Paramount
Since his initial casting as Starfleet officer William T. Riker on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” Jonathan Frakes has played a significant role in the “Star Trek” franchise. He not only acted in the series but also directed several episodes. However, during the casting phase in the late 1980s, Frakes was not the first choice for the role of the charming first officer. He had to compete against a host of other talented actors.
Eventually, it turned out for the best, and Frakes portrayed the character who became famous for his unique way of sitting on a chair, a quirk that was humorously highlighted in “Star Trek: Lower Decks.” But the “Next Generation” could have taken a different turn if another actor had landed the part. Billy Campbell, who later starred in the underrated superhero movie “The Rocketeer” in 1991, was close to playing the role.
The Almost Riker: Billy Campbell
Disney
In the book “The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years,” an oral history of “Star Trek” by Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross, it was revealed by producer Rick Berman that Billy Campbell was initially chosen to play Riker. However, John Pike, the then-president of Paramount Studios, was not convinced by Campbell’s performance:
“We initially cast Billy Campbell, an actor who later had a successful career, as Riker. But Pike didn’t approve. He felt that Campbell lacked a commanding presence. He wouldn’t have followed him into battle. We believe it was mainly because he didn’t audition well for the part. That’s when we turned to our second choice, Jonathan Frakes, who proved to be an excellent choice.”
While it was probably a good thing that Campbell didn’t end up playing Riker (otherwise, he may not have been able to play the Rocketeer alongside the legendary actor Alan Arkin), imagining him in the role is intriguing. Pike may have been on to something about his credibility; it is indeed hard to envision a “Next Generation” character like Worf obeying orders from Campbell, especially with his clean-shaven look from “The Rocketeer.” But Frakes wasn’t the only other contender; there were some other prominent actors in the mix during the audition process.
Surprising Names from the Next Generation Audition Memo
ABC
The casting process for “Star Trek: The Next Generation” began in March of 1987. An audition memo was sent out in April of that year, listing the preferred actors for each character on the show. For the role of Riker, then spelled “Ryker,” John Ferraro, the Senior Vice President of Paramount Pictures at the time, noted that Michael O’Gorman, the star of “Ironweed,” was the favored choice for the role due to his unique charm. O’Gorman, who was relatively unknown and quit acting a few years after his “Next Generation” audition, had a more rugged look that seemed to suit the Number One character the show initially envisioned.
The memo also mentioned Gregg Marx, a soap opera star known for his roles as David Bannings on “Days of Our Lives” and Tom Hughes on “As The World Turns,” as well as Ben Murphy, who played Kid Curry in the 1970s Western “Alias Smith and Jones.” While Frakes outperformed them all in the auditions, there was another actor who could have possibly upstaged him for the role — an actor who would later become a “Star Trek” legend.
Jeffrey Combs: The Star Trek Legend Who Auditioned for Riker
Paramount
Jeffrey Combs is a renowned actor in both the world of horror and science fiction. He is recognized for his portrayal of the twisted doctor Herbert West in the “Re-Animator” movies, as well as the strange Doctor Strange impersonator Doctor Mordrid. Most notably, he has played nine different roles in the “Star Trek” franchise (not counting the multiple clones of Weyoun as separate characters). This significant screen time in the “Star Trek” universe is all thanks to Combs auditioning for the role of Riker.
Although Combs didn’t get the role of Riker, Frakes remembered him when he had the opportunity to direct an episode of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” and brought him in to play the role of Tiron. Despite his struggle with the character’s makeup, this role allowed him to work with René Auberjonois, who played the shapeshifter Odo and later directed the “Deep Space Nine” episode “Family Business.” During the casting of that episode, he suggested Combs for the role of the Ferengi villain Liquidator Brunt. Since the makeup sufficiently disguised his appearance, the show’s producers approved the casting. This led to Combs playing characters across four different “Star Trek” shows, making him one of the most recurring “Star Trek” actors.
In conclusion, Frakes landing the role of Riker was the most desirable outcome. Otherwise, we would have missed out on seeing Combs as a defecting Weyoun exploring the textures of all the foods in the replicator, which is a universe I’d rather not imagine.
FAQs
Who was almost cast as Riker in Star Trek: The Next Generation?
Billy Campbell, best known for his role in “The Rocketeer,” was originally cast as Riker. However, the president of Paramount Studios at the time, John Pike, didn’t feel he was right for the role.
Who else auditioned for the role of Riker?
Besides Billy Campbell, other actors who auditioned for the role of Riker include Michael O’Gorman, Gregg Marx, Ben Murphy, and Jeffrey Combs.
Who is Jeffrey Combs?
Jeffrey Combs is a renowned actor in both the world of horror and science fiction. He is recognized for his portrayal of the twisted doctor Herbert West in the “Re-Animator” movies and has played nine different roles in the “Star Trek
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