Jonathan Scott Frakes, born August 19, 1952, in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, is an American actor and director best known for portraying William Riker in Star Trek: The Next Generation and directing multiple Star Trek films and episodes.

     Frakes grew up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where his father was a professor of English literature at Lehigh University. He attended Liberty High School, where he played trombone in the school band and ran track. He later earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Theater Arts from Pennsylvania State University in 1974 and a Master of Arts (MA) in Acting from Harvard University in 1976.

     His early career included roles in The Doctors, Charlie's Angels, and Barnaby Jones. He gained recognition for playing Stanley Hazard in North and South (1985) before landing his breakout role as Commander William Riker, the first officer of the USS Enterprise-D, in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994). He reprised the role in multiple Star Trek films and series, including Star Trek: Picard.

     Beyond acting, Frakes became a prolific director, helming episodes of Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Enterprise, Discovery, Strange New Worlds, and Picard. He directed Star Trek: First Contact (1996) and Star Trek: Insurrection (1998), as well as Clockstoppers (2002) and Thunderbirds (2004).

     Frakes married actress Genie Francis in 1988, and they have two children.