Jonathan Frakes

Jonathan Scott Frakes (born August 19, 1952) is an American actor and director. He is best known for his portrayal of Commander William Riker in the television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' and subsequent films and series. Frakes also hosted the anthology series '' Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction'', and was the voice for David Xanatos in the Disney television series '' Gargoyles''. In June 2011, he narrated the History Channel documentary, ''Lee and Grant''.

Frakes directed while starring in '' Star Trek: First Contact'' as well as '' Star Trek: Insurrection''. He has directed more than 70 television episodes, including episodes of several '' Star Trek'' television series and ''The Orville''. He is the author of the novel ''The Abductors: Conspiracy''.

Early life

Frakes was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, the son of Doris J. (née Yingling; 1926–2020) and Dr. James R. Frakes (1924–2002). His father was a professor of English literature at Lehigh University from 1958 to 2001, where he was the Edmund W. Fairchild Professor in American Studies and was a critic for '' New York Times Book Review'' and a book editor until his death in 2002. Frakes had a younger brother, Daniel, who died in 1997 from pancreatic cancer.

Frakes was raised in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. He attended Liberty High School in Bethlehem, where he ran track and played with the Liberty High School Grenadier Band. He graduated from Liberty High School in 1970.

Frakes attended Pennsylvania State University, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater Arts in 1974. He was a member of the Thespians. In 1976, he received his Master of Arts from Harvard University and was active in Harvard's acting company, the Loeb Drama Center.

Career

Early work

For a time in the 1970s, Frakes worked for Marvel Comics, appearing at conventions in costume as Captain America. Frakes 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'' directed by George Ferencz. 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 show, Frakes moved to Los Angeles and had guest spots in many of the top television series of the 1970s and 1980s, including ''The Waltons'' in the episodes "The Legacy" and "The Lost Sheep"; ''Eight Is Enough''; ''Hart to Hart''; ''The Dukes of Hazzard''; '' Matlock''; ''Quincy, M.E.'' in "The Face of Fear"; and ''Hill Street Blues''.

He played the part of Charles Lindbergh in a 1983 episode of ''Voyagers!'' titled "An Arrow Pointing East". In 1983, he had a role in the short-lived NBC prime time soap opera ''Bare Essence'' (which also starred his future wife Genie Francis), and a supporting role in the equally short-lived primetime soap ''Paper Dolls'' in 1984. He also had recurring roles in '' Falcon Crest'' and the miniseries ''North and South''. Frakes appeared in the 1986 miniseries ''Dream West''.

''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' (1987)

In 1987, Frakes was cast in the role of Commander William T. Riker on '' Star Trek: The Next Generation''. He was one of only two actors to appear in every episode (the other being Patrick Stewart). While appearing on the show, Frakes was allowed to sit in on casting sessions, concept meetings, production design, editing, and post-production, which gave him the preparation he needed to become a director. He directed eight episodes of the show and 21 episodes of the ''Star Trek'' universe. After the TV series ended in 1994, Frakes reprised his role in the ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' movies, two of which ('' Star Trek: First Contact'' and '' Star Trek: Insurrection'') he directed.

Frakes has made appearances in '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', '' Star Trek: Voyager'', ''Star Trek: Enterprise'', '' Star Trek: Picard'' and '' Star Trek: Lower Decks'', making him the only ''Star Trek'' regular to appear in six ''Star Trek'' series. He has also directed episodes in five of the series (''TNG'', ''DS9,'' ''VOY'', ''DIS'' and ''PIC''). Frakes is also one of six ''Star Trek'' actors (the other actors being Kate Mulgrew, Michael Dorn, George Takei, Avery Brooks and Majel Barrett