Actor Jonathan Frakes, widely recognized for his role as Commander (later Captain) William T. Riker in Star Trek: The Next Generation, was recently seen in Los Angeles attending to a routine task: picking up after his dog. The 74-year-old actor, a familiar face in the sci-fi franchise, was photographed during the outing on Sunday, November 1.
Frakes, who played Riker from 1987 to 1994 and reprised the role in subsequent films and series, has had a varied career that also includes directing numerous television episodes and films, including the acclaimed Star Trek: First Contact.
Before achieving global fame with Star Trek, Frakes built an extensive resume with guest appearances on popular television shows of the 1970s and 1980s, such as Charlie's Angels, Fantasy Island, Hill Street Blues, and Matlock. His early career also included a role in the Broadway musical Shenandoah and a part in the daytime soap opera The Doctors.
His role as Riker was pivotal, significantly shaping his career. "[Riker] completely changed my life; my career; the focus of my career — and all for the better," Frakes told The Companion in reference to the character he was chosen for by series creator Gene Roddenberry.
Beyond his acting and directing work, Frakes has been married to soap opera star Genie Francis for nearly four decades. The couple met while filming the miniseries North & South in the mid-1980s and married in 1988. Frakes recently presented Francis with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards on October 30, 2026, honoring her extensive career.
Frakes continues to be active in Hollywood, most recently directing episodes of television series and Chuck Lorre's HBO Max series Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.