‘Star Trek’ Actress Patti Yasutake Dead At 70 – ‘It Was An Honor To Know Her’

Star Trek fans are in mourning this week after the death of Patti Yasutake. She died on Monday at the age of 70 after a long battle with cancer.

The talented actress was probably best known for playing Nurse Alyssa Ogawa in several Star Trek ventures, like The Next Generation and the film Generations.

Yasutake Passes Away

Yasutake’s death was confirmed by her longtime manager Kyle Fritz.

“Patti was not only a client but a ‘chosen family member,’” Fritz told People Magazine. “She was the very first actress I ever signed and a friendship of over 30 years ensued. It was an honor to know her, work with her and love her.”

Fritz later told The Hollywood Reporter that Yasutake died at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center. This came after a long battle with a rare form of T-cell lymphoma.

Yasutake’s History

Born in Gardena, California in 1953, Yasutake studied acting at the University of California, Los Angeles before graduating with a theater degree. She then launched a theater career that spanned decades. During that time, she performed at venues such as the New Mexico Repertory Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, and The Westwood Playhouse (now The Geffen Playhouse).

On screen, Yasutake’s big break came when she was cast as Umeki, a Japanese woman adapting to life in America, in the Ron Howard movie Gung Ho (1986). She then got to reprise her role in an ABC spin-off of the film that lasted 9 episodes.

Later, in 1988, Yasutake was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in The Wash. Various roles in film and television followed from there.

Yasutake will arguably best be remembered for playing Nurse Alyssa Ogawa on Star Trek: The Next Generation. She appeared in 16 episodes of Star Trek: TNG across four seasons. Indeed, her first appearance was in the Season 4 episode “Future Imperfect.”

Yasutake went on to reprise the character of Nurse Ogawa in the feature films Star Trek: Generations (1994) and Star Trek: First Contact (1996). She also lent her voice to the video game Star Trek: Armada II (2001).

Yasutake’s Other Television Work

Yasutake’s other television credits include guest spots in The Closer, ER, Grey’s Anatomy, Knots Landing, Living Single, Mr. Belvedere, Murphy Brown, Picket Fences, Scarecrow and Mrs. King and T.J. Hooker.

Yasutake continued acting right up until the end of her life. Most recently, she played Fumi Nakai on the hit Netflix television show Beef, which won best limited series at the 2024 Golden Globe awards. She appeared on seven episodes of the show as the fierce mother of Joseph Lee’s character George Nakai and mother-in-law of Ali Wong’s Amy Lau.

When she wasn’t acting herself, Yasutake enjoyed directing workshop presentations at the Mark Taper Forum, Arizona Theater Company, Los Angeles Theater Center and Geffen Playhouse. She is survived by one sister and one brother.

A memorial for Yasutake is set to be held at East West Players. A donation to the theater company can be made in her memory.