katherine Pulaski, introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation’s second season, brought a unique perspective as the new Chief Medical Officer. Her no-nonsense demeanor and unconventional methods contrasted with her predecessor, Dr. Beverly Crusher’s approach. Despite her initial skepticism, Pulaski gradually warmed up to the crew.

Diana Muldaur in Star Trek: The Next Generation || credits: Paramount

While her time on Enterprise-d was brief, her impact on the series was significant, leaving a lasting impression on Reddit as well as fans worldwide.

The Star Trek: Tng Character Reddit Fans Still Remember

In Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s second season, the USS Enterprise welcomed a new doctor to its crew. The first season ended with the departure of two prominent female characters. Tasha Yar’s tragic death marked the end of Denise Crosby’s regular role, while Dr. Beverly Crusher’s reassignment to Starfleet Medical left a vacancy...

For a series that continued the live-action saga that The Original Series established for the Star Trek universe, The Next Generation was easily one of the most popular shows of all time. However, the series created by Gene Roddenberry wasn’t without internal problems of its own and had some major changes in its cast even from its first two seasons.

Star Trek: The Next Generation. | Credit: CBS.

For instance, Gates McFadden, who played Dr. Beverly Crusher in season 1, was replaced by Diana Muldaur’s Dr. Katherine Pulaski in season 2. However, Muldaur couldn’t stay in the series for more than one season either and ended up leaving after season 2. And, as it turns out, Roddenberry was not the reason why for she most certainly left “under my own power.”

Diana Muldaur Confesses She Left Star Trek Of Her Own Will

Although season one was a remarkable success, it saw Gates McFadden’s Dr.

Medusans are a unique alien species in Star Trek due to their telepathic abilities and genderless, energy-based form that drives humanoids mad. Zero is a noncorporeal Medusan introduced in Star Trek: Prodigy, adding depth to the species with a real personality and intriguing storyline. Star Trek: Prodigy is the first children's show in the franchise, showcasing a diverse crew of young aliens on a stolen Starfleet ship.

Thanks to Star Trek: Prodigy, the Medusans have become one of Star Trek's most interesting and unique alien species. Due to the limited nature of make-up and prosthetics (and the lack of CGI) in the 1960s, most of the aliens on Star Trek: The Original Series either resembled humans or could take on a humanoid appearance. If Tos aliens weren't played by human actors in make-up, then they were often energy beings who presented as floating blobs of light. The Medusans more...

Dr. Beverly Crusher, a key character in Star Trek: The Next Generation, was often underutilized and sidelined in favor of other characters. Despite being a popular character, she was replaced in season 2 by Dr. Katherine Pulaski, due to behind-the-scenes conflicts. Dr. Crusher's character was often one-dimensional, as a compassionate doctor and mother, and her potential for more development was not fully realized.

Star Trek: The Next Generation often underutilized Dr. Beverly Crusher, despite being the Chief Medical Officer on the USS Enterprise-d. Dr. Crusher was an intelligent and compassionate doctor, who served as CMO while also caring for her teenage son, Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton). Dr. Crusher served under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), who was her close, personal friend and potential love interest. Throughout Tng, Picard and Crusher appear to display feelings for one another, but they never truly explore a romantic relationship.

When given solid material,...

Kes and Seven of Nine's swap in Star Trek: Voyager was unique due to the franchise's consistent casts. Other character swaps in previous Star Trek shows didn't accomplish their switch in the same way, usually leaving it off-screen. Modern Star Trek series, like Discovery and Picard, have a different approach to swapping characters, focusing on serialized narratives.

Although it wasn't the franchise's first character swap, Star Trek: Voyager's Kes (Jennifer Lien) and Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) switch was more unique than character changes in other Star Trek projects. Voyager's cast of characters stayed mostly the same throughout the show's run, except for the departure of Kes and the introduction of Seven at the start of season 4. The swap happened over season 4's first two episodes, "Scorpion, Part II" and "The Gift," and was accomplished well, all things considered.

During "The Gift," Kes's latent mental abilities began to evolve...

Patrick Stewart, the veteran actor known for portraying the role of Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek franchise, has had a great rapport with his co-stars. Being friendly and humorous in nature, there have been very few instances where Stewart might have lost his cool.

Patrick Stewart is incredibly proud of what he and his team have achieved with Star Trek: Picard | CBS Studios

During the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, however, Patrick Stewart and the cast members had a rough start. From getting to know each other to producers allegedly trying to take control of the series, there was a lot of chaos, and Stewart was allegedly blamed for the removal of one actress from the series!

Sir Patrick Stewart And Gates McFadden: A Bad Match?

Gates McFadden portrayed the role of Dr. Beverly Crusher in the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Being...

Riker faced his own clone early on in Tng, refusing to be replicated for the sake of individuality. Mariposans cloned Riker and Pulaski without consent, leading to Riker taking matters into his own hands. Later, Riker discovered his own transporter duplicate in a twist of fate, navigating the complexities of having a double.

Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) had a clone in Star Trek: The Next Generation long before he found out about his transporter duplicate, Thomas Riker. For seven seasons of Tng and four movies, Riker served as First Officer of the USS Enterprise-d under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). The Enterprise and her crew encountered many strange phenomena over the years, including the occasional evil twin or surprise doppelganger. In Tng season 7, Riker met his transporter clone, but he had a much more violent reaction the first time he was cloned.

In Star Trek: The Next Generation...

It's not always easy to follow the Prime Directive, especially when lives are at stake. The crew of the Enterprise must grapple with moral dilemmas that challenge Starfleet's rules. Sometimes, the right thing to do may mean breaking the Prime Directive for the greater good.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) always strives to uphold the Prime Directive on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and he once almost destroyed a planet to avoid violating Starfleet's most important rule. The Prime Directive has been around since Star Trek: The Original Series and states that Starfleet officers must not interfere with developing pre-warp cultures. While this rule has been interpreted in many different ways throughout Star Trek's history, it remains an important rule that every Starfleet Captain must do their best to adhere to. Although the Prime Directive sounds good in principle, it often raises complicated questions.

In Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2, episode 15, "Pen Pals,...

Chief O'Brien began as a background character and became one of the most important people in Starfleet history. His character development in Tng foreshadowed his success on DS9, where he became a fully realized character. O'Brien's role as an engineer was unique, delivering believable technobabble and keeping Deep Space Nine running.

Colm Meaney's Chief Miles O'Brien began his Star Trek career as an unnamed background character on Star Trek: The Next Generation, before becoming one of the main characters on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and "the most important person in Starfleet history" according to Star Trek: Lower Decks. One of the few enlisted men in Star Trek, Chief O'Brien appeared throughout Tng season 1 merely as a background character. He did not even receive a name until Tng season 2, making his ultimate Star Trek journey even more surprising. Soon after being given his name, O'Brien also received the job title of transporter chief,...

In the early seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, there was no mention of the United Federation of Planets ban on genetic engineering. The ban on genetic engineering in Star Trek was first mentioned in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 5 and retroactively implemented in prequel shows like Star Trek: Enterprise. Despite the ban, various Star Trek shows have depicted characters who were genetically enhanced, which sometimes leads to conflicts and reveals about their illegal status.

One Star Trek: The Next Generation episode features genetically created children, and makes no mention of the United Federation of Planets' ban on genetic engineering. In the 1960s when Star Trek: The Original Series was airing, TV shows were not as concerned with establishing or maintaining a consistent canon. As the television landscape has changed over the years, franchises like Star Trek have placed more emphasis on maintaining continuity. In its later seasons,...

Tng's "Unnatural Selection" and Tos's "The Deadly Years" both feature a rapid-aging storyline affecting main characters. The makeup in both episodes is effective, despite "The Deadly Years" being produced over 20 years earlier. Tng's attempt to make Dr. Pulaski like Dr. McCoy didn't work due to the lack of conflict between characters in Tng.

One Star Trek: The Next Generation episode stole its premise from a far better episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. In its first two seasons, Tng was still finding its footing, and several episodes borrowed storylines or other elements from Tos. Some early Tng episodes pull ideas directly from Tos episodes, while others adapt stories that were proposed during the Tos era but never produced. However, what worked on the original Star Trek often did not have the same effect on The Next Generation. Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew on the USS Enterprise-d...

Lt. Worf almost had a romance with Vulcan Lt. Selar on Star Trek: The Next Generation. The idea was scrapped because having a Vulcan crew member would make the dynamic too similar to the original series. Worf ended up having a romantic relationship with a different character, K'Ehleyr, who tragically died.

Star Trek: The Next Generation's Klingon Security Chief Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) almost had a romance with a Vulcan crew member. Following the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the USS Enterprise-d, Tng built a name for itself separate from Star Trek: The Original Series with a new crew of Starfleet officers. Because Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry wanted to distance Tng from Tos, Vulcans did not make regular appearances on Tng. Having a Vulcan as one of the main crew members on Picard's Enterprise might have made the dynamic feel too similar to Tos.

Star...

Geordi La Forge's Visor, which allowed him to see along the electromagnetic spectrum, was never treated as an impediment and he saved the Enterprise on many occasions. LeVar Burton, the actor who played Geordi, originally wanted Geordi's sight restored due to discomfort and limitations as an actor, but he realized the character's inspiration to blind and differently abled fans. Geordi eventually upgraded to ocular implants in Star Trek: First Contact, which provided enhanced vision and were more comfortable for the actor. He temporarily had his natural vision restored in Star Trek: Insurrection.

LeVar Burton once proposed a Star Trek: The Next Generation story that would have restored the sight of his character, Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge. Born blind, Geordi wore a Visor throughout all seven seasons of Tng that allowed him to see along the electromagnetic spectrum. As the Chief Engineer on the USS Enterprise-d, La Forge was a...

Star Trek: The Next Generation had some phenomenal episodes, but not all of them were hits. Some lacked polished scripts due to time constraints. The presence of beloved characters like Captain Picard and Lt. Commander Data made up for mediocre storylines in the worst episodes. Despite its flaws, even the weakest episodes of Tng still showcased the compelling main characters that fans love.

Star Trek: The Next Generation produced 178 episodes in its seven-season run, so it's no surprise that some worked far better than others. Following the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise-d, Tng introduced one of Star Trek's most beloved casts and produced some phenomenal science fiction television. While some Tng episodes, such as season 5's "The Inner Light" or the "Best of Both Worlds" two-parter continue to be lauded as some of Star Trek's greatest stories, other episodes didn't quite make the cut.

Diana Muldaur played three different characters in the Star Trek franchise, all of whom happened to be doctors. In her appearances on Star Trek: The Original Series, Muldaur played Dr. Ann Mulhall and Dr. Miranda Jones. Muldaur later joined Star Trek: The Next Generation as Dr. Katherine Pulaski, the Chief Medical Officer of the USS Enterprise-d.

Diana Muldaur has played three different Star Trek characters in Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Diana Muldaur is one of the few actors to have visited both the Enterprise of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Captain Jean-Luc Picard's (Patrick Stewart) Enterprise-d. While Leonard Nimoy, Deforest Kelley, and James Doohan all briefly reprised their original roles on Tng, Muldaur played different characters in all three of her Star Trek appearances. While none of her three characters are related, all of them happen to be doctors.

In Star Trek: The Original Series...

Data's love for Sherlock Holmes brings out his humanity and showcases his ability to express emotions despite being an android. Data's excitement and dedication to solving Holmes mysteries turns to concern for the safety of the Enterprise and its crew when Moriarty becomes a threat. In Star Trek: Picard season 3, Data's love for Holmes helps him regain control of his new synthetic body and reconnect with his old friends.

Brent Spiner's Lt. Commander Data finds a kindred spirit in Sherlock Holmes on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the android is never more human than when he embodies the world's greatest consulting detective. Data's fascination with Holmes begins in Tng season 1, when Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) references the detective. Data then immediately reads every Holmes story by Arthur Conan Doyle and takes on the persona of Holmes. Data takes this love even further in Tng season 2, episode 3, "Elementary,...

Dr. Pulaski's debut in Tng season 2 was problematic, as she came across as rude and unlikeable, failing to capture the charm of Dr. McCoy from the original series. Pulaski's treatment of Lt. Commander Data as a mere piece of technology rather than a person was a stark contrast to the dynamic between McCoy and Spock, where their verbal sparring conveyed underlying care for each other. On the other hand, Guinan's mysterious character in her Tng debut brought intrigue and valuable advice to Ensign Wesley Crusher, setting the stage for her gradual revelation as one of Captain Picard's oldest friends.

Star Trek: The Next Generation introduced two very different characters in its season 2 premiere. Following the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the USS Enterprise-d, Tng got off to a rocky start in its first season. As the second season began, the 1988 WGA Strike caused more problems for the already strained writer's room.

Dr. Crusher returned to Star Trek: The Next Generation in season 3 but felt that her character had lost her positive qualities and was written as though she was older. She was disappointed with the direction of her relationship with her son Wesley, as he turned to male figures for guidance instead of her, disregarding single parents in the real world. The focus of the show shifted to three male characters, leaving Dr. Crusher feeling sidelined. She returned in Star Trek: Picard season 3, where her character was more fully realized and showcased her growth and capabilities.

Gates McFadden felt many of the best aspects of her character, Dr. Beverly Crusher, were lost when she returned in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3. Dr. Crusher served as the Chief Medical Officer of the USS Enterprise-d for six out of Tng's seven seasons. With her son, Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton), also on board,...

Gates McFadden was let go from Star Trek: The Next Generation after season 1 due to showrunner Maurice Hurley's dislike of her character and acting. Executive producer Rick Berman initially disagreed with Hurley's decision but the decision was ultimately supported by Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. McFadden later returned to the show after Hurley left and became a fully-realized character in Star Trek: Picard season 3, leaving the possibility open for more stories with the Picard/Crusher family.

Gates McFadden was let go from Star Trek: The Next Generation after season 1, and Tng producer Rick Berman explains why. McFadden played Dr. Beverly Crusher, the Chief Medical Officer on the USS Enterprise-d under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). Dr. Crusher was introduced in Tng's premiere episode with the rest of the main cast, including her teenage son, Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton). McFadden was not asked to return for Tng's second season,...

Four actors quit Star Trek: The Next Generation on their own accord, including Denise Crosby, Diana Muldaur, Wil Wheaton, and Michelle Forbes. The early chaos in the show's writer's room led to the departure of Denise Crosby, who played Lt. Tasha Yar, and the introduction of Diana Muldaur's Dr. Katherine Pulaski. Wil Wheaton quit the show due to behind-the-scenes troubles and the desire to pursue other acting opportunities. Michelle Forbes, despite being a popular character, chose to leave for more variety in her career.

Several actors came and went throughout the seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, but these four regulars quit the show of their own accord. Beginning in 1987, Tng followed the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew on the USS Enterprise-d. While the first season established Tng's main characters, the quality of the episodes was inconsistent as the show struggled to figure...

Diana Muldaur left Star Trek: The Next Generation after one season under her own power and not because of any issues with the cast or Gene. She points the finger at the writers and producers for not being creative and feels they could have done better. Muldaur has no regrets about leaving the show and remains a part of the USS Enterprise-d's legacy.

Diana Muldaur, who replaced Gates McFadden's Dr. Beverly Crusher in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2, explains why she left the series after just one season. Muldaur, who previously appeared in Star Trek: The Original Series, played Dr. Katherine Pulaski in Tng. Pulaski took over as Chief Medical Officer of the USS Enterprise-d when Dr. Crusher left the ship to head up Starfleet Medical. However, Muldaur's Dr. Pulaski was unpopular with fans, and the actress left Star Trek: The Next Generation at the end of her lone season,...

Dr. Beverly Crusher became Head of Starfleet Medical in Star Trek: Picard season 3, a position she also held when she was written off Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2. Fans supported McFadden's return, and she agreed to come back for Tng season 3 after Maurice Hurley left as showrunner. Dr. Crusher remained the CMO for the rest of the series and in the Tng movies. In Star Trek: Picard season 3, Crusher is promoted to admiral and becomes head of Starfleet's Medical Branch. Dr. Crusher has now held that position 35 years apart.

Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) got the same job at the end of Star Trek: Picard season 3 that she had previously had all the way back in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2. Dr. Crusher first appeared in Tng season 1 as the Chief Medical Officer on the USS Enterprise-d under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). Because Tng...

Suitable Flesh is a horror thriller film directed by Joe Lynch, from a screenplay by Dennis Paoli. Based on the 1937 H.P. Lovecraft‘s short story titled The Thing on the Doorstep, the story of the film revolves around Psychiatrist Elizabeth Derby, who becomes obsessed with helping a young patient of hers, who is suffering from a severe personality disorder. This obsession leads to some horrific supernatural danger. Suitable Flesh stars Heather Graham in the lead role with Judah Lewis, Barbara Crampton, and Johnathan Schaech starring in supporting roles. So, if you love the horror film here are some similar movies you could watch next.

Freaky (Prime Video) Credit – Universal Pictures

Synopsis: Prepare for a Freaky take on the body-swap movie which only Blumhouse (makers of Happy Death Day & The Purge Franchises) could bring: a teenage girl switches bodies with a relentless serial killer! High school senior Millie is just trying...

Patrick Stewart recalls a funny incident in his memoir where he helped Diana Muldaur deliver a complex speech by taping her dialogue on his forehead. Muldaur's character, Dr. Pulaski, didn't gel well with the cast or the audience, leading to her departure after one season in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Gates McFadden's Dr. Crusher returned in season 3, becoming an important character for the rest of Tng and later Star Trek projects like the movies and Star Trek: Picard season 3.

Patrick Stewart described a funny good deed he performed for Diana Muldaur on the set of Star Trek: The Next Generation in his memoir. Muldaur played Dr. Katherine Pulaski, who replaced Gates McFadden's Dr. Beverly Crusher, in Tng season 2. However, Muldaur's Dr. Pulaski didn't gel with the Tng cast or the audience, and she left the series after her lone season. McFadden then returned to The Next Generation season 3.

In his autobiography,...

In the first season of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," the chief medical officer on board the U.S.S. Enterprise-d was Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), a fearlessly moral, mature character who was already at the peak of her professional career. Dr. Crusher was a great character as she was always eager to speak her mind and always knew where she stood on any ethical issues. Unlike many other characters on the show, who were still discovering their humanity, their career tracks, or their identity, Dr. Crusher had already arrived, as it were. She was one of the few "adults" on the show. 

She was also hated by one of the "Next Generation" producers, Maurice Hurley. As Trekkies likely know, the first season of "Next Generation" was a tumultuous time behind the scenes, with show creator Gene Roddenberry, his personal lawyer Leonard Maizlish, and multiple other showrunners and producers...

Geordi's Visor was based on a plastic hair clip, and its design included ports on either side and a strap to secure it to the head. Geordi's Visor allows him to see the electromagnetic spectrum, including infrared and ultraviolet light. Geordi can detect changes in heart rate and perspiration to tell if someone is lying, and can send live video feeds of what he sees.

For all seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) wore a futuristic Visor that allowed him to see. Born blind, La Forge received his first Visor (short for Visual Instrument and Sensory Organ Replacement) at the age of five. Although it did not enable him to see in exactly the same way as those with normal eyesight, it did allow him to see much of the electromagnetic spectrum. Geordi's Visor became a quintessential and recognizable part...

In the expansive "Star Trek" universe, some of its brightest stars embarked on unforeseen journeys, abruptly departing the franchise to both the dismay and intrigue of fandom.

Why didn't Kirstie Alley return as the beloved Lt. Saavik? What prompted Jeffrey Hunter to relinquish the role of Captain Pike? Who ejected Gates McFadden's Dr. Crusher from the airlock? How come Diana Muldaur, her replacement, endured only a single season? Why did Wil Wheaton part ways with Wesley Crusher? And why was Grace Lee Whitney, as Yeoman Janice Rand, dropped from the cast even before the original series premiered in 1966?

These departures stemmed from a myriad of forces: financial constraints, contract negotiations, miscasting, yearnings for new horizons or strange new opportunities, life-altering events, creative and personal conflicts, or a blend of these influences. Most were unexpected and frequently controversial. Whether these exits bolstered or hindered the franchise, the judgment is yours,...

When Gene Roddenberry brought his "Wagon Train to the Stars" back for a sequel television series, there was no guarantee it would work. Fans and critics thought Star Trek was a fluke phenomenon that couldn't be repeated. Obviously, they were ultimately proven wrong. Yet, early in the run of The Next Generation, the producers made a huge mistake with the ship's doctor. The USS Enterprise-d had two chief medical officers, and the show should've kept both characters.

The inimitable Gates McFadden was cast as Dr. Beverly Crusher, mother to Wil Wheaton's Wesley and potential love interest for Captain Jean-Luc Picard. However, her contract was not picked up for Season 2. She was replaced by another incredible actor, Diana Muldaur. The veteran of Star Trek: The Original Series joined the cast in Season 2 as Dr. Katherine Pulaski. Dr. Crusher was authoritative but a sensitive caregiver and the obvious choice to be the Chief Medical Officer.

Gates McFadden played Dr. Beverly Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation and the Tng movies but backstage issues led to McFadden's character being replaced in Tng season 2. Dr. Crusher was introduced in Tng's pilot episode, "Encounter at Farpoint," along with her teenage son, Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton), and Beverly is remembered for being a consistent part of Tng's main cast. However, at the start of Tng season 2, it's revealed that Dr. Crusher transferred off the Enterprise to head up Starfleet Medical, leaving Wesley behind.

Dr. Katherine Pulaski (Diana Muldaur) took over the job of Chief Medical Officer on the USS Enterprise-d at the start of Tng season 2, episode 1, “The Child.” However, Dr. Pulaski was an unpopular replacement for Dr. Crusher and another switch occurred in-between seasons with Gates McFadden returning to Tng at the start of season 3, where she remained throughout the popular series' run. While Dr. Crusher’s...

Star Trek: The Next Generation’s beloved android Lieutenant Commander Data (Brent Spiner) features prominently in some of Star Trek’s most enduring episodes. Introduced in Tng's first episode "Encounter At Farpoint," Data was an advanced artificial intelligence who longed to become more human. Data was incredibly intelligent and physically powerful, but he struggled to comprehend human concepts like humor and was limited in his ability to process and express emotion. Spiner's understated performance could somehow evoke laughs and tears in equal measures, easily one of the most impressive acting jobs in Star Trek history.

By Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3, the show's successful format had been established, with each episode generally focusing on one member of the ensemble cast. With the exception of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Data tended to get the most spotlight episodes, as the show's writers and producers honed in on Spiner's magnetic performance early in the show's run.

As all good Trekkies know, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" got off to a rocky start. As detailed in William Shatner's 2014 documentary "Chaos on the Bridge," "Next Generation" was hotly contested, with various producers and showrunners all vying for control over the project. There was a lot of animosity, as a result, and a lot of arguments as to what kind of scripts would be used. Show creator Gene Roddenberry, according to the film, was insistent that he had control over every facet of the production as he had been barred from working on the second, third, and fourth "Star Trek" movies, and wanted to make sure "his baby" was safe. There were, however, reports that Gene Roddenberry's personal lawyer, Leonard Maizlish, was taking completed scripts and re-writing them in secret. Executive Producer Rick Berman suspected that the written notes he received from Roddenberry were actually Maizlish's doing.

Maislish...

Star Trek: The Next Generation is one of the most beloved series in the Star Trek franchise, but it suffered several cast departures during its seven season run. The first live action spinoff from Star Trek: The Original Series, Tng had a tall task at the outset, as it had to convince a passionate fan base that Star Trek could thrive without franchise legends like Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy). Many were convinced the entire project was doomed to failure before it ever began.

Of course, Star Trek: The Next Generation went on to massive success, becoming a cultural phenomenon and, by many metrics, surpassing Star Trek: The Original Series in critical and financial success. Much of that came down to the show's magnificent cast, led by Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Most of the core cast remained on the show for the full seven season run,...

Star Trek’s flagship vessel the USS Enterprise has featured plenty of physicians over the years, some of them more gifted doctors and appealing characters than others. From the very first pilot episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, the ship's doctor was positioned as a crucial presence on the Enterprise, often serving as a personal friend and counselor to the ship's captain. They also tended to be one of the few characters with the authority to overrule the captain's orders if they felt it was medically justified.

In Star Trek: The Original Series, the dynamic that Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) shared with Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) was that series' defining relationship, a somewhat volatile but deeply loyal trio of close friends. Star Trek: The Next Generation got plenty of narrative mileage out of the romantic tension between Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Dr.

Star Trek: The Next Generation achieved some amazing highs and embarrassing lows over its seven seasons, but it ultimately stands as an unimpeachable science fiction institution that gave the Star Trek franchise a greater life on television. As the movie franchise featuring the cast of Star Trek: The Original Series was thriving on the big screen in the mid-80s, Paramount decided it was time for a new iteration of the final frontier. Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry was brought onboard to imagine a new version of the USS Enterprise.

Roddenberry developed Tng to tell the story of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his new crew of the USS Enterprise-d, set roughly a century after the events of Tos. The show's very existence was loudly protested by longtime fans, who couldn't fathom a version of Star Trek working without the likes of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Mr.

Star Trek: The Next Generation introduced Dr. Katherine Pulaski (Diana Muldaur) as the USS Enterprise-d's new Chief Medical Officer in season 2, but the cantankerous female take on Star Trek: The Original Series' Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley) never really worked on the show. Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) was the ship's doctor in Tng season 1, but McFadden departed the series after its debut season due to tensions with producer Maurice Hurley.

Rather than replacing Dr. Crusher with another love interest for Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), series creator Gene Roddenberry decided to go in a very different direction. Diana Muldaur had guest starred in two episodes of Tos, "Return To Tomorrow" and "Is There No Truth In Beauty?" Roddenberry thought Muldaur was the ideal candidate to play the new character of Pulaski, who was a fairly transparent copy of Tos icon Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy. Roddenberry hoped the addition of an older,...

"Batman: The Animated Series" may be a wholly original take on the Dark Knight but it's also indebted to numerous inspirations. Show co-creators Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski, along with writer Paul Dini, were keen to draw on not just the best of Batman's history, but cultural history in general. The goal was to produce a show that, as Dini told Syfy, depicted "a dark world, a world where crime really exists on every level." That approach would often cause them to run afoul of the Fox censors, who weren't enthusiastic about the show's mature tone. After all, this was a Fox Kids cartoon.

Thankfully, the team behind "Batman: Tas" were adept at navigating their way through the treacherous waters of Standards and Practices, maintaining their mature vision despite frequent pushback. And that extended beyond the usual stuff that gets censors riled up, such as violence or edgy language. The...

The third season of "Star Trek: Picard" is set to debut on Paramount+ on February 16, and many recognizable characters from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" will be returning. LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis, Jonathan Frakes, and Gates McFadden will reprise their NextGen roles, while Brent Spiner will be playing Lore, Data's evil android twin. Additionally, Daniel Davis will also come back as Moriarity, the sentient holodeck version of Sherlock Holmes' nemesis. There is no word as to the return of other main cast members Wil Wheaton, Diana Muldaur, or Denise Crosby, but seeing as "Picard" is currently rolling hard with its nostalgia, there's every reason to believe one or all of them will also appear. 

The characters, of course, are all older, wiser, and in different places in their lives. Most dramatically, as seen in previews, Dr. Crusher (McFadden) appears to have moved from medicine into vigilantism. She is seen wielding weapons,...

Actress Gates McFadden has said in interviews that she felt unsatisfied by her character's arc on "Star Trek: The Next Generation." For six of the show's seven seasons -- and for four feature films -- McFadden played the stalwart and morally upstanding Dr. Beverly Crusher, the chief medical officer on the U.S.S. Enterprise-d. She was the only parent at the start of the show, a first for the main cast of a "Star Trek" show. Eventually Worf (Michael Dorn) would have a son, and Data (Brent Spiner), Counselor Troi (Marina Sirtis), Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes), and Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) would be given children for single episodes, but Dr. Crusher was the only character to weather being a parent in dialogue on a regular basis. 

Dr. Crusher was also vital to the ensemble of NextGen, providing the show with its moral hard line. Most of the other characters...

Probably best known as the basis for the TV series Petrocelli, Sidney Furie’s 1970 crime drama stars Barry Newman as an ambitious lawyer who makes his name in a high profile murder case. Diana Muldaur co-stars as Newman’s wife and TV perennial Harold J. Stone plays his volatile courtroom rival.

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“I’m retiring,” announces Delroy Lindo’s attorney Adrian Boseman at the beginning of the terrific Season 5 premiere of “The Good Fight.” The revelation shocks Adrian’s colleagues, but fans of the Paramount+ series knew that Lindo had planned to depart the show at the end of the fourth season, an exit that was delayed due to the pandemic production shutdown. In his final appearance, though, Lindo brings his beloved character closure by delivering one of his best performances on the series.

The episode “Previously On…” covers a year in the life of the “Good Fight” characters as they respond to the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic through President Joe Biden’s election and the Jan. 6 insurrection. With 2024 already on the minds of the Democratic party, Adrian decides to leave the law to pursue a presidential bid. Teaming up with political operative Ruth Eastman (recurring guest Margo Martindale), Adrian plans...