Jonathan Frakes

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Jonathan Frakes

Actor Jonathan Scott Frakes (born 19 August 1952; age 71) portrayed William T. Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and in four Star Trek films.

Frakes, whose father was a college professor who taught English and literature, was born in Bellfont, Pennsylvania, and raised in nearby Bethlehem. He began acting at a young age in junior high and high school plays.

Following high school, Frakes enrolled at Pennsylvania State University as a psychology major, and during his time at Penn State became involved with an off-campus professional theater group; this experience eventually led to Frakes changing his major to theater arts. Upon completion of his studies, a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Theater Arts, Frakes spent two summers studying drama at Harvard University, where he performed at the Loeb Drama Center.

Besides Star Trek: The Next Generation, he has appeared in numerous TV roles, including the prime-time soap opera Falcon Crest.

In May 1988, he married the actress Genie Francis (Laura Spencer on General Hospital, on which a pre-Spock Leonard Nimoy starred in 1963 and on which Corbin Bernsen starred long after playing Q2) after working together in the television mini-series North and South. Francis is the daughter of the late character actor Ivor Francis, and the colony mentioned in Star Trek: First Contact, Ivor Prime, may have been named after Frakes's father-in-law. Frakes portrayed the younger brother of fellow Star Trek actors Kirstie Alley and James Read in North and South and North and South: Book II. The sequel also starred DS9 guest star Jim Metzler.

His non-Star Trek feature-film directing credits include Clockstoppers and Thunderbirds.

He has also co-written a book The Abductors: Conspiracy.

He recorded an audio commentary for the Star Trek: First Contact DVD, a film in which he both starred and directed. His efficient filming style on the set earned him the nickname of "Two-Takes Frakes".

Frakes was later a member of The Sunspots, along with Patrick Stewart, Michael Dorn, and LeVar Burton. They appeared as the background vocals for "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" on Brent Spiner's 1991 album "Ol' Yellow Eyes is Back".

Frakes is also credited with playing trombone for "Riker's Mailbox" on the 1994 Phish album, "Hoist".

He personally feels that the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Code of Honor" is the worst segment of Star Trek that he worked on. [1]

Appearances as William T. Riker

Jonathan Frakes is the only Star Trek regular cast member besides Majel Barrett to appear in all four modern Star Trek series: Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Enterprise.

• TNG: : All episodes
• Star Trek Generations
• Star Trek: First Contact
• Star Trek: Insurrection
• Star Trek Nemesis
• VOY: "Death Wish"
• ENT: "These Are the Voyages..."

Additional appearances

Riker (hologram)
TNG: "A Matter of Perspective"

Rikerhologram.jpg

Riker (hologram)
TNG: "Hollow Pursuits"

Riker (hologram)
TNG: "Unification II"

Riker hologram2369.jpg

Riker (hologram)
TNG: "Ship in a Bottle"

Thomas Riker.jpg

Thomas Riker
TNG: "Second Chances"
DS9: "Defiant"

Star Trek directorial credits

Jonathan Frakes has directed several Star Trek episodes, and, more recently, several movies.

• TNG:
  • "The Offspring"
  • "Reunion"
  • "The Drumhead"
  • "Cause and Effect"
  • "The Quality of Life"
  • "The Chase"
  • "Attached"
  • "Sub Rosa"
• DS9:
  • "The Search, Part II"
  • "Meridian"
  • "Past Tense, Part II"
• VOY:
  • "Projections"
  • "Parturition"
  • "Prototype"
• Star Trek: First Contact
• Star Trek: Insurrection

Other Star Trek Connections

• Alfre Woodard, who starred in First Contact, is his self-proclaimed godmother.

• He shares his birthday with Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and TNG co-star Diana Muldaur.

• Aside from Voyager and Nemesis, Frakes has worked with Kate Mulgrew on two other projects: Gargoyles (which also featured the voice of numerous actors from Star Trek, including Avery Brooks, Nichelle Nichols, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn and Colm Meaney) and Camp Nowhere (which also starred Christopher Lloyd).
• He directed Brent Spiner and Armin Shimerman in "The Juror #6 Job" episode of Leverage.

External links

• Jonathan Frakes at Wikipedia
• Template:IMDb-link
• Jonathan Frakes at TriviaTribute.com - pictures, sound clips and trivia

Previous Director: David Carson

Star Trek films director Star Trek: First Contact Star Trek: Insurrection

Next Director: Stuart Baird