Jonathan Frakes is an American actor and director best known for playing William Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation and for directing films and episodes across the Star Trek franchise.

Frakes began his acting career with early television credits including The Doctors and Falcon Crest, along with guest roles on shows including The Waltons and Hill Street Blues. In 1987, he was cast as Commander William Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation, appearing in all seven seasons of the series and reprising the role in several later Star Trek projects.

During The Next Generation, Frakes began directing episodes of the series. He went on to direct the Star Trek feature films First Contact and Insurrection, along with episodes of Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Discovery, Picard and Strange New Worlds.

Outside the Star Trek franchise, Frakes has directed episodes of shows including Leverage, Castle, Burn Notice and The Librarians. His other film directing credits include Clockstoppers and Thunderbirds.

Frakes has also hosted the anthology series Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction and provided voice work for projects including Gargoyles.