Star Trek

Science fiction television has been very, very good for skilled stuntwoman Patricia Tallman. A longtime doubler for Gates McFadden on TNG, Tallman parlayed her natural good looks and talent beyond that craft into a recurring role as Psi Corps telepath Lyta Alexander on Babylon 5.

But first, the 1975 native of Pontiac, Ill., and Carnegie-Mellon theatre arts graduate was seen uncreedited as the Ennis warrior Nima on DS9’s “Battleground” and featured as Kiros the Arkarian terrorist in TNG’s “Starship Mine.”  Tallman also was on camera in an uncredited role as Dr. Bashir’s Bajoran nurse Tagana in several episodes of DS9—much less dozens of stunt doubling for guest stars or extra work across TNG, DS9 and Voyager as well.

Aside from sci-fi, Tallman became part of directors George Romero and Tom Savini’s ensemble of actors after appearing in Knightriders, perhaps best known as Barbara in Romero's own 1990 Night of the Living Dead remake. In addition to acting and directing, she also partners with Judy Kain to run her Talent To Go, an audition and marketing service for Los Angeles actors. Her book Pleasure Thresholds, released in 2011, is a look back at tales from her B5 and other work in the latter 1990s, and she continues to fund-raise for Penny Lane, a shelter for abused children.