Unraveling the Unparalleled Legacy of Jonathan Frakes and Patrick Stewart in the Vast Universe of Star Trek

Summary

In Star Trek, Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Frakes boast an extraordinary collaborative history. As an actor or director, Frakes has shared a remarkable amount of time working alongside Stewart, surpassing all others in his life.

Frakes and Stewart are together again in Season 3 of Star Trek: Picard, reprising their roles as Admiral Jean-Luc Picard and Captain William T. Riker. They lead the crew of the USS Enterprise-D on an epic mission to save the galaxy in what is bound to be their ultimate adventure. Additionally, Stewart is currently promoting his memoir, titled "Making It So: A Memoir," with the backing of his Next Generation companions, including Jonathan Frakes.

Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Frakes have worked together for years in various Star Trek projects, including Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Picard. In the upcoming season 3 of Picard, Stewart and Frakes will reunite as Admiral Jean-Luc Picard and Captain William T. Riker to embark on an exciting mission to save the galaxy alongside the crew of the USS Enterprise-D. Sir Patrick is currently promoting his autobiography, "Making It So: A Memoir," with the support of his Next Generation co-stars, including Jonathan Frakes.

In June 2023, before the SAG-AFTRA strike, Film Independent organized an event called "Sir Patrick Stewart... In Conversation With Jonathan Frakes" in Los Angeles. During this event, Jonathan interviewed Sir Patrick live on stage, and they had an engaging and humorous discussion. Frakes, who is not only an actor but also a beloved director among the Star Trek cast members, shared an incredible personal achievement with Patrick Stewart. You can read the quote and watch the video below:

Jonathan Frakes and I have worked together extensively, with me either acting or being directed by him. In fact, I've spent more time with Jonathan in these roles than with anyone else in my entire life. And I believe the same may be true for him.

Jonathan Frakes Is Star Trek's Finest Director

Jonathan Frakes, beloved throughout the Star Trek family of actors and creatives, is widely considered the best director in the history of the franchise. He began his directing career with episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation before making the successful leap to feature films. Frakes' directorial prowess shone through in Star Trek: First Contact, widely regarded as the pinnacle of the TNG movies. Although his subsequent film, Star Trek: Insurrection, met with less success, Frakes continued to make his mark in the industry, directing films such as Clockstoppers and Thunderbirds. In recent years, he has also established himself as a prolific television director, helming multiple episodes of hit shows like Leverage, Castle, The Librarians, and The Orville.

Frakes' directorial work in Star Trek is renowned. In addition to Star Trek: The Next Generation, he has also helmed numerous episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. Frakes returned to the franchise to direct episodes of Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, and the crossover episode between Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Lower Decks. He also directed the first part of the series finale of Star Trek: Discovery, and once the SAG-AFTRA strike is resolved, he looks forward to directing an episode of Strange New Worlds season 3. Considering their extensive collaborations, it is remarkable that Jonathan Frakes and Patrick Stewart have spent more time together as actors and directors on stage than anyone else in their lives.