Denise Crosby(I)
- Actress
- Producer
Denise Michelle Crosby was born on November 24, 1957 in Hollywood,
California. Denise graduated from Hollywood High School in 1975 and attended Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz where she enrolled in the Drama Department. Forming part of the extensive Crosby family dynasty, this
striking leading actress, daughter of entertainer
Dennis Crosby, has appeared in
film and television since the early 1980s. A photo spread in a 1979
issue of Playboy magazine and a role in the soap opera
Days of Our Lives (1965) in
1980 allowed Denise to break through to stardom. She had a small role
in 48 Hrs. (1982), playing the villain's girlfriend, and parts in
Trail of the Pink Panther (1982)
and
Curse of the Pink Panther (1983)
(both critically unsuccessful). Her career began to pick up in the
mid-1980s. She appeared in a variety of films and made-for-TV movies,
including Stark (1985),
Malice in Wonderland (1985)
(playing Carole Lombard),
Desert Hearts (1985),
Eliminators (1986) and
Miracle Mile (1988).
In 1987, Denise caught her big break playing Lieutenant Tasha Yar in
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987).
Although not a huge role, the character allowed Denise to build a
sizable fan base that exists to this day. In 1988, she left the series
due to the diminishing size of her role, but returned as a guest star
in the early 1990s. In 1989, she played the mother of a dead toddler
who was brought back to life through an ancient curse in
Stephen King's somewhat hokey
horror novel film adaptation
Pet Sematary (1989). Remaining in
the horror genre, Denise played a similar role of a mother who
discovers her young daughter's doll is evil in the
Child's Play (1988) clone
Dolly Dearest (1991).
The 1990s brought few opportunities to Denise, but she worked
consistently, appearing in a television series in 1993, and made
numerous guest appearances, including a couple of episodes of the
raunchy cable series
Red Shoe Diaries (1992),
which were subsequently released on video. There were also roles in
Relative Fear (1994),
Mutant Species (1995),
Dream Man (1995) and
Executive Power (1997).
More high-profile work arrived in the form of a small role in
Jackie Brown (1997), playing a
public defender, and a sizable part as a pregnant mother in the hit
disaster movie Deep Impact (1998).
She gained recognition as a "Star Trek" fan by producing and presenting
Trekkies (1997) and its sequel
Trekkies 2 (2004).
Since 2000, Denise has appeared on television in guest roles on
The X-Files (1993),
JAG (1995),
The Agency (2001),
Threat Matrix (2003),
Eyes (2005) and
Dexter (2006). She acted in the
award-winning short film
The Bus Stops Here (2003), had
a leading role in the western/horror indie film
Legend of the Phantom Rider (2002)
and has recently appeared in a horror film by legendary genre director
Tobe Hooper,
Mortuary (2005). This capable
actress continues to appear on television and in film. Best known for
her "Star Trek" days, Denise embraces her fans often at conventions and
was appearing opposite her husband Ken Sylk in
the drama film
Ripple Effect (2007).
California. Denise graduated from Hollywood High School in 1975 and attended Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz where she enrolled in the Drama Department. Forming part of the extensive Crosby family dynasty, this
striking leading actress, daughter of entertainer
Dennis Crosby, has appeared in
film and television since the early 1980s. A photo spread in a 1979
issue of Playboy magazine and a role in the soap opera
Days of Our Lives (1965) in
1980 allowed Denise to break through to stardom. She had a small role
in 48 Hrs. (1982), playing the villain's girlfriend, and parts in
Trail of the Pink Panther (1982)
and
Curse of the Pink Panther (1983)
(both critically unsuccessful). Her career began to pick up in the
mid-1980s. She appeared in a variety of films and made-for-TV movies,
including Stark (1985),
Malice in Wonderland (1985)
(playing Carole Lombard),
Desert Hearts (1985),
Eliminators (1986) and
Miracle Mile (1988).
In 1987, Denise caught her big break playing Lieutenant Tasha Yar in
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987).
Although not a huge role, the character allowed Denise to build a
sizable fan base that exists to this day. In 1988, she left the series
due to the diminishing size of her role, but returned as a guest star
in the early 1990s. In 1989, she played the mother of a dead toddler
who was brought back to life through an ancient curse in
Stephen King's somewhat hokey
horror novel film adaptation
Pet Sematary (1989). Remaining in
the horror genre, Denise played a similar role of a mother who
discovers her young daughter's doll is evil in the
Child's Play (1988) clone
Dolly Dearest (1991).
The 1990s brought few opportunities to Denise, but she worked
consistently, appearing in a television series in 1993, and made
numerous guest appearances, including a couple of episodes of the
raunchy cable series
Red Shoe Diaries (1992),
which were subsequently released on video. There were also roles in
Relative Fear (1994),
Mutant Species (1995),
Dream Man (1995) and
Executive Power (1997).
More high-profile work arrived in the form of a small role in
Jackie Brown (1997), playing a
public defender, and a sizable part as a pregnant mother in the hit
disaster movie Deep Impact (1998).
She gained recognition as a "Star Trek" fan by producing and presenting
Trekkies (1997) and its sequel
Trekkies 2 (2004).
Since 2000, Denise has appeared on television in guest roles on
The X-Files (1993),
JAG (1995),
The Agency (2001),
Threat Matrix (2003),
Eyes (2005) and
Dexter (2006). She acted in the
award-winning short film
The Bus Stops Here (2003), had
a leading role in the western/horror indie film
Legend of the Phantom Rider (2002)
and has recently appeared in a horror film by legendary genre director
Tobe Hooper,
Mortuary (2005). This capable
actress continues to appear on television and in film. Best known for
her "Star Trek" days, Denise embraces her fans often at conventions and
was appearing opposite her husband Ken Sylk in
the drama film
Ripple Effect (2007).