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Star Trek: The Next Generation follows Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of a new Enterprise on a mission to “seek out new life and new civilizations.” The series ran from 1987 to 1994, spanning seven seasons and 178 episodes. This guide pairs the principal actors with their characters and explains where each fits aboard the ship.
Who are the main characters in Star Trek: The Next Generation?
The official Star Trek series page names Picard, Riker, Data, Geordi La Forge, Deanna Troi, Worf, and Beverly Crusher among the show’s central characters. Their performers and basic roles are listed below. Duties and status can shift over seven seasons, so descriptions here are broad orientation rather than a claim that every title applies in every episode.
| Actor | Character | Place in the Enterprise ensemble |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Stewart | Jean-Luc Picard | Captain and central command figure. |
| Jonathan Frakes | William T. “Will” Riker | First officer and senior bridge officer. |
| Brent Spiner | Data | Android and senior Enterprise officer. |
| LeVar Burton | Geordi La Forge | Senior officer associated with engineering. |
| Marina Sirtis | Deanna Troi | Ship’s counselor. |
| Michael Dorn | Worf | Klingon Starfleet officer and core crew member. |
| Gates McFadden | Beverly Crusher | Ship’s doctor. |
The official character list and the actor-role associations in TV Guide’s cast listing support these pairings. The Star Trek announcement dated April 5, 2022 also confirms Patrick Stewart played Picard throughout the series’ seven seasons.
Which other familiar characters appear in the guide?
Wesley Crusher — Wil Wheaton
Wesley is Beverly Crusher’s son and a recurring young Enterprise crew member. TV Guide lists Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher. His rank and status are not fixed across the series, so check the season in question before assigning him a particular position.
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Tasha Yar — Denise Crosby
Tasha Yar is a security officer prominent early in the series, played by Denise Crosby. TV Guide lists Crosby in the role, and Paramount+ episode material references Yar in connection with “Yesterday’s Enterprise.” Her place in the story is episode- and season-specific; the Paramount+ series and episode listing provides a way to locate that material.
How to read the cast and character names
- Actor: the performer, such as Patrick Stewart.
- Character: the fictional person, such as Jean-Luc Picard.
- Ship role: a broad guide to the character’s place in the ensemble, not a season-by-season record of rank or duties.
That distinction is useful when searching “Who played [character]?”—for example, Brent Spiner played Data, while Data is the android officer aboard the Enterprise.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the scope of the series?
The Next Generation is a seven-season, 178-episode television series that ran from 1987 to 1994, according to the current official series page. Its premise introduces a new Enterprise and crew continuing Starfleet’s mission nearly a century after the original Enterprise’s voyages. The roster above is a principal-character guide, not a complete credits list: it does not attempt to catalog every recurring or guest performer.
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