"Beef" actor Patti Yasutake has died at the age of 70. Yasutake, who was arguably best known for her role as Nurse Alyssa Ogawa on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and subsequent “Star Trek” franchises, died on Aug. 5.
Her manager confirmed the news to TODAY.com in a statement. “Patti was my first client when I began over 30 years ago.
We enjoyed every day we got to work together, and I will miss her spirit, talent and tenacity, but most of all her friendship,” Yasutake’s manager Kyle Fritz said in a statement. Fritz said the actor died surrounded by her family after a long battle with cancer. Yasutake was born and raised in Los Angeles, Fritz said, and graduated UCLA with Honors in Theater.
A working actor her whole life, Yasutake had a slew of theater credits and got her start at East West Players in Los Angeles, Fritz confirmed. Yasutake’s film credits include “The Wash” (1988), “Gung Ho”(1986) “Drop Dead Gorgeous” (1999), “Blind Spot” (1993), and “Road to Galveston” (1996). She also had several appearances on popular television shows, in addition to her most recent gig on ,” where she played Fumi, George’s artistic and eccentric mother.
Yasutake also guest-starred on “The Closer,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Bones,” “Flash Forward,” “The Unit” and “Cold Case.” Yasutake is survived by siblings Linda Hayashi and Steven Yasutake, a large extended family of nephews and nieces, and a family of friends and colleagues. Sam Kubota is a senior digital editor and journalist for TODAY Digital based in Los Angeles.
She joined NBC News in 2019..
