Commander Riker Is From PA - Learn Stuff

He may have gone where no one has gone before, but Commander Riker is from Pennsylvania. Well, Jonathan Frakes is. Riker is from Alaska in canon.

Jonathan Scott Frakes was born in Bellefonte, PA (just north of State College) in 1952. His father was an English professor at Lehigh University, so Frakes grew up in Bethlehem (right next to Allentown).

His college years were spent at Penn State University and Harvard. Frakes` early work included off-Broadway shows and television, and even a stint with Marvel as Captain America at conventions. he`s a pretty big guy.

In 1987 he was cast as Commander William Thomas Riker for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Besides with Patrick Stewart, he is the only other cast member to appear in every episode of the series. Riker was also featured in Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Enterprise, Picard, Lower Decks, and the four TNG movies - two of which he directed.

Frakes` most well-known character is famous for what is called \"The Riker Maneuver\", where he steps over the back of a chair to sit down. He can also frequently be seen resting his leg at an elevated position, such as a console or rock. Both of these are due to his height and back injuries.

As a tall guy with my own back injuries, this totally makes sense. It`s easier to just step over the chair, and elevating your foot relieves pressure on your back.

I`ve never met Jonathan Frakes, but he seems like a pretty awesome guy. I`m glad that he is from Pennsylvania.

GO PA!