Denise Crosby
An actress who boldly left Starfleet security behind to explore a wild spectrum of characters, from B-movie queens to documentary producers.
Born 1957 (age 69)·American actress·Birthday: November 24·Baby Boomers
Biography
Denise Crosby carries the legacy of Hollywood royalty—she is the granddaughter of singer and actor Bing Crosby—but she carved her own distinct path. While millions know her as the stern, tragic Security Chief Tasha Yar on 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' her decision to leave the hit series after its first season was a defining act of creative courage. Rather than be typecast, she dove into a fascinating array of roles, often in horror and cult films like 'Pet Sematary' and 'The Nightmare Before Christmas.' Her most significant contribution may be behind the camera: she produced and starred in the documentary 'Trekkies,' a groundbreaking and affectionate look at Star Trek fandom that treated fans with respect and curiosity long before such explorations were common. Her career is a study in navigating fame on one's own terms.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Denise was born in 1957, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Denise Was Born
The biggest hits of 1957
#1 Movie
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Best Picture
The Bridge on the River Kwai
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Denise's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1957Born
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1962Started school
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1970Became a teenager
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1973Could drive
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1975Could vote
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1978Turned 21
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1987Turned 30
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 40
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 50
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 60
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 69 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played the groundbreaking role of Security Chief Tasha Yar on 'Star Trek: The Next Generation.'
- Produced and starred in the influential documentary 'Trekkies' (1997), exploring fan culture.
- Portrayed the villainous Romulan commander Sela, a role she created after leaving the series.
- Built a sustained career in film and television with notable roles in genre projects like 'The Flash' and 'Ray Donovan.'
Did You Know?
She is the granddaughter of entertainment icon Bing Crosby.
She was a successful fashion model before turning to acting.
She initially auditioned for the role of Counselor Deanna Troi on 'Star Trek: The Next Generation.'
She provided the voice for the character of Shock in 'The Nightmare Before Christmas.'
“I left Star Trek to avoid being the expendable female security officer.”
