Jonathan Frakes
Actor, director and producer Jonathan Frakes first gained success in the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series.
Fast Facts
- Born: August 19, 1952
- Wife: Genie Francis (General Hospital)
- Star Trek: The Next Generation: Commander William T. Riker
Actor
After some experience in theater, Frakes got his start on television in the late 1970s in the soap opera The Doctors. He had a steady stream of guest and supporting roles, mostly in evening soaps, until he was cast in Star Trek: The Next Generation as first officer William T. Riker. Though initially he seemed set to take on the action and lady-killing duties previously performed by Captain Kirk, as the series evolved so did the role. The series gave Frakes the chance to expand his career in a new direction: directing.
Director
Frakes began directing with several extremely popular episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and would return to the franchise to direct episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager, as well as two of the more successful Next Generation-focused Star Trek feature films. Frakes has expanded his efforts out of the franchise with other science-fiction movies and television shows such as Roswell, Clockstoppers, and USA's popular The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines, for which he is also directing the sequel.
Gargoyles
Frakes also voiced villain David Xanatos in Disney's popular animated series Gargoyles, alongside his Trek costar Marina Sirtis. Many other actors from the Star Trek franchise would also voice roles on the series.
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