Jonathan Frakes Interview On 'Leverage,' Brent Spiner, J.J. Abrams, 'Star Trek'

Johnathan Frakes was Star Trek’s Commander Willian T. Riker in the epic science fiction franchise. Now, he’s directing his former Trekkie cast mates on TBS’s new hot show, Leverage, alongside Mark Roskin. “They asked me if I’d like to direct and episode on Leverage, and I said I’d love to,” he told Uinterview exclusively. “And I got the chance to work with some people I’ve worked with before!”

Frakes grew up in Bellefonte, Penn., where he also majored and earned a degree in theater at Penn State. His career began with working at Marvel Comics where he dressed up as Captain America for the conventions. Frakes appeared in his first Broadway play, Shenandoah in 1975. Frakes appeared in Star Trek: Generation in 1984 and later starred in the rest of the Star Trek franchise as the Enterpise’s first officer.

In Leverage, Frakes finds himself reuniting once again with a couple of his former Star Trek family, Brent Spiner and Armin Shimerman, reminiscing old galactic times. When asked what it was like to reunite and work with familiar faces again, Frakes deadpanned: “Impossible! Brent and I have only worked together 18 years!”