Trivia

Frakes is also a talented Jazz trombonist, a skill he used multiple times through his time on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987).

He is known for being very friendly and welcoming to fans. It is said that once, while at a convention, he was approached by a new fan of the "Star Trek" franchise. When the fan admitted that he had only recently become a fan of "Star Trek", Frakes said, without missing a beat and in his inimitable authoritative style, "Welcome aboard".

When preparing for his audition for the role of Commander William T. Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), he had to watch videotapes from the original episodes because he knew nothing about Star Trek (1966).

Was interviewed and cast for Commander William T. Riker personally by Gene Roddenberry. He told Frakes that he saw a certain, authoritative "glint" in his eye for that role which reminded him of himself, years ago, while in the LAPD and United States Air Force.

Received the nickname "Two-Takes Frakes" for his efficient filming style on the set of Star Trek: First Contact (1996).

Along with David Carson, he is one of only two people to have directed "Star Trek" for both television and film. He directed eight episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), three episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993), three episodes of Star Trek: Voyager (1995), Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) and three episodes of Star Trek: Discovery (2017).

Is the only actor who has appeared on "Star Trek" to share scenes with regulars from all five series (Star Trek (1966), Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993), Star Trek: Voyager (1995) and Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)): James Doohan in the Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) episode "Relics", the entire cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) in every episode of the series, Avery Brooks, Nana Visitor, Terry Farrell and Colm Meaney in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) episode "Defiant", Armin Shimerman in the Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) episodes "Haven", "The Last Outpost" and "Firstborn", Kate Mulgrew and Tim Russ in the Star Trek: Voyager (1995) episode "Death Wish" and the entire cast of Star Trek: Enterprise (2001) in the series finale "These Are the Voyages...".

His trademark beard was acquired during the filming of North & South: Book 2, Love & War (1986). This was patterned after a style popular during the American Civil War. He liked this so much, he continued to wear this after he returned to Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) for its second season.

In some of the first season episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), his character, Commander William Riker, was called "Bill". In the seasons that followed, he was generally referred to as either Will or "Number One".

Attended Penn State University and Harvard University.

Very good friends with Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) co-star, Marina Sirtis.

One of Frakes' first professional jobs was for Marvel Comics, portraying the company's characters for promotional events and appearances. Frakes credits the experience in helping to hone his skills on interacting with fans on the Star Trek Convention circuit.

Joined the faculty of Rockport College in Maine, where he and his family currently reside, teaching classes in directing film and television. (December 2005)

Calls Alfre Woodard his "godmother". The two became friends as young actors in the 1970s.

Along with Tim Russ, he is one of only two actors who have appeared in "Star Trek" to share scenes with four of the five captains: Patrick Stewart in every episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), Star Trek: Generations (1994), Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002), Avery Brooks in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) episode "Defiant", Kate Mulgrew in the Star Trek: Voyager (1995) episode "Death Wish" and Scott Bakula in the Star Trek: Enterprise (2001) finale "These Are the Voyages...".

Has appeared with Kate Mulgrew in four different productions: Camp Nowhere (1994), Gargoyles (1994), Star Trek: Voyager (1995) and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002).

He and Leonard Nimoy have both directed two Star Trek movies. In both cases, one of the films was a time travel story. In addition, both he and Nimoy were best known as the first officer of the USS Enterprise from their respective Star Trek series and movies.

He is the only "Star Trek" regular to appear in five different "Star Trek" series: Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993), Star Trek: Voyager (1995), Star Trek: Enterprise (2001) and Star Trek: Picard (2020).

He and his wife Genie Francis have played a married couple in three different productions: Camp Nowhere (1994), Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993) and 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996). In North & South: Book 1, North & South (1985), North & South: Book 2, Love & War (1986), North & South: Book 3, Heaven & Hell (1994), his character played brother-in-law to his wife, Genie's character, Brett, who was married to his character's brother, Billy Hazard.

Marched trombone in Blue Band at Penn State University.

Has two children: Jameson Ivor Frakes (born August 20, 1994) and Elizabeth Francis Frakes (born May 30, 1997).

Has a cow-shaped mailbox, and retrieving the mail involves inserting one's hand into the cow's hindquarters. Frakes recorded trombone tracks for Phish's album "Hoist". Unfortunately, his horn parts did not come out all that well - certainly not as well as the horn parts recorded by the Tower of Power horn section. As sort of a consolation prize, a brief interlude on the album is called Riker's Mailbox.

He was considered for the role of the Master in the television movie Doctor Who: The Movie (1996), which went to Eric Roberts.

Godmother of his son Jameson is Elizabeth Berman, wife of Star Trek producer and writer Rick Berman.

Along with Marc Alaimo, Rosalind Chao, Jeffrey Combs, John de Lancie, Michael Dorn and Tim Russ, he is one of only seven actors to appear in ten different seasons of "Star Trek": Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) Seasons One through Seven, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) Season Three, Star Trek: Voyager (1995) Season Two and Star Trek: Enterprise (2001) Season Four.

Has written the sci-fi-book "The Abductors: Conspiracy" along with Dean Wesley Smith.

Met his wife during the filming of Bare Essence (1983) and met her again during the filming of North & South: Book 1, North & South (1985) and North & South: Book 2, Love & War (1986).

Has played the same character (Commander William T. Riker) on five different series: Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), Star Trek: Voyager (1995), Star Trek: Enterprise (2001), Family Guy (1999) and Star Trek: Picard (2020).

Has appeared in episodes of five different series with Marina Sirtis: Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), Gargoyles (1994), Gargoyles (1994), Star Trek: Enterprise (2001) and Star Trek: Picard (2020).

Has appeared in an episode The Twilight Zone (1985) and later directed one episode of The Twilight Zone (2002).

Has mostly German ancestry, with a small amount of English roots.

Along with Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, Colm Meaney and Jeffrey Combs, he is one of only six actors to appear in the finales of two different "Star Trek" series (Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) and Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)).

Son-in-law of actor Ivor Francis and Rosemary Daley.

Living in London with wife Genie Francis and their children. (July 2004)

At a Star Trek convention, Frakes said he was once in the play "The Lost Colony" on Roanoke Island.

Along with Marina Sirtis, Armin Shimerman, John de Lancie, Michael Ansara, Richard Poe and Mark Allen Shepherd, he is one of only seven actors to play the same character in three different live-action "Star Trek" series. He played Commander William T. Riker in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), Star Trek: Voyager (1995) and Star Trek: Enterprise (2001). He also played the transporter double of this character, Lieutenant W. Thomas Riker, in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993).

Is a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.

Has appeared in episodes of two different series involving the legend of Robin Hood: An Arrow Pointing East (1982) and Qpid (1991).

Shares first and last name with mid-20th Century aviator and stuntman Jonathan Frakes.

Ellen J. Hornstein is his personal assistant/story editor for his production company, Goepp Circle Productions.

In The Uncanny Valley (2010) he played a character who uses dolls as therapy for his patients. He also hosted Writer's Agent/Crypt Ghost/The Doll/Hubert's Curse/Shared Vision (2002) which had a segment called "The Doll".

He attended the Motor City Comic Convention in Michigan with his wife, Genie Francis. (May 2006)