Elizabeth Dennehy

Elizabeth Dennehy (born 1 October 1960) is an American film, stage, and television actress, best known for her role as "Commander Shelby" in the Star Trek: The Next Generation two-part episode "The Best of Both Worlds." 

She has also appeared in such television series as Guiding Light, Seinfeld, Charmed, and Without a Trace, and films such as Clear and Present Danger, Gattaca, Soldier, Red Dragon, and True Blood.

Early life

Elizabeth Dennehy was born as Elizabeth Hannah Dennehy on October 1, 1960, in Jacksonville, North Carolina. She is the daughter of famous actor Brian Dennehy. Her sister Kathleen Dennehy is also an actress.

Dennehy trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in London, England. 

Career

Film/Television

Dennehy made her acting debut in 1988 with the role of Christina "Blake" Lindsey in the TV series drama Guiding Light.

Two years later, in 1990, she was seen in an uncredited role ("Renata") in director Paul Verhoeven's sci-fi/thriller Total Recall, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone. The same year, she appeared in the role of "Lieutenant commander Shelby" in the series Star Trek: The Next Generation in the two-part episode "The Best of Both Worlds". In 2017, Den of Geek ranked Dennehy's role as "Lieutenant Commander Shelby" as one of the top-ten guest star roles on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

In 1992, she was cast in the supporting role of "Candy" in The Waterdance, starring Eric Stoltz and Helen Hunt.

Dennehy other early television credits include: Quantum Leap (1992), Class of '96(1993), Seinfeld (1993), The Lazarus Man (1996), C-16: FBI (1997), NYPD Blue(2000), and Judging Amy (2001).

In 2004-2006, Dennehy was seen as "Sandra" in eight episodes of the TV series Charmed.

Her later film credits include Brent Huff's Welcome to Paradise (2007), Peter Berg's Hancock (2008), Grace Lee's Janeane from Des Moines (2012), and David Heinz's American Folk (2017).

Most recently, in 2020, Dennehy was seen in two episodes of the TV series The Show Must Go Online, alongside Kristin Atherton, Myra Lee Bell, and Daniel Cech-Lucas.

Stage

Dennehy has also appeared on the stage, such as playing "Stella Kowalski" in the 1994 production of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire and co-starring as "Donna Marsala" (original cast member) in the environmental/immersive theater production Tony n' Tina's Wedding, alongside Kevin Alexander, Moira Wilson, James Altuner, Mark Campbell, and Nancy Cassaro, among others.

Personal life

Dennehy is married to Irish actor James Lancaster (Days of Our Lives fame) since 19 August 1993. The couple has two children.

Partial filmography