They exist?
Billy Campbell almost got Riker?
- Thread starter Norrin Radd
- Start date
They exist?
I thought he did a good job on the 4400. I know I've seen him in other stuff but I really only remember him from the 4400. I could see him as Riker but I can see where they would think he's a little too "soft" versus Frakes.
Speaking of actors who almost got main parts on the show, Colm Meany was in the running to play Geordi. The guy who played Hugh Borg (I forget his name) was in the running for Wesley.
I think Tim Russ was also in the running for Geordi. The actor for the Traveller was in the running for Data. The pirate captain in "Gambit" was in the running for Picard.
in that episode campbell had to be a swashbuckling type. i'm sure had he gotten the part he'd have played it differently. but i like frakes and i think he played the role the best way he could in relation to what he was given and the rest of the characters. riker fit in with everyone else. and for me the chemistry of the characters was a big part of why the show worked. he had a tough role, he had to be understated as 2nd in command and yet had to provide leadership when called upon. i think the role requires one to be "stuffy" if it is going to be played with some realism. i think he did a great job and he let others shine......the striaght man to the funny guy who gets all the laughs. he did his job.
I'd love to see the second choices for all the roles. Even Troi and Crusher.
Jonathan Frakes was the perfect choice. I seriously doubt anyone else was really considered after his audtion(s). He's brought so much to STAR TREK, as well, both as actor and director. Every spin-off has a Riker episode in it and it's not surprising ... everybody just loves him!
Since somebody necro'd a 5-year-old thread, I guess it's fair to respond to a 5-year-old post:
It's not fair to judge the actor by this one role in what many consider to be a bad episode of Trek. He was also the co-lead of the critically-acclaimed drama Once & Again with Sela Ward, who won a best lead actress Emmy for her part in the show.
Rostov of Invasion USA as Picard?
Reading this thread made the images of Jonathan Frakes' head on Billy Campbell's body, and then vice-versa, appear in my mind. It was an incredibly disturbing experience, and I hope it never, ever happens again.
What it comes down to is that like him, hate him, or feel completely ambiguous about him - Will Riker is Jonathan Frakes, and Jonathan Frakes is Will Riker. And Tom Riker. And a bible story narrator. But mostly Will Riker. No one that has posted here will ever picture the Riker character any other way.
Except the way I started this post by describing. Don't do it. Stay with Jonathan William Riker Frakes.
What it comes down to is that like him, hate him, or feel completely ambiguous about him - Will Riker is Jonathan Frakes, and Jonathan Frakes is Will Riker. And Tom Riker. And a bible story narrator. But mostly Will Riker. No one that has posted here will ever picture the Riker character any other way.
Except the way I started this post by describing. Don't do it. Stay with Jonathan William Riker Frakes.
Who the hell sits like that?
I think he was very proud to be both tall and flexible.
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