
Jonathan Frakes
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- August 19, 1952
- Birthplace
- Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, USA
Jonathan Scott Frakes (born August 19, 1952) is an American actor and director. He is best known for his portrayal of Commander (later Captain) William T. Riker in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and subsequent films and series. He has also hosted the series Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction, voiced David Xanatos in the Disney animated series Gargoyles, and narrated the History Channel documentary, Lee and Grant. His other well known TV roles are as Stanley Hazard on the miniseries North and South, Sandy Parris on ABC's Paper Dolls, Marcus Marshall on NBC's Bare Essence, and Damon Ross, a recurring character on Falcon Crest. He began directing episodes of The Next Generation during its third season, and went on to direct the feature films Star Trek: First Contact (1996) and Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) and episodes of the later Star Trek series Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Discovery, Strange New Worlds, and Picard. He later directed the feature films Clockstoppers (2002) and Thunderbirds (2004). He has since directed prolifically for television, including for The Librarian television films and series, Leverage, Burn Notice, and Roswell (of which he is also a producer). He is the credited author of the novel The Abductors: Conspiracy, which was ghostwritten by Dean Wesley Smith. He has been married to actress Genie Francis since 1988 and they have 2 children.
Filmography
- Make-Up Man: The Michael Westmore Documentary
Make-Up Man: The Michael Westmore Documentary TBA
as Self
- Holograms All the Way Down
Holograms All the Way Down TBA
as Commander William T. Riker

A Grand Biltmore Christmas 2026
as Winston

The Sixty Year Mission: How Star Trek Changed Television and the World 2026
as Self

Butterfly in the Sky 2024
as Self (archive footage)

A Biltmore Christmas 2023
as Winston

Star Trek: Picard - The IMAX Live Series Finale Event 2023
as Captain William Riker

Catwoman: Hunted 2022
as King Faraday / Boss Moxie (voice)

Devil's Gate 2018
as Sheriff Gruenwell

Heroes Manufactured 2017
as Self (archive footage)

50 Years of Star Trek 2016
as Self

Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things... 2014
as Cmdr. Will Riker

Chaos on the Bridge 2014
as Self

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Redemption 2013
as Cmdr. Will Riker

Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Best of Both Worlds 2013
as Cmdr. William Riker (archive footage)

Reunification - 25 Years After Star Trek: The Next Generation 2012
as Self

Megaquake 10.0 2012
as Narrator (voice)

The Captains 2011
as Self

Lee & Grant 2011
as Narrator (voice)

Truth Be Told 2011
as Radio Sound Engineer, Director

Star Trek: The Captain's Summit 2009
as Self

The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice 2008
as Trombone Player in Marching Band (uncredited), Director

Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier 2007
as Self

The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines 2006
as Debra's Husband, Director

Alien Autopsy 2006
as Self

How William Shatner Changed the World 2005
as Self
- No Strings Attached: The Making of Thunderbirds
No Strings Attached: The Making of Thunderbirds 2004
as Self

Thunderbirds 2004
Director

Star Trek: Nemesis 2002
as Commander William T. Riker

Clockstoppers 2002
as Bystander, Director
- Make It So
Make It So 2001
as Self

Ghosts Caught on Tape: Fact or Fiction? 2000
as Narrator (voice)

Dying to Live 1999
as Will, Executive Producer

Star Trek: Insurrection 1998
as Commander William T. Riker, Director

Trekkies 1997
as Self

Star Trek: First Contact 1996
as Commander William T. Riker, Director

Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond 1996
as Self

Brothers of the Frontier 1996
as Ben Frye

Time Travel Through the Bible 1995
as Time Traveler

Alien Autopsy: (Fact or Fiction?) 1995
as Self - Host

Gargoyles the Movie: The Heroes Awaken 1995
as Xanatos (voice)

Star Trek: Generations 1994
as Commander William T. Riker

Phish: Tracking 1994
Actor, Music

Camp Nowhere 1994
as Bob Spiegel (uncredited)
- Star Trek: The Next Generation Viewer's Choice Marathon
Star Trek: The Next Generation Viewer's Choice Marathon 1994
as Self - Host

Journey's End - The Saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation 1994
as Host / Self

Your Guide to Star Trek: Generations 1993
as Self

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Chain of Command 1992
as Cmdr. Will Riker
- Roswell: Coverups & Close Encounters
Roswell: Coverups & Close Encounters 1992
as Narrator (voice)

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Unification 1991
as Cmdr. Will Riker

Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special 1991
as Self

Friend to Friend: Armenian Earthquake Relief 1989
as Self

The Cover Girl and the Cop 1989
as Joshua Boyleston

The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation to the Next 1988
as Self

The Night the City Screamed 1980
as Richard Hawkins

Beach Patrol 1979
as Marty Green
Credits from TMDB.