The Crew

George Takei is a renowned civil rights activist, social media icon, Grammy-nominated recording artist, New York Times bestselling author, and pioneering actor whose career has spanned over six decades. Best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek, George has appeared in more than 40 feature films and hundreds of television episodes. He has leveraged his public profile to champion social justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and marriage equality.

George’s advocacy is deeply personal. As a child during World War II, he and his family were among the 125,000 Japanese Americans unjustly imprisoned in U.S. incarceration camps—a formative experience that shaped his lifelong commitment to civil rights and public service. Currently, George serves as chair emeritus and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Japanese American National Museum. He was appointed to the Japan-United States Friendship Commission by President Bill Clinton and, in 2004, was honored by the Emperor of Japan with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, for his significant contributions to U.S.-Japan relations.

Jonathan Frakes is a multi-talented actor, director, and author, best known as Commander William T. Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Early in his career, Jonathan appeared in popular shows like Fantasy Island, Charlie’s Angels, and Days of Our Lives. His portrayal of Riker, second-in-command to Captain Jean-Luc Picard, spanned seven seasons and three films, cementing his place as a fan-favorite in the Star Trek universe.

Jonathan is also celebrated for his voice work, including David Xanatos in Disney’s Gargoyles and appearances in Futurama and Family Guy. Remarkably, he is one of only two actors to appear on five Star Trek series, including Picard.

As a director, Jonathan has helmed episodes of Star Trek: Discovery and The Next Generation, as well as films like Star Trek: First Contact. His work behind the camera has solidified his legacy as a versatile force in Hollywood.

LeVar Burton launched his acting career while still a student at the University of Southern California. At 19, he found himself on the cover of Time Magazine after landing the groundbreaking role of Kunta Kinte in the landmark television series Roots. A seemingly impossible act to follow, LeVar achieved further global acclaim as Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge in the iconic Star Trek: The Next Generation television series–a role he reprised in Star Trek: Picard in 2023. However, it has been his role as host and executive producer of the beloved PBS children’s series Reading Rainbow, of which he is most proud. Airing from 1983 to 2009, the acclaimed series is among the longest-running and highly decorated children’s television shows in history.

As the honored recipient of six NAACP Awards, a Peabody, a Grammy, and 14 Emmys, including a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Inaugural Children’s & Family Emmys, LeVar has demonstrated that he can do it all. In 2024, LeVar was awarded the National Humanities Medal by the National Endowment of the Humanities, at a ceremony in the Oval Office bestowed by President Biden. The following year, he delivered the 2025 commencement address at Howard University, where he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.

Lauded for his contributions to literacy in America, LeVar continues his focus on the importance of literature and storytelling in our everyday lives and is a staunch advocate against the banning of books. With over 4 million social media followers, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a dedicated park in his hometown of Sacramento, this pop culture icon has the unique ability to reach across all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic groups–communicating to a large fan base that is highly engaged and motivated to embrace his message.

Cheryl Gates McFadden portrayed Beverly Crusher, MD, in most episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and in four Star Trek films. Gates also directed the TNG episode “Genesis” and choreographed the dance routine in “Data’s Day.” 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 Gates to the role.

Gates left the series at the end of the first season and was replaced by Diana Muldaur as Doctor Katherine Pulaski in the second season. But thanks to a letter-writing campaign, support from Patrick Stewart, and a personal invitation from Rick Berman, Gates was brought back to the TNG cast for the third and subsequent seasons. Gates became pregnant with her son during the fourth season of TNG; Brent Spiner is his godfather. Gates has been quoted as saying her son grew up on the bridge of the USS Enterprise-D, and he was upset when the sets were torn down following Star Trek Generations.

Other notable roles include Taking Care of Business in 1990 with James Belushi and fellow TNG star John de Lancie, and a 1992 stage production of Every Good Boy Deserves a Favour alongside her fellow shipmates Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, and Colm Meany. Additional television roles include the role of Paul Reiser’s boss Allison Rourke in the hit sitcom Mad About You. Gates is an accomplished dancer and puppeteer; she worked on several Jim Henson productions as a choreographer, most notably in the film Labyrinth.

She prefers stage roles to television and has been seen in countless productions over her career. She has also taught at several universities including Harvard, Brandeis, Purdue, and the University of Pittsburgh, and as the Artistic Director of Ensemble Studio Theatre of Los Angeles.

An acclaimed stage and screen actor as well as an accomplished voice-over artist, John de Lancie is best known as the mysterious and godlike Q, appearing in The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager. While only appearing nine times in 10 years, the cult popularity of Q is so widespread that John’s likeness has appeared in countless merchandising and promotional products. He’s been named “Best Villain,” “Best Recurring,” and “Best Loved” character. He’s also made appearances on such hit dramas as Breaking Bad, The West Wing, Law & Order, The Mentalist, and CSI.

Denise Crosby was cast as Tasha Yar in 1987 for The Next Generation, after first being picked to play Deanna Troi. Tasha Yar was initially among the top-billed characters and was featured prominently in “The Naked Now” and “Code of Honor.” Denice left the show after 22 episodes when her character was killed by the alien creature Armus. In the documentary Trekkies, Denise said her Tasha Yar character had to die in order to get “the best episodes.” She reprised her role as Tasha Yar in Season 3’s “Yesterday’s Enterprise,” in which an alternate timeline was created.

Nana Visitor appeared in Broadway plays, had regular roles on TV and starred in the title role of Working Girl before joining Deep Space Nine as Bajoran Major Kira Nerys. The role piqued her curiosity because Kira Nerys wasn’t “a mother, or a wife, or a prostitute, or a killer. [Kira] is fully realized.” She also voiced the character in the video games Harbinger and The Fallen. Following Deep Space Nine, she starred on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning musical Chicago and later appeared in the series Dark Angel and Wildfire.

Chase Masterson is widely recognized for her 5-year role as Leeta on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also reprising Leeta and Mirror Leeta in Star Trek Online. She stars in Doctor Who Big Finish’s VIENNA and has appeared in The Flash, Sliders, and ER, as well as Robin Hood: Men in Tights in a role written by Mel Brooks. Her film work includes leads in Yesterday Was a Lie, Unbelievable!!!!!, Manipulated, and Skipping Stones. Named among AOL’s 10 Sexiest Aliens and Screen Rant’s 15 Most Stunning Star Trek Aliens, she’s also a celebrated singer, performing globally, including Las Vegas and Vienna.

Chase founded PopCultureHero.org, using pop culture to combat bullying, racism, and cyberbullying while teaching mental health skills in schools, comic cons, and hospitals. A dedicated advocate, she’s spoken at the UN, Google, TEDxVienna, and more, making her a force for change on and off screen.

Casey Biggs is an actor, director, producer, musician, and teacher who portrayed Damar on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine for five years. He created The Enterprise Blues Band with fellow members Vaughn Armstrong and Steve Rankin, who recordings have been best sellers throughout Europe and the U.S.

A graduate of the Juilliard School, he is well known in both the world of the stage and television and has performed throughout the country and Europe. He has appeared in Lincoln Center’s Pride’s Crossing and spent ten years as a leading actor at Washington’s Arena Stage in productions of Taming of the Shrew, All the Kings Men, Long Day’s Journey into Night, Summer and Smoke, It’s a Wonderful Life, and The Philadelphia Story among others.

Film and television credits include Broken Arrow, Dragonfly, The Pelican Brief, The Good Wife, Elementary, CSI, and Person of Interest. His directing credits include Hedda Gabler, Hamlet, The Seagull, Richard III, The Three Sisters, Standup Shakespeare, and Macbeth. Plus, for The Acting Company, Moby Dick Rehearsed, The Three Musketeers, and Love, Shakespeare. He is an alumnus of The Acting Company and is on the acting and directing faculty at the New School for Drama.

Robert Picardo enrolled at Yale as a pre-med student, not knowing that he would someday portray doctors in three separate productions: Dr. Dick Richard on China Beach, then as Dr. McCaskill in The Waiting Room, and, most famously, as the Holographic Doctor for all 7 seasons of Voyager. One of the two Voyager episodes Bob also directed, “One Small Step,” was a moving tribute to the pioneers of space exploration. Combining his 40-plus-year acting career with a lifelong interest in science, Bob served for over 15 years on the advisory board of The Planetary Society.

Born in California, Garrett Wang spent his formative years on the move, living in Indiana, Bermuda, and Tennessee before moving back to California to attend UCLA to major in East Asian Studies and minor in Theater. Garrett signed with his first talent agent in 1993 and within a year he landed his first speaking role, guest starring on All American Girl. Three months later, Garrett was cast in the role of Harry Kim on Voyager. Garrett was named one of People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People as well as one of E! Channel’s “20 Coolest Bachelors.”

Tim Russ has been working within the entertainment industry for over thirty years. Star Trek fans know him from his role as Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager, as well as the film Star Trek Generations. His talents encompass a wide spectrum of the performing arts including composing, music (guitar & vocals), acting, writing, directing, voice-over, and producing. His film credits include Live Free and Die Hard and Spaceballs, and series regular roles on The Highwayman, The People Next Door, Samantha Who, and iCarly. Tim has performed as a musician for over 40 years, playing rhythm, lead, and bass guitars, as well as solo vocals.

Connor Trinneer is most known for playing Charles “Trip” Tucker III on Star Trek: Enterprise and Michael Kenmore on Stargate Atlantis. Originally from Washington state, Connor discovered acting in college, went to drama school and found himself in New York upon graduation. Regional theater work quickly followed, and his career went on to span film and television as well. His big break came with Enterprise, which led to dozens of extraordinary roles and his epic appearances on Star Trek: The Cruise! Connor has also appeared in American Made, The Resident, NCIS, The Mentalist, Suits, Pretty Little Liars and was in all of season 2 of The Purge.

Jason Isaacs’s film career spans genres: Fantasy—Harry Potter as Lucius Malfoy; Comedy—The Death of Stalin, Friends with Money; War—The Patriot, Black Hawk Down, Fury, Green Zone, Operation Mincemeat; Horror—A Cure for Wellness, Event Horizon, Look Away; Action—Armageddon, Abduction, Skyfire, The Tuxedo; Drama—Hotel Mumbai, Good, Sweet November, The End of the Affair; and Children’s Films—Peter Pan, Dragonheart. His performance in Mass earned multiple awards, including the Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award. Recent work includes The Salt Path with Gillian Anderson, Words of War, Juliet & Romeo, and Honey Bunch. He’s filming Victorian Psycho with Maika Monroe. On TV, he appeared in The White Lotus (Emmy-nominated), Archie, The Crowded Room, The OA, Sex Education, Star Trek: Discovery, Good Sam, The Great, and more. Voice roles include Star Wars Rebels, Baldur’s Gate 3, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Scoob!, Cars 2, Superman: Red Son, and What If…? Stage credits include Angels in America, The Dumb Waiter, and White Rabbit Red Rabbit.

Mary Wiseman is best known for starring as Sylvia Tilly in the Paramount+ science fiction drama series Star Trek: Discovery.

Mary’s stage roles have included Nitzan Halperin’s Sow and Weep, Ariel Carson’s I Wanted it to Have a How & I Wanted it to Have a Verb, and Betsy/Lindsay in Clybourne Park. She has performed in productions and workshops of new plays in Playwrights’ theatres like PS 122, The Public, Soho Rep , and New York Theatre Workshop. Mary appeared in the television series Longmire as Meg Joyce, a nurse and love interest for the character Archie “The Ferg” Ferguson.

In 2022, Mary’s portrayal of the character Carlo from the Off-Broadway play At The Wedding garnered her a Lucille Lortel Award nomination in the category of Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play. In February 2023, it was announced that Mary was cast in an upcoming Shondaland series The Residence as the White House executive chef Marvella.

Award-winning actor, activist, and humanitarian Wilson Cruz’s Dr. Hugh Culber returns to Star Trek: The Cruise. Wilson has appeared on Thirteen Reasons Why and in the 2020 GLAAD Award-winning original animated kids’ series The Bravest Knight. He is also the Executive Producer of the critically acclaimed docuseries called Visible: Out On Television. Wilson became the first openly gay actor playing an openly gay role on series television in My So-Called Life. Wilson also starred as Angel in the West Coast premiere of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning musical Rent, which he reprised on Broadway.

Mary Chieffo is a queer actor/producer known internationally for her role as Klingon Commander turned Chancellor L’Rell on the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Discovery. She has also appeared in guest roles on NCIS and Girls5eva, and has starred in staged readings of several plays, including Heretics, Analogue, Lady Face, and Systems.

Mary is a graduate of Juilliard, where she received her BFA in acting and the prestigious Elizabeth Smith Voice and Speech Prize and the Saint-Denis Prize for “Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Drama.” She is a member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA and is a frequent collaborator with The Road Theatre Company, Impro Theatre LAB Ensemble, and Ripley Improv.

In addition to her acting work, Mary is also a producer. She produced, wrote, and starred in Operation Othello, a feminist, gender, and color-conscious VR adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello. She also co-created and starred in Iago: The Green-Eyed Monster, a Musical AR Experience that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2022. Mary is also the star of the short film Every Morning, a queer sci-fi love story written by and co-starring her partner Madi Goff. She served as executive and creative producer on the film in partnership with Dr. Erin Macdonald’s LGBTQ+ owned Spacetime Productions.

Todd Stashwick, an accomplished actor and writer, hails from Chicago and is an alumnus of Second City Comedy Theater. He’s known for his dynamic performances, including Deacon on Syfy’s 12 Monkeys and Dale Malloy on FX’s The Riches. His diverse television credits include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Heroes, Gotham, Supernatural, The Originals, and Star Trek: Picard. Todd also starred as Dr. Drakken in Disney+’s Kim Possible.

On the big screen, he’s appeared in Think Like A Dog, Violet, and The Way Back. As a writer, Todd co-created the web-comic Devil Inside and worked on Clandestine for Syfy, a Star Wars video game with Lucasfilm, and the video game Forspoken.

A lifelong Dungeons & Dragons fan, Todd founded Nerd Circus, offering retro merchandise and co-created the cocktail book Mystic Libations. He continues to champion gaming, writing, and charity projects, blending creativity, and community.

Mica Burton is an American actress, professional cosplayer, and digital host known for her work in gaming and pop culture, including stints at Rooster Teeth and as an esports host for the Overwatch League. She is also recognized for her D&D performances on shows like Critical Role and her role as Alandra La Forge in Star Trek: Picard.

Celia Rose Gooding stars as the iconic role of Uhura in the new Paramount+ series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds alongside Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, and Rebecca Romjin. The series is a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series that follows the crew of the USS Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike. It premiered to rave reviews and quickly became “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviews also raved about Celia’s performance, which marked her television debut.

Celia is preparing to be in production for Season 3 of Strange New Worlds, in which she returns as Uhura. She recently wrapped production on Breakwater, an independent crime thriller written and directed by James Rowe.

Prior to film and television, Celia originated the role of Frankie in Diablo Cody and Alanis Morissette’s hit Broadway musical Jagged Little Pill. At 21, she was nominated for a Tony Award on behalf of this role, making her one of the youngest nominees of the Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical category. The production went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

Boosting a robust theater background, Celia starred in roles such as Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown and Carmen Diaz in Fame at The Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy in New York City. Furthermore, Celia studied Acting and Film at the Berridge Conservatory in Normandy, France with a concentration in Shakespeare, and studied dance at The Alvin Ailey Institute.

Celia was born and raised in New York, where she currently resides.

Melissa Navia is a Colombian-American actor and writer. Born and raised in New York, she has portrayed a myriad of singular characters on both the stage and screen, including guest star appearances on Billions, Dietland, and Bull. Melissa stars in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds as Lt. Erica Ortegas, helmsman of the USS Enterprise. She also plays the banjo and is trained in martial arts and sword fighting. 

Award-winning actor Dan Jeannotte is well known to TV viewers for his role as James Stuart, the Earl of Moray in The CW’s period drama Reign and as Sam Kirk in the critically acclaimed series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Hallmark Channel viewers will recognize him as Brandon Russell from The Good Witch series, as well as the lead of several Hallmark movies, including The Royal Nanny and Sense & Sensibility. Dan is also recognizable from a major recurring role as Pinstripe Guy, the Mr. Big-type love interest of the main character in the Freeform hit series The Bold Type. Next up Dan plays a major recurring role on the final season of the hit Hallmark series The Way Home.

Born and raised in Montreal, Jeannotte is a veteran of TV, film and stage. He is a founding member of the award-winning sketch comedy troupe Uncalled For as well as an alumni of the prestigious CFC Actors Conservatory. In 2015 he received the ACTRA Montreal Award for Outstanding Performance in a Video Game for his work in Assassin’s Creed: Unity and was also nominated by Canadian theatre critics and journalists for a MECCA Award for Best Actor for his role in the stage production of  Cherry Docs.

Dan’s other TV credits include recurring roles in Designated Survivor and appearances in Fargo, North Of North, Beauty and the Beast, and more. He has also appeared in the feature films Red II and Death Race. On stage, he has been part of acclaimed productions of Equus, Dance Animal, Hedda Gabler, As You Like It, and Dracula, among others.

Dan lives in Montreal with his family and their dog Barley. When he’s not performing, he writes, goes hiking, and loves reading stories & playing Lego with his son.

Dawnn Lewis is a Grammy Award-winning singer, multiple ASCAP and BMI Award-winning songwriter, and accomplished actor whose career spans film, television, stage, and animation. She appeared in films including I’m Gonna Git You Sucka and Dreamgirls, and has held recurring roles on hit series such as Major Crimes and Better Call Saul. She is also beloved by sci-fi fans for voicing Captain Carol Freeman on Star Trek: Lower Decks, expanding the legacy of the Star Trek universe. Dawnn first became a household name for her role on A Different World—for which she also composed the show’s iconic theme song—and has appeared on series including Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, One Tree Hill, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, CSI: Miami, and Castle.

An in-demand voice artist, Dawnn brings life to beloved animated characters, including LaBarbara on Futurama, Granny McStuffins on Doc McStuffins, and roles in Inside Out and Monsters University. On stage, she earned critical acclaim for her performance as Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act: The Musical, receiving Best Actress honors and award nominations for her electrifying portrayal. Her theater work also includes The Wiz, Intimate Apparel, and numerous world premiere productions, further showcasing her dynamic range as a performer and composer.

Beyond performing, Dawnn is a dedicated advocate and industry leader. She has served on the National Advisory Board of the National Center for Civil & Human Rights and completed multiple terms on the SAG and SAG-AFTRA National Boards, playing a key role in the historic SAG-AFTRA merger. Through her record label, Morning Jewel Music, she released her solo album Worth Waiting For and has collaborated with artists such as Quincy Jones, Grover Washington Jr., and Take 6. Whether teaching master classes, mentoring young artists, or supporting organizations like the United Negro College Fund and Habitat for Humanity, Dawnn continues to uplift communities while building an enduring legacy across entertainment and beyond.

Noël Wells is an actor, writer, and director based in Los Angeles. She made her directorial debut with Mr. Roosevelt, which premiered at SXSW, with Beachside Films producing. Noël wrote the script and starred in the film. She co-starred in indie comedies Happy Anniversary with Ben Schwartz and Social Animals alongside Josh Radnor. Noël also appeared in The Incredible Jessica James with Jessica Williams, Chris O’Dowd, and LaKeith Stanfield, which premiered at Sundance and streamed on Netflix. Her other film credits include Dreamland (Tribeca premiere) and Forev (LA Film Festival premiere).

On TV, Noël voices Ensign D’Vana Tendi in Star Trek: Lower Decks on Paramount+ and starred opposite Aziz Ansari in Netflix’s Emmy-nominated Master of None. A former Saturday Night Live cast member, Noël gained recognition for celebrity impressions like Lena Dunham. Originally from Texas, she first gained attention through her sketch videos on YouTube.