Actress Patti Yasutake, greatest recognized to Trekkies as Nurse Alyssa Ogawa, died on August 5, 2024, of a uncommon sort of T-cell lymphoma. She was 70 years outdated.
Nurse Ogawa first appeared on “Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology” within the episode “Future Imperfect” (November 12, 1990) kind of as a background character. She was considered one of Dr. Crusher’s retinue of medical employees, there to present viewers the impression that the ship’s sickbay was consistently bustling. She went on to star in 14 further episodes of the present, and was often merely standing subsequent to Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden), passing her instruments or saying “Sure, Physician.” She had a very good bedside method, and her repeated appearances had viewers questioning who she was and what her story is perhaps. Because the collection progressed, Nurse Ogawa’s function expanded incrementally, ultimately resulting in her turning into a authentic supporting participant.
Certainly, by the present’s seventh season, Nurse Ogawa started to have vital episodes of her personal. In “Parallels” (November 29, 1993), for example, Worf (Michael Dorn) discovered himself unexpectedly shunting between parallel dimensions, and in considered one of them, Dr. Crusher was useless (or simply absent) and Dr. Ogawa had taken her place. It was good to know that, even in a parallel universe, Nurse Ogawa’s skilled medical profession would proceed apace.
Nurse Ogawa was additionally considered one of a number of featured characters within the episode “Decrease Decks” (February 7, 1994), which might function the first inspiration for the modern-day animated collection that shares its namesake. That episode was a couple of random assortment of ensigns on the usS. Enterprise, Nurse Ogawa amongst them, who do not all the time get a full description of the missions the senior employees is concerned with. It is irritating once you solely must observe orders.
Nurse Ogawa’s 14 episodes
On the DVD commentary monitor for “Decrease Decks,” author René Echevarria stated Nurse Ogawa was included amongst that episode’s principal characters as a result of the “NextGen” writers all the time favored Patti Yasutake, and needed to present her one thing vital to do. She wasn’t in earlier drafts of that script, however Echevarria discovered a option to work her in.
Within the season 7 episode “Genesis” (March 21, 1994), Nurse Ogawa introduced to Dr. Crusher that she was pregnant, a shock to her boss, because it did not look like her relationship with the off-screen Lieutenant Andrew Powell. Certainly, Nurse Ogawa appears to have had a number of romantic relationships on “NextGen,” together with with somebody named Ensign Markson, as said within the episode “Hooked up” (November 8, 1993). Andrew Powell was stated to have proposed marriage in “Decrease Decks,” and Ogawa would change into pregnant with their baby by “Genesis.” Nurse Ogawa’s being pregnant proved to be a plot level in that episode. A virus was inflicting the ship’s crew to devolve into animals (Ogawa turned an ape), however her fetus was protected by its amniotic locale. Information (Brent Spiner) was capable of extrapolate a remedy from Nurse Ogawa’s physique.
Additionally notable: in 1993, Patti Yasutake appeared in a TV business for Hallmark’s “Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology” collectible decoration. That 12 months, Hallmark put out an decoration of the usS. Enterprise D, and the business depicted Nurse Ogawa, in her quarters, asking the ship’s pc (Majel Barrett) concerning the object in query. She favored it a lot, she replicated one herself.
Nurse Ogawa within the films
Though she has little to do in them, Nurse Ogawa additionally appeared within the first two “Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology” spinoff films “Star Trek: Generations” and “Star Trek: First Contact.” Within the former, she was merely a medical skilled once more, standing alongside Dr. Crusher. Whereas nothing was added to her story, it was comforting to see that she was nonetheless on the ship for its first big-screen outing. In “First Contact,” she could possibly be seen steering individuals to security throughout a Borg assault. Trying carefully at her rank pips within the films reveals that Nurse Ogawa had been promoted from an ensign to a lieutenant.
Yasutake stayed within the orbit of “Star Trek” for just a few years thereafter, offering her voice for varied characters in “Star Trek: Armada II” (2001), and showing as Dr. Beverly Krasher within the 2016 “Star Trek” spoof “Unbelievable!!!!!” That movie additionally featured Snoop Dogg and over 40 recognized Trek actors, together with Walter Koenig, and Nichelle Nichols in her ultimate movie function.
Yasutake started her profession within the Nineteen Eighties, and a few may recall her function as Umeki in Ron Howard’s “Gung Ho,” a task she reprised for the spinoff TV collection. She was nominated for an Impartial Spirit Award in 1988 for her efficiency in Michael Toshiyuki Uno’s “The Wash,” and performed a newscaster within the Sylvester Stallone automobile “Cease! Or My Mother Will Shoot!” She’s a cult favourite as Mrs. Howard in “Drop Lifeless Attractive” however most just lately, Yasutake appeared on the closely awarded TV collection “Beef” as Fumi.
She was all the time a welcome presence on “Star Trek,” and a heat human being in any other case. Relaxation in peace.