kids encyclopedia robot

Roxann Dawson facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Roxann Dawson
Roxann Dawson 2009 1.jpg
Dawson at the 2009 Las Vegas Star Trek Con
Born
Roxann Caballero

(1958-09-11) September 11, 1958 (age 66)
Other names Roxann Biggs
Roxann Biggs-Dawson
Education University of California, Berkeley (BA)
Occupation
  • Actress
  • director
  • producer
  • writer
Years active 1982–present
Spouse(s)
  • Casey Biggs
    (m. 1985; div. 1987)
  • Eric Dawson
    (m. 1994)
Children 2

Roxann Dawson (née Caballero, born September 11, 1958), also credited as Roxann Biggs and Roxann Biggs-Dawson, is an American actress and director. She is best known for her role as B'Elanna Torres on the television series Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001). In the 2000s, she transitioned to a career primarily as a director, and has directed numerous episodes of television series including Star Trek: Enterprise, Crossing Jordan, Cold Case, Heroes, The Closer, The Mentalist, The Good Wife, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Mercy Street, The Deuce and Foundation.

Early life

Roxann Dawson Caballero was born September 11, 1958, in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from University of California, Berkeley in 1980.

Career

Acting

Dawson's first professional acting job was in a Broadway production of A Chorus Line. She also appeared as a background dancer in the 1985 film adaptation.

In 1989 Dawson worked on the NBC drama Nightingales. During the course of her work on that show, she met casting director Eric Dawson, who would later become her second husband. After the show was canceled, Eric's company cast her in guest roles on Matlock and Jake and the Fat Man.

DawsonMulgrewLien1995
Roxann Dawson with Voyager actresses Kate Mulgrew and Jennifer Lien (1995)

In 1994, Dawson was cast as the half Human/half-Klingon engineer B'Elanna Torres on Star Trek: Voyager. She was a main cast member for all seven seasons of the show.

Her other television credits include appearances on The Hat Squad, Baywatch, The Closer, Matlock, The Untouchables, Any Day Now, Without a Trace, The Lyon's Den, The Division, the U.S. version of Coupling and the science fiction television series Seven Days.

Directing and producing

While working on Voyager, Dawson made her directorial debut on the episode "Riddles", which aired in September 1999. She later directed the second part of the two-part episode "Workforce" and directed 10 episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise. In 2002, she provided the voice of the repair station computer in one of the Star Trek: Enterprise episodes she directed.

Dawson has also directed episodes of Charmed, The O.C., Close to Home, Lost, Heroes, Hawthorne, The Closer, Cold Case, Caprica, The Mentalist and Treme. In 2010, she directed the season two episode "Teacher and Pupils" of Lie to Me and the season two episode "On Tap" of The Good Wife. In 2013, she directed the March 22 episode "Reunions" of Touch, and the October 15 episode "Eye Spy" of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..

In 2014 she directed the March 5 episode "Dreamcatcher" of Revolution and the October 22 episode "Phobia" of Stalker. For the 2015 season of the Amazon Video series Bosch, she directed "Chapter Six: Donkey's Years"). She directed early episodes of Mercy Street, a series released on PBS in January 2016. In 2016, she also directed the season one episodes "Broussard" and "Zero Day" of the TV series Colony. She's also directed the episode "Crossbreed" of season five of The Americans. She also directed episode 8 ("Chapter 60") of the fifth season of House of Cards. In 2021, Dawson was the director of episodes 8 and 9 of season 1 and in 2023 she directed episodes 8 and 9 of season 2 of Foundation.

Dawson was a producer on Scandal, Crossing Jordan and Cold Case.

Writing

Dawson's first play, Desire to Fall, was produced by the Circle Repertory Company workshop in 1986. Her second play, Passage Through the Heart, debuted in 1997 at the University of Minnesota Duluth. From 2000 to she co-wrote with Daniel Graham a trilogy of science fiction novels, Entering Tenebrea (ISBN: 0-671-03607-6), Tenebrea's Hope (ISBN: 0-671-03609-2) and Tenebrea Rising (ISBN: 0-671-03611-4).

Personal life

Dawson was married to actor Casey Biggs; they later divorced. He later became a recurring cast member of the sister series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as the Cardassian Damar.

In May 1994 Dawson married casting director Eric Dawson, whom she met while working on the series Nightingales. They have two daughters, one adopted from China. Dawson joined the Catholic Church at the time of her second marriage in 1994, despite having been raised in "an atheist household". It eventually inspired her to direct the 2019 Christian film Breakthrough.

Filmography

Acting credits

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1985 A Chorus Line Dancer Credited as Roxann Caballero
1991 Guilty by Suspicion Felicia Barron Credited as Roxann Biggs
1992 Mortal Sins María Croce Credited as Roxann Biggs
1993 Blood In, Blood Out Uncredited
Original title: Bound by Honor
1994 Pointman Rosie Alvarez Credited as Roxann Biggs
1994 Greyhounds JoJo Golina Credited as Roxann Biggs
1996 Darkman III: Die Darkman Die Angela Rooker Credited as Roxann Biggs-Dawson
1998 The Lost World Elizabeth Summerlee

Television series

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Another World Adrienne Morrow (as Roxann Biggs) Episode 5252; credited as Roxann Biggs
1987 Ohara Carmella Episode: "Jesse"; credited as Roxann Biggs
1988 The Fortunate Pilgrim Louisa 3 episodes; credited as Roxann Biggs
1989 Nightingales Yolanda 'Yolo' Elena Puente (as Roxann Biggs) 13 episodes; credited as Roxan Biggs
1990 Baywatch Ines Episode: "We Need a Vacation"; credited as Roxann Biggs
1990 Matlock Vicki Mariani Episodes: "The Informer: Parts 1 & 2"; credited as Roxann Biggs
1991 Equal Justice Maria Episode: "Who Speaks for the Children?"; credited as Roxann Biggs
1991 Jake and the Fatman Alyssa Episode: "I Cover the Waterfront"; credited as Roxann Biggs
1992 Jake and the Fatman Debbie Morton Episodes: "Stormy Weather: Parts 1 & 2"; credited as Roxann Biggs
1992 The Round Table Jennifer Clemente 7 episodes; credited as Roxann Biggs
1993 The Hat Squad Rosie Episode: "The Liquidator?"; credited as Roxann Biggs
1994 The Untouchables Gina Perino Episode: "The Fever"; credited as Roxann Biggs
1995–2001 Star Trek: Voyager B'Elanna Torres Main role; 172 episodes
1997 Foto Novelas: Seeing Through Walls Teresa Puente TV short
1999 Any Day Now Tina Episode: "Don't Say Anything"
2000 Seven Days Commander Helen Keagle Episode: "The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea"
2001 2001 Alma Awards Herself Awards show (presenter)
2001 Weakest Link Herself Episode: "Star Trek Edition"
2002 Star Trek: Enterprise Repair Station Computer voice Episode: "Dead Stop"
Uncredited
2003 Coupling Therapist Episode: Pilot
2003 The Division Unknown Episode: "Body Double"
2003 The Lyon's Den Asst. District Attorney Linda Solis 3 episodes
2004 Without a Trace Erica Palmer Episode: "Bait"
2011 The Closer Detective Ortega Episode: "A Family Affair"

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force Lt. B'Elanna Torres
2016 Star Trek Timelines Uncredited

Documentaries

Year Title Notes
1995 Inside the New Adventure: Star Trek - Voyager
1996 It's Hot in Here: UPN Fall Preview
1997 Trekkies
2013 The Captains Close Up Four-part documentary mini-series (Episode 4: "Kate Mulgrew")
2016 50 Years of Star Trek

Audiobooks

Year Title
1996 Star Trek: The Klingon Way, A Warrior's Guide
1997 Alien Voices: The Time Machine
1999 Alien Voices: The Lost World
2011 Alien Voices: Journey to the Center of the Earth

Theatre

Year Title Role Director Notes
Unknown Accelerando Unknown Unknown
1982 A Chorus Line Diana Morales (as Roxann Caballero) Michael Bennett Shubert Theatre, New York City
1984 Daughters Cetta (as Roxann Caballero) Unknown Philadelphia Drama Guild, Philadelphia
1985 Tropicana Ana Sanchez (as Roxann Caballero) Unknown Musical Theater Works, New York City
1985 The Tempest Miranda (as Roxann Caballero) Julie Taymor City Stage Company, New York City
1986 The Early Girl George (as Roxann Caballero) Munson Hicks Circle Repertory Company, New York City
1987 The Hostage Teresa (as Roxann Caballero) Unknown Coconut Grove Playhouse, Coconut Grove, Florida
1987 The Rose Tattoo Rosa Delle Rose (as Roxann Biggs). Unknown Geva Theatre Center, Rochester, New York
1988 V & V Only Janey (as Roxann Biggs) Marshall Mason Circle Repertory Theatre, New York City

Directing credits

Film

Year Title Notes
2019 Breakthrough

Television

Year Title Notes
1999–2001 Star Trek: Voyager 2 episodes
2001 The Heartbreak Cafe Episode: "Places, the Curtain Is About to Fall"
2001–2004 Star Trek: Enterprise 10 episodes
2002 Any Day Now Episode: "Let the Games Begin"
2003 Charmed Episode: "Lucky Charmed"
2003–2004 The Division 2 episodes
2004–2007 Crossing Jordan 12 episodes
2005 Medical Investigation Episode: "Half Life"
2005–2009 Cold Case 8 episodes
2006 Lost Episode: "The Long Con"
2006 The O.C. Episode: "The Journey"
2006 Close to Home Episode: "Privilege"
2007–2010 Heroes 3 episodes
2008–2011 The Closer 4 episodes
2009 Hawthorne Episode: "Night Moves"
2009 Melrose Place Episode: "Shoreline"
2010 Caprica Episode: "End of Line"
2010 Lie to Me Episode: "Teacher and Pupils"
2010 Rizzoli & Isles Episode: "Sympathy for the Devil"
2010–2012 The Mentalist 3 episodes
2010–2012 The Good Wife 3 episodes
2011 The Cape Episode: "The Lich: Part 2"
2011–2012 Treme 2 episodes
2012 Prime Suspect Episode: "Ain't No Sunshine"
2012 Scandal 2 episodes
2012–2013 Vegas 2 episodes
2012–2013 Smash 2 episodes
2013 Touch Episode: "Reunions"
2013 Under the Dome Episode: "The Fourth Hand"
2013–2014 Major Crimes 2 episodes
2013–2015 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 3 episodes
2014 Rake Episode: "Remembrance of Taxis Past"
2014 Stalker Episode: "Phobia"
2014 Believe Episode: "Sinking"
2014 Matador Episode: "Night of the Whale"
2014 Revolution Episode: "Dreamcatcher"
2014 Hell on Wheels Episode: "Thirteen Steps"
2014–2015 Bates Motel 2 episodes
2015 Bosch Episode: "Chapter Six: Donkey's Years"
2015 Aquarius Episode: "Your Mother Should Know"
2016 Shooter Episode: "Musa Qala"
2016 Rosewood Episode: "Silkworms y Silencio"
2016 Good Girls Revolt Episode: "Exposé"
2016 Colony 2 episodes
2016 The Path 2 episodes
2016 Mercy Street 3 episodes
2016–2017 Chance 2 episodes
2017 Runaways Episode: "Rewind"
2017 House of Cards 2 episodes
2017–2018 The Americans 2 episodes
2017–2019 The Deuce 3 episodes
2018 The Chi Episode: "Penetrate a Fraud"
2019–2020 This Is Us 2 episodes
2019 The Morning Show Episode: "Open Waters"
2020 Penny Dreadful: City of Angels 2 episodes
2021-present Foundation 4 episodes
2024-present Dark Matter 2 episodes

Writing credits

Year Title Notes
1986 Desire to Fall Stage play
1997 A Passage Through The Heart Stage play
2000 Entering Tenebrea Vol. 1 of Tenebrea Trilogy (with Daniel Graham)
2001 Tenebrea's Hope Vol. 2 of Tenebrea Trilogy (with Daniel Graham)
2001 Tenebrea Rising Vol. 3 of Tenebrea Trilogy (with Daniel Graham)

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominated work Result
1996 NCLR Bravo Award Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series Star Trek Voyager Nominated
1998 Online Film & Television Association Award Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Star Trek Voyager Nominated
ALMA Award Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series Star Trek Voyager Nominated
ALMA Award Outstanding Latino Cast in a Made-for-Television Movie or Mini-Series Foto Novelas: Seeing Through Walls Won
ALMA Award Outstanding Latino Cast in a Made-for-Television Movie or Mini-Series Foto Novelas: In the Mirror Won
1999 ALMA Award Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series Star Trek Voyager Nominated
2000 ALMA Award Distinguished Performance Star Trek Voyager Nominated
2001 ALMA Award Outstanding Achievement in a Television Series Award Star Trek Voyager Won
2008 ALMA Award Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series Heroes Nominated
Hugo Award Best Dramatic Presentation - Long Form Heroes Nominated
NAACP Image Award Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series Heroes (S1/E15: "Run!"). Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Roxann Dawson para niños

kids search engine
Roxann Dawson Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.