Denise Crosby Biography

(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Tasha Yar’ in the TV Series ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’)

Birthday: November 24, 1957 (Sagittarius)

Born In: Los Angeles, California, United States

Denise Crosby is a seasoned American actress and model. She is best recognised for her portrayal of the characters of Tasha Yar and and Sela in the American sci-fi television series ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ (ST:TNG). Grand-daughter of famous yesteryear American singer-actor, Bing Crosby, and daughter of American singer-actor, Dennis Crosby, Denise forayed into showbiz early. She commenced modelling and garnered attention posing nude for ‘Playboy’ magazine. She featured in several films and television productions before getting her big break with the role of Tasha Yar in ST:TNG. She later played Sela in the series. She co-executively produced and starred in the documentary film ‘Trekkies’ and executive produced and starred in its sequel ‘Trekkies 2’. Other notable small-screen performances of Denise are the series ‘Key West’ and ‘Ray Donovan’. Over the years, she has starred in many films like ‘Pet Sematary’, ‘Dolly Dearest’ and ‘Mortuary’; and featured in notable ones like ‘48 Hrs.’, ‘Jackie Brown’, and ‘Deep Impact’.
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Quick Facts

Also Known As: Denise Michelle Crosby

Age: 66 Years, 66 Year Old Females

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Ken Sylk, Geoffrey Edwards (m. 1983–1990)

father: Dennis Crosby

mother: Marilyn Scott

siblings: Catherine Denise Crosby, Dennis Crosby Jr, Erin Colleen Crosby, Gregory Crosby, Kelly Lee Crosby, Patrick Anthony Crosby

children: August Sylk

Actresses T V & Movie Producers

Height: 5'8" (173 cm), 5'8" Females

Notable Alumni: Cabrillo College

U.S. State: California

City: Los Angeles

More Facts

education: Cabrillo College

Childhood & Early Life
Denise Crosby was born out of wedlock to Dennis Crosby and Marilyn Miller Scott, on November 24, 1957, in Hollywood, Los Angeles,. Named after her father, Denise is grand-daughter of famous singer-actor Bing Crosby and actress-singer-dancer Dixie Lee.
Her father married model Pat Sheehan in May 1958 and was subsequently sued by Denise’s mother, over her paternity. The highly publicized lawsuit continued for three years following which Dennis was ordered to pay child support and legal fees to Marilyn Miller Scott. Reportedly Denise never met Bing although she was 19 when he died.
She studied at LeConte Junior High School and Hollywood High School. She attended Cabrillo College and studied theatre. She, however, dropped out of college after she was deeply hurt when a drama teacher tried to illustrate to the class the kind of crap that is linked with Hollywood by referring Denise’s interview in a local paper where she discussed her famous family background.
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Career
Denise Crosby stepped into modelling and turned heads in 1979 by posing nude for ‘Playboy’ magazine. Her initial on-screen features included an uncredited role in the hit 1979 film ‘10’ and a role in television series ‘Days of Our Lives’ in 1980.
In 1982, she played a strong-minded lesbian, Sally, in the critically and commercially successful ‘48 Hrs’. Moving on she featured in other films like ‘Curse of the Pink Panther’ (1983) and ‘Eliminators’ (1986) and television films like ‘Stark’ (1985) and ‘Malice in Wonderland’ (1985).
She featured in music videos of the song Dancin' by Chris Isaak in 1985 and the song ‘No Stranger to Love’ by Black Sabbath in 1986.
Her real breakthrough came in 1987 when she was cast as Tasha Yar, the chief of security and tactical officer, in ST:TNG. Denise was initially chosen to play Counsellor Deanna Troi, however later the series creator, Gene Roddenberry, switched the roles that had been originally given to Denise and Marina Sirtis.
Although initially Yar featured prominently in ST:TNG in episodes like ‘The Naked Now’ and ‘Code of Honor’, eventually focus was shifted on other characters while Yar’s character diminished in size. Disappointed by such development Denise decided to quit ST:TNG following which Yar was killed in the episode ‘Skin of Evil’.
Denise Crosby starred as Rachel Creed in the blockbuster hit 1989 film ‘Pet Sematary’ apart from other films like ‘Dolly Dearest’ (1991) and ‘Mortuary’ (2005); and featured in notable films like Quentin Tarantino's ‘Jackie Brown’ (1997), and ‘Deep Impact’ (1998).
She later thrived in persuading ST:TNG producers to cast her back in the series. This saw her guest appearing in the February 19, 1990 aired episode ‘Yesterday's Enterprise’, in which an alternate timeline was created when her character was still alive. Denise again featured as Yar in the May 23, 1994 aired series finale episode ‘All Good Things...’
Meanwhile in 1991, she played Yar's daughter, the half-Romulan Commander Sela in ST:TNG episodes ‘The Mind's Eye’, ‘Redemption, Part II’ and ‘Unification, Part II’. She reprised the character in the series finale ‘All Good Things...’; in the Star Trek: Armada video game (2000); and in the Star Trek Online (2010) video game where she also gave voiceover as Yar .
She starred in the 1993 television series ‘Key West’; played recurring role in ‘Ray Donovan’ (2013-17); and featured in other series like ‘Diagnosis: Murder’ (1995–1996), ‘Southland’ (2009–2010) and ‘The Walking Dead’ (2014).
She is the co-executive producer of the October 18, 1997 released documentary ‘Trekkies’ and executive producer of its April 20, 2004, released sequel ‘Trekkies 2’. She starred in both the documentaries.
Denise Crosby portrayed the character of Dr. Jenna Yar, grandmother of Yar, in the episode ‘Blood and Fire’ from the fan-created sci-fi web-series ‘Star Trek: New Voyages’ in 2009.
She received positive reviews performing in the play ‘Orpheus Descending’ by Tennessee Williams at a Theater in Los Angeles in January and February 2010.
Family & Personal Life
From 1983 to 1990, Denise Crosby was married to Geoffrey Edwards, son of American filmmaker Blake Edwards.
In 1995, she married Ken Sylk with whom she has a son August William Sylk, born on June 17, 1998.

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- Denise Crosby Biography
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