(I mentioned this character in the epilogue of my werewolf story, Dark of the Moon.)

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Lisa Daniels began her career doing repertory company performances before she heard that auditions were being accepted for a science fiction TV series called Star Trek. Werewolves (yes, she is one) had only a limited exposure on TV at the time, so she decided to try it.
She read for the role of Lt. Uhura, which went to Nichelle Nichols. Gene Roddenberry, on the other hand, wanted a diverse cast, so he went as far as to persuade the corporate heads to write her into the cast as the starship Enterprise's Chief of Security. After much dickering, the bosses agreed, but with stipulations. Daniels had to stay Shifted (a werewolf has their first Shift at puberty, and it's not dependent on the phases of the Moon) and it wasn't a speaking part.
Still, it was a role, and Daniels spent most of the three seasons of the show sitting at one of the Engineering stations on the Bridge, looking fierce. In a few episodes ('Let This Be Your Last Battlefield,' for example) she played a more active role despite not having any lines to speak.
Her first speaking role as Lt. Grrihan was in the animated series, and she went on to appear, still Shifted, in the first three movies.
She was immediately embraced by werewolf fans of the show, and was at times a featured guest of honor at conventions.

Lisa Daniels (Lt. Rinurr Grrihan) ©  walt46
Art by  moodyferret
Star Trek © Paramount