It’s been years since Star Trek: The Next Generation first aired, but despite that, the love for its characters is still going strong. The show gave fans a fresh take on the Star Trek universe, with several fresh faces leading the way. Led by Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard and Brent Spiner as Data, the series ran for seven glorious seasons and became a sci-fi classic.
Many of the cast members have stayed connected to the Star Trek universe through spin-offs, movies, and fan events. Others, on the other hand, have explored new paths – such as acting in other shows, writing books, or speaking up for causes they believe in. Some even took surprising turns in their careers, but one thing’s for sure – they’ve all continued to make an impact. So, let’s look at what the TNG stars are doing in 2025.
15. Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard)
Before becoming one of Star Trek’s most legendary captains, Patrick Stewart spent several years working in theatres and playing smaller roles in Dune and Excalibur. But everything changed when he stepped into the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation. His calm, intelligent, and commanding presence made Picard a fan favorite and one of the most respected leaders in sci-fi history.
After TNG, Stewart found huge success in another major franchise. Yes, we’re talking about the X-Men movies, in which he played Professor Charles Xavier, starting in 2000. Over time, he has appeared in seven X-Men movies – the last one being Logan (2017). In 2010, he was officially knighted for his contributions to drama, and even after that, he didn’t slow down.
That’s right – he starred in intense movies like Green Room and led the cast of the comedy series Blunt Talk. Moreover, he has also lent his voice to animated shows like American Dad. Beyond acting, Patrick Stewart is also known for speaking out on political and social issues, perfectly using his fame to raise awareness.
In recent years, he returned to the role of Picard on Star Trek: Picard, which premiered in 2020. With this, it looks like in one way or another, Patrick Stewart will always be connected to the role that skyrocketed his career in the industry.
14. Jonathan Frakes (Commander William Riker)
Jonathan Frakes played the loyal and confident Commander William Riker, second-in-command on the Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Riker’s strong leadership and influence made him a standout character. But the actor playing him didn’t just shine in front of the camera – he also stepped behind it. That’s right – during TNG, he directed several episodes of the show and quickly became one of the franchise’s trusted directors.
After the show ended, Frakes directed two Star Trek movies, namely First Contact (1996) and Insurrection (1998). Moreover, he also directed episodes of other Star Trek shows like Deep Space Nine and Voyager, perfectly proving that he had a strong vision for the sci-fi world.
Even outside the Star Trek universe, Frakes built a solid career as a director and worked on shows like NCIS: Los Angeles, Leverage, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Not only this, but he also found success as a voice actor, most notably for playing the clever villain David Xanatos in the animated series Gargoyles. In recent years, he has voiced J’son, Star-Lord’s father, in Guardians of the Galaxy.
From 1998 to 2002, he even hosted Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction, which was a show exploring strange and mysterious stories. He also directed episodes for Star Trek: Discovery, which concluded in 2024, further establishing his love for the popular franchise.
13. Marina Sirtis (Counselor Deanna Troi)
Before joining Star Trek, Marina Sirtis appeared in a few British television shows and had small roles in movies like Death Wish 3. Her big break in the industry came when she was cast as Counselor Deanna Troi on Star Trek: The Next Generation. As a half-Betazoid with empathic powers, Troi helped guide the crew through emotional struggles and played a key role during tense diplomatic missions.
When The Next Generation ended, Sirtis didn’t say goodbye to the role and returned as Troi in both Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Enterprise, further keeping her connection to the franchise alive. Outside of Star Trek, she continued acting both in movies and TV, with appearances in popular shows like NCIS and Scandal.
She also made her mark as a voice actor, and from 1994 to 1997, she voiced the fierce and complex Demona in the animated series Gargoyles. In more recent years, she has voiced the villainous Queen Bee in Young Justice and plays Cosma (a cosmic enemy) in O.K. K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes. Whether on screen or behind the mic, she continues to entertain fans.
On a more personal front, she lost her husband Michael Lamper in 2019. Moreover, in 2021, she decided to shift back to her home country, England.
12. LeVar Burton (Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge)
Even before stepping into the Star Trek world, LeVar Burton was already a household name. He first gained widespread attention for playing Kunta Kinte in the powerful 1977 miniseries Roots. Years later, he took on the role of Geordi La Forge, the Chief Engineer of the Enterprise. As La Forge, Burton portrayed a smart, dedicated, and innovative leader who often saved the day with his technical skills and calm under pressure.
But Burton wasn’t just acting here. In fact, he also directed several episodes of TNG and went on to direct for other Star Trek shows like Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise. Outside of Star Trek, he made a major impact on children’s education. He hosted the beloved show Reading Rainbow from 1983 to 2003 and encouraged generations of kids to fall in love with books.
In 2012, he also helped bring the series back as a digital learning platform. The actor has also created a podcast called LeVar Burton Reads, where he shares short stories with adult listeners.
Apart from this, he’s done voice acting as well, most notably as Kwame, the Earth-powered Planeteer in Captain Planet. So, all in all, through every chapter of his career, Burton has remained passionate about storytelling and education.
11. Denise Crosby (Chief of Security Tasha Yar)
Denise Crosby was first supposed to play the role of Counselor Deanna Troi, but she eventually took on the role of Tasha Yar, the ship’s tough and fearless Chief of Security. However, her character didn’t stay for long, and the actress left the show in the first season only, with Yar being killed off early in the series.
Still, that wasn’t the end, and Crosby made a few surprise returns, playing both Tasha and her part-Romulan daughter, Commander Sela, in later episodes.
After Star Trek, the actress continued acting in both movies and television. She had supporting roles in movies like Pet Sematary and Deep Impact, to name a few. But one of her most interesting projects was Trekkies, a 1997 documentary she produced and hosted, which explored the passionate world of Star Trek fans. It became so popular that a sequel, Trekkies 2, also followed in 2004.
She has also popped up in several other well-known TV shows over the years as well, including The X-Files, Mad Men, and The Walking Dead, where she played a leader of a group of cannibals. More recently, she had a recurring role on Ray Donovan and has even talked about making Trekkies 3 in the future.
10. Michael Dorn (Lieutenant Commander Wolf)
Michael Dorn was never meant to be a major character on Star Trek, but his role as Worf quickly won everyone over. As the first Klingon to serve in Starfleet, Worf started off in a smaller role but eventually became the ship’s Chief of Security. His journey included some of the most powerful and emotional stories in the show, making him one of the most standout characters in Star Trek history.
When TNG ended, Dorn didn’t leave the Star Trek universe and joined Deep Space Nine in 1995, where he played his iconic character again. However, this time he served as the Strategic Operations Officer and stayed on the show for four seasons.
Outside of Star Trek, Michael Dorn has found success in both live-action and animation. He had recurring roles in shows like Castle, but he’s especially known for his voice work and has voiced characters like Steel and Kalibak in several DC animated shows, and was part of Gargoyles, along with some of his TNG co-stars.
In recent years, Dorn voiced Captain Mozar in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the mysterious Prometheus in Arrow.
9. Gates McFadden (Dr. Beverly Crusher)
Before stepping into the Star Trek world, Gates McFadden worked behind the scenes with the Jim Henson Company. She helped choreograph puppets in movies such as Labyrinth. In TNG, she played the role of Dr. Beverly Crusher, the ship’s head doctor and mother to Wesley. But after the first season, she was let go due to behind-the-scenes conflicts.
Thankfully, she returned in Season 3 and stayed until the end of the series. After Star Trek, she acted in shows like Mad About You and Franklin & Bash. However, most of her work moved off-screen. McFadden began teaching acting and directing at top universities like Harvard, Brown, and Brandeis.
She also ran a major theatre company in Los Angeles from 2009 to 2014. While she hasn’t acted much in recent years, she remains deeply respected in the theater world.
8. Diana Muldaur (Dr. Katherine Pulaski)
Actress Diana Muldaur already had Star Trek experience before joining The Next Generation cast. That’s right – she appeared in the original Star Trek series in the 1960s as two different characters. In TNG’s second season, she stepped in as Dr. Katherine Pulaski when Gates McFadden was briefly off the show. Her character was smart and confident, perfectly reminding fans of Dr. McCoy from the original series.
But sadly, she stayed in the show for only one season. After her time on TNG, she played lawyer Rosalind Shays on L.A. Law, one of her most famous roles, which also earned her an Emmy nomination. Later, she voiced Dr. Leslie Thompkins in Batman: The Animated Series, after which she quietly stepped away from the acting industry to enjoy a more private life.
7. Brent Spiner (Lieutenant Commander Data)
Brent Spiner played the android Commander Data, a fan favorite on The Next Generation. As a character, Data was curious, logical, and always trying to understand human emotions. Along with this, Spiner also played other characters in the series, like Data’s evil twin, Lore, and their creator, Dr. Soong.
After TNG ended, the actor returned to the Star Trek universe in Enterprise as a different Soong ancestor. He also took on roles in other sci-fi shows like Threshold and Warehouse 13. Outside Trek, he played Dr. Brackish Okun in Independence Day and its sequel. With his strong acting skills, he also found success in voice work, playing the Joker in Young Justice and voicing many other animated characters.
6. Wil Wheaton (Ensign Wesley Crusher)
Wil Wheaton played Wesley Crusher, Dr. Crusher’s gifted teenage son. While some fans found him too perfect, others saw him as a relatable young genius. Though Wheaton left the cast in Season 4, he returned occasionally in guest appearances. After Star Trek, he built a new career around geek culture.
He had recurring roles in Eureka, Leverage, and famously played himself on The Big Bang Theory. He also hosted TableTop, a popular YouTube series about board games. Although his show The Wil Wheaton Project was short-lived, he’s stayed active in voice acting, writing, and podcasting. He also voiced Aqualad in Teen Titans Go!
5. Colm Meaney (Chief Miles O’Brien)
Colm Meaney started with a small, unnamed role in TNG’s first episode. But his character quickly became a fan favorite, eventually becoming Chief Miles O’Brien, the transporter operator. As a character, he wasn’t flashy but was very dependable and relatable.
O’Brien eventually married and had a child with his wife Keiko. After playing this role in TNG for six seasons, the actor joined Deep Space Nine, where he was promoted to Chief Engineer. Outside the Star Trek world, Meaney appeared in major movies like Con Air, Layer Cake, and The Damned United. He also starred as Doc Durant on Hell on Wheels, a western drama that ran for five seasons.
4. Michelle Forbes (Ensign Ro Laren)
Michelle Forbes made a strong impression as Ro Laren, a bold and rebellious Bajoran officer. She joined the show in its fifth season and brought a very different energy to the bridge crew. Her story explored deeper Star Trek themes, including political rebellion and identity.
Although she never returned to Star Trek after TNG, Forbes built a strong television career. She played important roles in 24, The Killing, and Homicide: Life on the Street. She also appeared in Battlestar Galactica, True Blood, and Orphan Black.
3. Dwight Schultz (Lieutenant Reginald Barclay)
Before The Next Generation, Dwight Schultz was famous for playing Murdock in The A-Team. On Star Trek, he became Lieutenant Reginald Barclay, a nervous but brilliant officer with a love for the holodeck. Unlike other officers, he struggled with anxiety and self-doubt, making him very relatable to many fans.
The actor appeared in both TNG and Voyager, where he played a key role in helping the Voyager crew communicate with Starfleet. Outside of Star Trek, Dwight Schultz found success as a voice actor. He voiced characters in games like Mass Effect, Final Fantasy, and Fallout. He also worked on shows such as Ben 10 and Chowder and voiced the villain Professor Pyg in Batman: Arkham Knight.
2. Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan)
Whoopi Goldberg joined TNG in Season 2 as Guinan, the mysterious and wise bartender in Ten Forward. Her character had a calm presence and often offered guidance to the crew, especially Captain Picard. Even though she wasn’t in every episode, Guinan became a key part of the series.
This didn’t surprise many, since Goldberg had an Oscar-winning career before starting on Trek and continued to shine afterward. She starred in hits like Ghost and Sister Act and lent her voice to The Lion King. In recent years, she has become well-known as a co-host on The View, where she shares her opinions on current events and culture.
1. John de Lancie (Q)
John de Lancie played Q, a god-like trickster who loved to test humanity, especially Captain Picard. He appeared in TNG’s very first episode and returned several times throughout the series. As a character, Q was powerful, unpredictable, and often hilarious.
De Lancie also played Q in Voyager and Deep Space Nine. Outside the Star Trek world, he acted in shows like The West Wing and Breaking Bad. In the latter, he had a small but emotional role as Jane’s grieving father. He’s also well known to a newer generation as the voice of Discord in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. He even made a documentary about the show’s fanbase called Bronies.
You can currently stream all the seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation on Apple TV and Paramount+.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
