Gene Roddenberry dissuaded Dennis Crosby from his beloved Star Trek role

A fun tidbit from Larry Nemecek's invaluable sourcebookStar Trek: The Next Generation Companion“: Tasha Yar's character in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” was originally conceived as a Latino character named Lt. Macha Hernandez, who was supposed to be the tactical officer on the Enterprise-D. Lt. Hernandez was largely inspired by a military nerd. character Vasquez (Jenette Goldstein) from James Cameron's Alien, which was still new at the time. Was briefly considered for the role, but was quickly rejected when it was revealed that she is not Latina.After further development, Hernandez was changed to Tanya, then only Tasha Yara.The character became a tactical officer for the security chief.

A wide range of actresses auditioned for the role of Tasha, including Rosalind Chao, Marina Sirtis, Julia Nixon and Bunty Bailey, who was the female in the “Take On Me” music video. For a while, Chao was the frontrunner for the role, though she would eventually be replaced by Dennis Crosby, then a rising star in Hollywood and star of The Eliminator.

As it happens, Crosby was already on the showrunners' radar, having already auditioned for the role of counselor Deanna Troy, the company's empathetic psychiatrist, and was one of the finalists. As Trekkies can now tell you, Marina Sirtis — one of Tash Yar's hopefuls — will be cast in the role. of British-sounding advisor Troi. Sirtis and Crosby would essentially trade parts.

The show's creator, Gene Roddenberry himself, seems to have encouraged this change. Casting directors were looking for actresses to play Yara and Troy at the same time, wanting to make sure the two performers didn't look alike. Sirtis and Crosby seemed to look good opposite each other, but Roddenberry felt they should switch parts.

This was confirmed by Crosby herself 2012 interview with StarTrek.com.

The story of the Roddenberry-authorized Crosby/Sirtis trade has been public for at least as long as An oral history of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” printed in EW in 2007. Speaking to StarTrek.com, an interviewer asked Crosby if this was just a widespread rumor or if it was true. Crosby wasn't the wiser about some of the casting details that happened back in 1986, but she did remember reading for counselor Troy…and then being asked to read for Tasha Yar. In Crosby's words:

“As far as I know, that's true. At a certain point, we went through several auditions, and if I can remember, my agent said, 'Now they want you to look at this character. They are preparing. to switch you.' I think we had to go five different times, and maybe after the third audition we finally got Gene Roddenberry (the audition), but my agent said, 'Gene Roddenberry really likes you, but he wants you to read for this part now .' The next time I went in, it was for Tasha.”

So it certainly appears that Roddenberry was demanding that Sirtis and Crosby make the trades. In EW's history, Crosby recalled that Troi was originally described as “a cool, Icelandic blonde. Almost Ghost-like.” Sirt, it should be noted, had dark brown hair, providing a visual “balance” for blonde Crosby. It's a small detail, but small visual differences like hair color can really matter to casting directors.

Crosby of course would eventually leave the show in its first season.

Trekkies may not be able to see anyone in “The Next Generation” roles other than the people who were eventually cast, but a little imagination can create a world where Crosby plays the spritely Spook-like counselor Troy and Marina Sirtis plays the aggressive head of security. We came close to that world.