Patti Yasutake Dead: Actor Appeared in ‘Beef’
Patti Yasutake, who appeared regularly on “Beef” and played nurse Alyssa Ogawa on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” died of cancer on August 5 in Santa Monica. She was 70.
Her manager Kyle Fritz said: “Patti was my first client when I started over 30 years ago. We loved every day we had the opportunity to work together, and I will miss her spiritual talent and tenacity, but most of all her friendship.”
In Netflix’s ‘Beef’, Yasutake played George’s mother Fumi Nakai. She reprized her role on “Star Trek” as nurse Alyssa Ogawa in the films “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Star Trek Generations.”
She started her career with Mako at the East West Players theater company. She has also collaborated with other companies including the Los Angeles Theater Center, South Coast Repertory and the Westwood Playhouse.
Her work in 1988’s “The Wash” earned her an Independent Spirit Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Yasutake’s major feature film debut came in Ron Howard’s 1986 comedy “Gung Ho,” and she went on to star in the TV series adaptation as Umeki, a Japanese woman trying to become more Americanized.
Her other TV guest appearances include ‘The Closer’, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘Bones’ and films such as ‘Drop Dead Beautiful’, ‘Blind Spot’ and ‘The Road to Galveston’.
She also directed for the theater, staging such premieres as “Doughball” at East West Players and “Father, I Must Have Rice” at the Ensemble Studio Theater, along with a revival of “Tea” at the Odyssey Theater.
She was born in Los Angeles, grew up in Gardena and Inglewood, and graduated from UCLA with honors in Theater.
She is survived by siblings Linda Hayashi and Steve Yasutake.
A memorial service open to her colleagues and fans will take place at East West Players 120 N Judge Aiso Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Donations can be made to East West Players at: eastwestplayers.org
