Jonathan Frakes

Jonathan Frakes (born August 19, 1952 in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania) is an American actor and director best known for his portrayal of Commander William Riker in the television series '.

Related Topics:
August 19 - 1952 - Bellefonte, Pennsylvania - American - Actor - Director - William Riker

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Moving on to directing in recent years, Frakes directed ', which earned him the nickname "Two-Takes" Frakes for his efficiency as a director.

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Frakes grew up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts (in theater arts) at Penn State University in the early 1970s; he received a Masters from Harvard.

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Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - Penn State University - 1970s - Harvard

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He moved to New York City and became a member of "The Impossible Ragtime Theater." In that company, Frakes did his first off-Broadway acting in Eugene O'Neill's The Hairy Ape. His first Broadway appearance was in Shenandoah. At the same time, he landed a role in the NBC soap opera The Doctors. When his character was dismissed from the soap, Frakes moved to Los Angeles, California and played guest spots in many of the top television shows of the 1970s and 1980s, including The Waltons and Hill Street Blues. He had recurring roles in Falcon Crest and North & South, before signing for the role of Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation. He has also done animation voice acting, most notably voicing the recurring role of David Xanatos in the television series Gargoyles. Frakes also hosted '.

Related Topics:
New York City - Eugene O'Neill - Shenandoah - NBC - Soap opera - The Doctors - Los Angeles, California - 1980s - The Waltons - Hill Street Blues - Falcon Crest - Animation - Voice acting - Gargoyles

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In the miniseries North & South, he played Stanley Hazard of Hazard Iron, a weak man easily manipulated by his mother and wife, a character in stark contrast to the strong Commander William T. Riker.

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Frakes is married to soap opera actress Genie Francis. The couple now live in London, England with their son, Jameson, and daughter, Elizabeth.

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Soap opera - Actress - Genie Francis - London, England

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He is also the only Star Trek regular to appear on four different Star Trek series (', ', ' and ').

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Along with Marina Sirtis, Armin Shimerman, John de Lancie, Michael Ansara and Richard Poe, he is one of only six actors to play the same character on three different Star Trek series. He played Commander William T. Riker in ', ' and '.

Related Topics:
Marina Sirtis - Armin Shimerman - John de Lancie - Michael Ansara - Commander William T. Riker

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