Jonathan Frakes
Biography
Jonathan Frakes is an American actor and director who became known for playing Commander William T. Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, and raised in Bethlehem, he studied theater arts at Pennsylvania State University and later earned a master's degree at Harvard. In 1987 he was cast as Riker, a role he played across the series and its films; he also directed episodes of The Next Generation beginning in its third season. After the show ended in 1994, he reprised Riker in the films, directing Star Trek: First Contact (1996) and Star Trek: Insurrection (1998). He went on to direct Clockstoppers (2002) and Thunderbirds (2004), and later many television episodes, including for The Librarian, Roswell, Leverage, Castle, and Burn Notice. He voiced David Xanatos in Gargoyles and hosted Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction.
74years old
Turns 75 on August 19in 311 days
- Born Bellefonte
- Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
- Also credited as Jonathan Scott Frakes
Movie Career
- Films
- 13
- Career span
- 29 years1994 to 2023
Genres
- Action46%, 6 films
- Sci-Fi46%, 6 films
- Adventure38%, 5 films
- Documentary38%, 5 films
- Fantasy15%, 2 films
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A first
Frakes played Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Only two actors appeared in every episode, and he was one of them, along with Patrick Stewart.
A change of course
During the late 1970s, Frakes was employed by Marvel Comics. He wore a Captain America costume at conventions, promotional events and special appearances.
First role
After Harvard, Frakes settled in New York City and joined the Impossible Ragtime Theater. With that company he made his off-Broadway debut in Eugene O'Neill's The Hairy Ape, directed by George Ferencz.
Beyond film
Frakes played trombone on the track "Riker's Mailbox" on Phish's 1994 album Hoist, drawing on his college marching band experience.
A change of course
Frakes said the box-office failure of his 2004 film Thunderbirds almost destroyed his directing career, taking his name off the lists and dropping him from 60 to zero.
Jonathan Frakes movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
William Shatner directed two of these films. Patrick Stewart appears in eight of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Patrick Stewart's page
Michael Dorn's page
Brent Spiner's page
LeVar Burton's page
Gates McFadden's page
Marina Sirtis's page
All films by William Shatner
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.