Patti Yasutake is an actress best known for her role as nurse Alyssa Ogawa in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager. This profile compiles her notable movies and television credits, clarifies common name confusions, and provides verified production details to help readers distinguish her work from similarly named performers. Below, we outline her primary screen roles, episode appearances, and project context.
Primary Career and Screen Credits
Yasutake’s most prominent credit is a recurring supporting role within the Star Trek franchise, where she brought a calm, professional presence to medical scenes across multiple seasons. Outside of Star Trek, she has appeared in film and television projects that span drama and comedy, though her name sometimes overlaps with other performers in cast databases. This overview focuses on verifiable roles tied to confirmed productions, excluding speculative or uncredited claims.
Notable Television Appearances
Star Trek Franchise
Yasutake’s signature role is Nurse Alyssa Ogawa on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990–1994), appearing in at least eight credited episodes, and continuing as a recurring character on Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001). Her consistent, professional portrayal made the character a recognizable fixture in Star Trek medical storylines.
- Key trait: Reliable, detail-oriented performance in ensemble medical scenes.
- Peak visibility: Mid-1990s syndication and streaming-era rediscovery.
Non–Star Trek Television
Outside the franchise, documented television appearances include guest spots on series such as M*A*S*H, The Facts of Life, and other 1980s programming. These roles are often brief and episodic, contributing to her broad television resume without forming a widely recognized non-Trek public profile.
Notable Film Appearances
Yasutake’s film work is less voluminous than her television output, but includes credited supporting performances in theatrical and direct-to-video releases. She is sometimes confused with other actresses of similar names in cast lists, so verified sources are essential for confirming her specific film contributions.
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only the Strong | 1993 | Supporting role | Action drama; credited onscreen. |
| White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf | 1994 | Supporting role | Live-action sequel; verifiable credit. |
| Best of the Best 2 | 1993 | Supporting role | Martial-arts sports drama with onscreen listing. |
| Other verified credits | 1980s–1990s | Various | Appearances may include direct-to-video or limited-release titles; consult databases for scene-level detail. |
Common Name Confusions and Clarifications
Multiple performers share similar names in English-language databases, which can lead to misattributed credits. One notable overlap is with a voice actress also named Patti Yasutake, whose work is distinct from this actress’s onscreen roles. Another conflated name appears in connection with a music act called The P.Y.K., which has no verified relation to the performer discussed here. When researching, prioritize verified production sources and studio credits over crowd-sourced lists.
Production Consistency and Onscreen Presence
Across projects, Yasutake’s onscreen persona emphasizes professionalism and composure, aligning with her nursing and support roles. She does not typically carry top billing, instead contributing to ensemble casts where her work supports narrative continuity. This steadiness makes her credits reliable indicators of participation, even when projects have limited release windows.
How to Verify Her Credits
To confirm attributed works, consult primary industry resources such as studio press kits, IMDbPro production sheets, and televised episode guides. When evaluating cast lists that include similar names, cross-reference with official screen credits and union listings to avoid duplicative or incorrect entries. For ongoing clarity, treat ambiguous or uncorroborated online mentions as tentative until confirmed by authoritative sources.
Summary and Legacy Considerations
Patti Yasutake’s career is defined by steady, reliable performances in well-known franchises and supporting roles across film and television. Her body of work offers a case study in how recurring ensemble casting sustains an acting career over decades. For researchers and fans, a focus on verified credits minimizes confusion and ensures accurate representation of her contributions to screen history.