Troi, Deanna (Marina Sirtis). Counselor aboard the U.S.S.
Enterprise -D under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. (“Encounter at
Farpoint” [TNG]). Daughter of Lwaxana Troi and Ian Andrew Troi, Deanna was
betrothed to Wyatt Miller through the Betazoid custom of genetic bonding when
they were both children. Deanna and Wyatt never married, though, because Wyatt
chose to join the last surviving Tarellians in search of a cure for the
Tarellian plague. (“Haven” [TNG]). When she was growing up, Deanna did not know
that she had an older sister, Kestra Troi, who died when Deanna was only an
infant. (“Dark Page” [TNG]). Deanna’s father used to read her heroic stories
about the ancient American West on planet Earth, and she remained fond of these
stories into her adulthood. (“A Fistful of Datas” [TNG]). SEE: Ancient West;
Durango. Troi studied psychology at the University of Betazed prior to her
joining Starfleet. (“Tin Man” [TNG]). While a psychology student on Betazed,
Troi became romantically involved with Lieutenant William T. Riker. (“Ménage r
Troi” [TNG]). Troi had hopes of a serious commitment between the two, but
Riker’s career plans took him away to an assignment aboard the U.S.S. Potemkin.
(“Encounter at Farpoint” [TNG], “Second Chances” [TNG]). Troi graduated from the
academy (possibly having taken classes on Betazed) in 2359. (“Conundrum” [TNG]).
Troi was once involuntarily impregnated by an unknown noncorporeal life-form.
Troi named the child Ian Andrew Troi, after her late father. (“The Child”
[TNG]). (In an alternate quantum reality visited by Worf in 2370,
Troi and Worf
were married, and in another, the two were married and had two children. It was
perhaps the knowledge that the two of them had a romantic relationship in other
quantum universes that lead Worf to pursue such a relationship in his own
universe.) (“Parallels” [TNG]). Troi suffered a brief loss of her empathic
powers in 2367 from proximity to a newly discovered group of two-dimensional
creatures. Although Troi found the loss disconcerting, she was pleased to
discover that she could still function as ship’s counselor without her Betazoid
abilities. (“The Loss” [TNG]). Counselor Troi assumed temporary command of the
Enterprise -D on stardate 45156 when the ship was disabled from collision with
two quantum filaments. Troi, who held the rank of lieutenant commander, was the
senior officer on the bridge at the time. (“Disaster” [TNG]). She later
undertook the field training program for advancement to the rank of commander.
She passed the Bridge Officer Exam and was promoted to full commander on
stardate 47611. (“Thine Own Self” [TNG]). Troi said she never met a chocolate
she didn’t like. (“The Price” [TNG], “The Game” [TNG]). In 2370, Troi was
assigned as liaison officer for Iyaaran ambassador Loquel. Troi commented that
the ambassador had tested even her limits for chocolate. (“Liaisons” [TNG]).
Deanna Troi was first seen in “Encounter at Farpoint” (TNG). Marina Sirtis
originally auditioned for the part of Natasha Yar and was almost cast for the
part, but Gene Roddenberry decided at the last moment to switch the roles of Yar
and Troi between Sirtis and Denise Crosby.