“Even at the time, I thought, what am I doing?”: A Star Trek Legend Nearly Snatched William Riker Role from Jonathan Frakes

The 1960s were the time when space race was heating up, and people’s imaginations were slowly becoming reality. Space sci-fi became a staple of the television diet, with Gene Roddenberry leading the march with his Star Trek franchise.

The Original Series was followed by The Next Generation, which, after much speculation and criticism, managed to find a permanent place in the Trekkies’ hearts. And needless to say, the series made Jonathan Frakes’ portrayal of William Riker a fan favorite.

Jonathan Frakes was not the original choice for William Riker

Many memorable characters hail from the Star Trek: The Next Generation series, but Captain William Riker stands out as particularly charming, a testament to Jonathan Frakes‘ talent. But most fans will be surprised to know that he wasn’t the first choice for the role.

The book “The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, and Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek: The Next 25 Years From The Next Generation To J. J. Abrams” details that Michael O’Gorman, Billy Campbell, and the renowned Star Trek legend Jeffrey Combs were also seriously considered for the role.

Jeffrey Combs, who had played 9 roles in 4 different Trek series, was once a front-runner for Riker. However, even he couldn’t imagine himself playing the Enterprise’s first officer, as he recalled in the DVD extras for “Deep Space Nine” Season 5,

“Even at the time, I thought, what am I doing?”

Ultimately, Jonathan Frakes went through seven auditions over six weeks and secured the role only after the preferred actor for the part faltered in his final audition.

William Riker was supposed to be more strict

The first officer of the USS Enterprise was recognized for his exuberant personality and flirtatious mannerisms. Nevertheless, in the early seasons of the show, the actor portrayed a more stern and solemn character, aligning with Roddenberry’s vision of Riker as a ‘Gary Cooper’ archetype.

In an interview, Frakes discussed the initial instructions he received from Roddenberry on portraying the role of Riker.

I was told by Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry that he wanted Riker to be like Gary Cooper — a Midwestern glint, no smiling, all about honor and duty. That was fine for the character, but it was a strange, limiting box for me as an actor because I’m a little more flamboyant.

The series garnered unprecedented success, eclipsing its predecessor and resulting in the production of four original movies. Moreover, a spinoff named Star Trek: Picard premiered, showcasing the comeback of the original cast members.

Star Trek: The Next Generation is available to stream on Paramount+.