Frakes as William Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation

Jonathan Frakes (born August 19, 1952 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) is a American actor and director best known for his portrayal of Commander William Riker in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Moving on to directing in recent years, Frakes directed Star Trek: First Contact, which earned him the nickname "Two-Takes" Frakes.

Frakes received his Bachelor of Fine Arts (in theater arts) at Penn State University in the early 1970s and his Masters from Harvard.

He moved to New York City and became a member of "The Impossible Ragtime Theater." In that company, Frakes did his first off-Broadway acting in Eugene O'Neill's The Hairy Ape . His first Broadway appearance was in Shenandoah. At the same time, he landed a role in the NBC soap opera The Doctors. When his character was dismissed from the soap, Frakes moved to Los Angeles, California and played guest spots in many of the top television shows of the 1970s and 1980s, including the The Waltons and Hill Street Blues. He had recurring roles in Falcon Crest and North & South , before signing for the role of Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Frakes is married to soap opera actress Genie Francis. The couple now live in London with their son, Jameson, and daughter, Elizabeth.

Directing filmography

Movies:

• Thunderbirds (2004)
• Clockstoppers (2002)
• Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
• Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
• Star Trek: Klingon (1996) - (Interactive movie)

Individual episodes of the following series:

• Roswell
• Star Trek:
  • Voyager
  • Deep Space Nine
  • The Next Generation
• University Hospital
• Diagnosis Murder

External links

• Jonathan Frakes profile, NNDB