As Commander William T. Riker on the 1987-93 syndicated sci-fi series Star Trek: The Next Generation, Jonathan Frakes has explored both acting and directing, supervising many of the episodes and becoming the first cast member of any Star Trek series to direct an episode of his own show. He also directed Star Treks VIII and IX.
Before he replaced Lenord Nimoy as the U.S.S. Enterprise's first officer, Frakes was on Hill Street Blues, Falcon Crest, and The Doctors. He first met his future wife Genie Francis on the set of Bare Essence, but it wasn't until North and South that Frakes fell in love with Francis, who is ten years his junior.
Frakes was born and raised in (ironically) Pennsylvania and attended Penn State University, majoring in psychology. He furthered his education at Harvard where he performed with the Loeb Drama Center.
He has acted on stage in My Life in Art and Every Good Boy Deserves a Favour, which also featured ST:TNG co-stars Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, and Colm Meany.
Frakes, along with Marina Sirtis and Michael Dorn (other Next Generation co-stars) provides his voice talents for the cartoon Gargoyles.