"Yes! Front row!" |
Jonathan Frakes is best known for two things: the voice of Xanatos in the animated series Gargoyles and the role of Commander William Riker, aka Number One, in the critically acclaimed Star Trek: The Next Generation.
He's also made quite a name for himself as a television director: he's directed episodes of every live-action Star Trek show since Star Trek: The Next Generation. Other directing credits include Castle, Dollhouse and multiple episodes of Leverage. Feature film directing credits include Star Trek: First Contact (considered the best TNG movie ever) and Star Trek: Insurrection, as well as Gargoyles, Thunderbirds, Clockstoppers, and two The Librarian movies. All of which have Star Trek references in them at his insistence.
On the set of Star Trek: First Contact, Frakes earned the nickname "Two Takes Frakes" for his economical shooting style.
He made a returning to acting when he reprised his role as Riker in Star Trek: Picard and later returned to voice his character in Star Trek: Lower Decks.
He's also known for his hosting Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction?. Or more accurately inspiring tons of memes from his time on the show.