Patti Yasutake, Star Trek Generations And Beef Actress, Passes Away At 70 After A Long Battle With Cancer

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As a die-hard Star Trek fan, the news of Patti Yasutake’s passing leaves me heartbroken. Her portrayal of Nurse Ogawa was not just a character on my screen, but a beacon of inspiration and representation that I cherished deeply. Born and raised in the same city as me, her journey from UCLA stages to Hollywood sets is one that resonates deeply with my own dreams.

Patti Yasutake, famously recognized for playing Nurse Alyssa Ogawa in Star Trek Generations, has sadly passed away at the age of 70 after a prolonged fight against an uncommon type of T-cell lymphoma. According to her longtime manager Kyle Fritz, she took her last breath on Monday, August 5, at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center. This news was shared with publications such as People and The Hollywood Reporter.

“Patti was the very first person I worked with when I started out over three decades ago,” he expressed in a statement to THR. “Each day spent collaborating with her was a joy, and I’ll dearly miss her vivacity, skill, and determination, but above all, our cherished friendship.”

As a born-and-bred Angelino on the 6th of September, 1953, I was fortunate to grow up in the vibrant cities of Gardena and Inglewood. My journey took me to the prestigious UCLA, where I earned my theater degree and continued to embrace the acting world. My professional life commenced with the esteemed East West Players troupe, where I had the privilege of collaborating with the Oscar-nominated Japanese American actor Mako. Our bond deepened over the years, leading us to share the screen as co-stars in The Wash for a remarkable six-year stint.

Later in his life, Yasutake took on the role of a theater director and was instrumental in the creation and performance of first-time productions for East West Players (Doughball), the Richmond Shepherd Theater (The Single Man), and the Ensemble Studio Theater (Father, I Must Have Rice). Additionally, he oversaw workshops and presentations at the Mark Taper Forum, Arizona Theater Company, LA Theater Center, and Geffen Playhouse.

Yasutake’s Hollywood resume features notable roles such as in Ron Howard’s 1986 comedy “Gung Ho,” which was a spinoff of the movie for ABC that ran for only nine episodes between 1986 and 1987. Other credits include “Drop Dead Gorgeous,” “Blind Spot,” “Road to Galveston,” and various other projects.

More recently, Yasutake starred in the critically acclaimed Netflix miniseries titled “Beef,” where he played the character Fumi Nakai. This series was awarded the title of Best Limited Series at the 2024 Golden Globes.

Yasutake’s surviving family members are her siblings, Linda and Steven. A memorial event for the deceased actress is scheduled at East West Players on August 25, from 1 PM to 3 PM. Contributions in her honor may be made to the theatre organization.

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2024-08-07 08:23