Biography
Handsome, dark-haired, blue-eyed actor/director Jonathan Frakes is best known among
Star Trek lovers for playing Commander William Riker in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994) and in the
Star Trek feature films. Before joining the other legends of
Gene Roddenberry's operatic future world, Frakes had worked on television and was a regular in two sudsy, short-lived series,
Bare Essence (1983) and
Paper Dolls (1984). The Pennsylvania native made his television debut in the 1979 movie
Beach Patrol. Frakes has also appeared in numerous miniseries including
Beulah Land (1980) and both installments of
North and South (1985 and 1986). Frakes cut his directorial teeth with episodes of Star Trek the Next Generation and went on to helm other episodes in the
Star Trek franchise, including Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. He has also directed episodes of
Diagnosis Murder and University Hospital, as well as the CD-ROM Star Trek-Klingon (1996). Frakes made his feature-film debut as an actor in Star Trek: Generations (1994). He made his big-screen directorial bow in Star Trek: First Contact (1996). His fame from
Star Trek has led Frakes to host various sci-fi/paranormal-oriented documentaries including the UPN network's series Paranormal Borderline and the Fox network's popular special Alien Autopsy: Fact or Fiction. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide