William Thomas "Will" Riker is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe appearing primarily as a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation, portrayed by Jonathan Frakes.
18 Facts About William Riker
2.
William Riker is usually called "Number One" by Captain Picard, because of his position as first officer on the Enterprise.
3.
William Riker was originally scripted as a much more serious, by-the-book officer, but by the middle episodes of the first season, it was felt that he was too "official", and his character was toned down and became more of a ladies' man.
4.
William Riker becomes comfortable on the Enterprise, repeatedly turning down offers of his own command, and he learns to cherish the company of his fellow officers.
5.
Nonetheless, William Riker retains a willingness to occasionally disregard the chain of command.
6.
Frakes had grown a mustache and beard between seasons, for his role in the Civil War miniseries North and South, and Gene Roddenberry asked him to keep it, because he thought it made William Riker look more nautical.
7.
William Riker did shave his mustache and beard during the events of Star Trek Insurrection, to the amusement of Data.
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William Riker's background is first explored in the second-season episode "The Icarus Factor".
9.
We learn that William Riker grew up in Alaska; that his mother, Elizabeth, died when he was two years old; and that he was raised by his father until the age of 15, when he left home.
10.
The sixth-season episode "Second Chances" reveals that Will William Riker was duplicated long ago by a transporter malfunction.
11.
At the start of the film, William Riker finally accepts a promotion to Captain and an offer to command the USS Titan; during the movie's final scenes he bids Picard, and the Enterprise, farewell.
12.
William Riker guest-starred along with Q in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Death Wish".
13.
In that episode, taking place in 2399, William Riker is married to Deanna Troi; they have two children, Thad, and Kestra.
14.
William Riker makes another Picard appearance in the Season 1 finale, "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part II".
15.
In that episode, William Riker has been reinstated to active duty.
16.
William Riker is temporarily in command of the USS Zheng He, the lead ship in a Starfleet squadron sent to the planet Coppelius to protect its inhabitants from imminent Romulan attack.
17.
William Riker appeared in the first and second episodes of the second season.
18.
Frakes appeared in dual roles in "Second Chances", a TNG episode in which it was established that William Riker had a "duplicate" created years earlier by a transporter malfunction.