Why did Riker grow a beard? *pic*

[ReadyAndWilling]

i was just in another thread and saw this .gif from season 1:

 

[C.E. Evans]

Because Jonathan Frakes grew one after the first season wrapped up, and Roddenberry thought he looked good with it.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

To compensate for Picard's baldness.

 

[iguana_tonante]

I think, basically, because he could.

 

[PianoWizzy]

All about the beard:
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIkFBl0mpaQ[/yt]

In Jonathan Frakes' words, "[Gene thought] it looked nautical. And decorative."

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Jonathan has a fairly weak chin. He definitely looks better with a beard.

Plus Genie likes the tickling effect.

 

[Satyrquaze]

Plus Genie likes the tickling effect.

So does Patrick, Brent, LeVar, and Michael.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Traction.

 

[Too Much Fun]

I saw an interview with Rodenberry where he said something like, "this year Jonathan Frakes has a Sir Walter Raleigh-like beard", so I guess he (or they) thought it made Riker look more like a heroic, dashing explorer?

 

[Satyrquaze]

There was a pic somewhere in some issue of Starlog or something where Riker had woken up one morning during shoreleave after a night of much drinking and revelry and discovered that someone had written all over his face (well within his beard-line) with a permanent ink that "Picard is a Wanker" or some such.

 

[PianoWizzy]

Having seen every TNG episode and movie and *never* having seen that, I somehow doubt that was in an actual episode.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

Why did Riker grow a beard?

To improve the show's quality.

 

[Christopher]

There was a pic somewhere in some issue of Starlog or something where Riker had woken up one morning during shoreleave after a night of much drinking and revelry and discovered that someone had written all over his face (well within his beard-line) with a permanent ink that "Picard is a Wanker" or some such.

Having seen every TNG episode and movie and *never* having seen that, I somehow doubt that was in an actual episode.

He means it was a cartoon in Starlog offering a joking explanation for the beard. I remember that one.

 

[exodus]

Too look like Errol Flynn?

 

[heavylids]

Like Data, Riker grew a beard because it demands respect. And when you stroke it, does it not make you look intellectual?

 

[marillion]

Riker: "I now wear a beard... Beards are cool..."

I always kind of thought it was to get away from the dashing "Kirk" aspect his character kind of held by default... He had the swagger, the humor and the ability to woo the ladies...

 

[CaptainStoner]

Like Data, Riker grew a beard because it demands respect. And when you stroke it, does it not make you look intellectual?

Indeed. Though I plan to part with it in spring.

 

[PianoWizzy]

Like Data, Riker grew a beard because it demands respect. And when you stroke it, does it not make you look intellectual?

Thank goodness Data didn't keep that; he looked ridiculous with it.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Plus Genie likes the tickling effect.

So does Patrick, Brent, LeVar, and Michael.

[Takei]Oh my![/Takei]

 

[PikeFan]

IMO it made him look older. My thought is he didn't like having a baby-face, but that's just me....