Jonathan Scott Frakes is an American actor and director. He is best known for his portrayal of Commander William Riker in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and subsequent films. Frakes also hosted the anthology series Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction (1997) and was the voice for David Xanatos in the Disney television series Gargoyles (1994). In June 2011, he narrated the History Channel documentary Lee and Grant. Frakes directed while starring in Star Trek: First Contact (1996) as well as Star Trek: Insurrection (1998). He has directed more than 70 television episodes, including episodes of several Star Trek television series and The Orville. He is the author of the novel The Abductors: Conspiracy.