Patti Yasutake dead at 70: Beef and Star Trek actress passes away after cancer battle

Patti Yasutake – who starred in Emmy Award winning limited series Beef – has died at 70 after a battle with cancer.

The veteran actress passed away peacefully while surrounded by friends and family on Monday, August 5 after a long battle with cancer.

Her longtime manager and friend Kyle Fritz confirmed the news to Deadline on Tuesday.

Not only did she star in the critically-acclaimed series but she also portrayed fan favorite character Nurse Alyssa Ogawa on Star Trek: The Next Generation as she debuted during the fourth season in 1990.

She later reprised the role in films Star Trek: Generations (1994) and Star Trek: The First Contact (1996). 

Yatasuke also provided additional voices for the video game Star Trek: Armada II in 2001. 

Her last TV role was arguably her highest-profile one as she starred George’s overbearing mother Fumi Nakai. 

Joseph Lee played her sculptor of Japanese heritage son in the series as he was stay at home husband to Ali Wong’s leading character Amy Lau. 

The ten-episode series earned eight wins at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards including Outstanding Limited or Anthology series and acting wins for both Wong and Steven Yeun.

It also earned all three of its nominated categories at the 81st Golden Globes in January including Best Limited or Anthology Series or Television film. 

Patti’s aforementioned manager Kyle told Deadline of his client: ‘Patti was my first client when I began over 30 years ago.

Not only did she star in the critically-acclaimed series but she also portrayed fan favorite character Nurse Alyssa Ogawa on Star Trek: The Next Generation; she is pictured in 1990

Her last TV role was arguably her highest-profile one as she starred George’s (played by Joseph Lee and pictured right) overbearing mother Fumi Nakai

‘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 was a Los Angeles native born and raised in the South Bay neighborhoods of Gardena and Inglewood.

She graduated with honors at UCLA with a major in theater and started her careeer at  East West Players where she performed in over a dozen shows.

Yasutuake made her major feature film debut in Ron Howard comedy Gung Go in 1986 as she portrayed  a relocated Japanese wife earnestly trying to Americanize named Umeki.

She went on to reprise the character in the ABC comedy series which was spun-off from the film.

The actress went on to earn a Independent Spirit Award Supporting Actress nomination for her work in 1988 film The Wash.

Other films that she starred in included  Drop Dead Gorgeous, Blind Spot and Road to Galveston.

The actress also had several guest starring roles in series including The Closer, Grey’s Anatomy, Bones, Flash Forward, The Unit and Cold Case.

According to Deadline 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 including Fritz and Jonathan Del Arco/’