Patti Yasutake, who was a regular on “Beef” and played Nurse Alyssa Ogawa on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” died Aug. 5 in Santa Monica of cancer. She was 70. On Netflix’s “Beef,” Yasutake played George’s mother Fumi Nakai. She is most famous for her “Star Trek” role as Nurse Alyssa Ogawa in the tv series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the movie Star Trek Generations and Star Trek : First Contact.

She started her career working with Mako at East West Players theater company. She also worked with the other companies including Los Angeles Theatre Center, South Coast Repertory, the Westwood Playhouse. Her television acting career began in 1985 with an appearance on the show T. J. Hooker. Yasutake’s major feature 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 wife trying to become more Americanized. Her other TV guest appearances included “The Closer,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Bones,” and films including “Drop Dead Gorgeous,” “Blind Spot” and “The Road to Galveston.”

More recently, she appeared on Boston Legal. She resided in Hollywood, California. She was married. She was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female in 1988 for her role in The Wash. She also directed for the theater, staging premieres including “Doughball” at East West Players and “Father, I Must Have Rice” at the Ensemble Studio Theater, along with a reprise of “Tea” at the Odyssey Theater. Overall she played Nurse Ogawa in 16 episode of TNG. she auditioned for the part of an unnamed conn officer on The Next Generation but wasn’t cast. After she first appeared as Nurse Alyssa Ogawa in the fourth season episode “Future Imperfect” in 1990 she wasn’t convinced to be called back and play this part again. Yasutake was also a contender for the role of Keiko O’Brien, introduced in the same season, but the role was cast with actress Rosalind Chao.

In 2001 she provided additional voices for the video game Star Trek: Armada II. In 1993, Yastutake also portrayed Alyssa Ogawa in a Hallmark television commercial in North America where she is seen questioning the shipboard computer about the features of the USS Enterprise-D “Keepsake” ornament. She has had movie roles in Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot, Dangerous Intentions, Drop Dead Gorgeous and The Coverup. Born in Los Angeles, she was raised in Gardena and Inglewood and graduated UCLA with Honors in Theater. She is survived by siblings Linda Hayashi and Steve Yasutake.

In the Star Trek universe, World War III is a significant historical event that shapes the future of humanity. The details of the conflict are provided through various episodes across different series. Here is a summary of the events leading to World War III in the Star Trek lore:

1. Escalation of Tensions:
   • By the late 20th and early 21st centuries, geopolitical tensions on Earth had been growing. Nationalistic fervor, economic disparities, and ideological differences contributed to increasing instability.
2. Genetic Engineering and the Eugenics Wars:
   • In the 1990s, humanity experienced the Eugenics Wars, a series of conflicts involving genetically engineered superhumans, known as Augments. These Augments, such as Khan Noonien Singh, attempted to seize control of the planet. Although Khan and his followers were eventually defeated and exiled, the wars left lasting scars and contributed to distrust of genetic engineering.
3. Decline of Global Stability:
   • By the early 21st century, the aftermath of the Eugenics Wars and other conflicts led to a significant decline in global stability. Nation-states struggled with economic collapse, environmental degradation, and resource scarcity.
4. Outbreak of World War III:
   • The actual outbreak of World War III occurred around 2026, sparked by conflicts over resources and ideological differences. It was a devastating global conflict involving multiple factions and the use of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. The war lasted for several decades, peaking in the 2050s.
5. Devastation and Aftermath:
   • World War III resulted in the deaths of approximately 600 million people and widespread devastation. Major cities were destroyed, governments collapsed, and much of Earth’s infrastructure was left in ruins. The social, economic, and environmental impacts were catastrophic.
6. Post-War Recovery and the Phoenix Launch:
   • In the aftermath of the war, humanity faced a long period of recovery. Amidst the ruins, individuals like Zefram Cochrane worked on technological advancements. Cochrane’s successful test of the warp drive on April 5, 2063, attracted the attention of the Vulcans, leading to First Contact and setting humanity on a path toward unity and exploration.
7. Formation of a New World Order:
   • Following First Contact, humans began to rebuild and reorganize society. The realization that they were not alone in the universe prompted efforts to overcome past divisions. This period of rebuilding eventually led to the formation of the United Earth government and later, the United Federation of Planets.

World War III in the Star Trek universe serves as a pivotal turning point, highlighting the destructive potential of humanity but also its capacity for recovery, cooperation, and progress.