Star Trek: The Next Generation

Cast

Main characters

Differing with TOS, the cast of TNG was subject to some change, most notably in the latter half of the first season following the death of the Enterprise's security chief, Natasha Yar. The scripts quickly adapted, having Worf, the navigator, replace Yar as security chief and La Forge, the pilot, moved to the position of Chief Engineer.

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Wesley Crusher was also written out of the show in order to join Starfleet Academy, after a brief spell serving as helmsman under the rank of Acting Ensign. Dr. Beverly Crusher was written out of the show for the second season, being replaced by Diana Muldaur's Dr. Katherine Pulaski. Due to fan objection, Dr. Crusher returned in the third season. Diana Muldaur also featured as a guest star in two episodes of TOS.

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Also, not all of the main characters had a place on the Bridge, the ship's command center. La Forge, the Chief Engineer, held his primary position in Engineering, and Dr. Crusher, the Chief Medical Officer, held her place in Sickbay.

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Recurring characters

Ms. Barrett (wife of Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry), has also been the voice of the ship's computer in most Trek incarnations, and was Nurse Chapel in the original series, as well as the First Officer in the first pilot of the original series, "The Cage". It is interesting to note that the First Officer in The Cage was referred to by Captain Christopher Pike as Number One, a nickname that recurred in TNG with Captain Picard's use of it when referring to his First Officer, Commander Riker.

Related Topics:
Gene Roddenberry - Nurse Chapel - The Cage

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Alien races

See List of Star Trek races

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