William Riker's Beard

[JonnyQuest037]

I think the beard looked its best around season 3. The producers made him trim it back too much before season 2.

He's actually got a neck beard in ''The Child'' which is missing from the rest of season two (and, I think, the rest of TNG). In that one episode, it's noticably bigger and bushier than in later episodes.

I remember reading a 1988 interview with Frakes where he said the producers had the studio hairstylists take his beard down "11% percent", so I guess that was after they filmed "The Child." They probably got a look at the first dailies and thought it should look neater.

 

[Mister Spock]

Has anyone mentioned the goatee Thomas Riker has in Defiant?

 

[Rojixus]

Has anyone mentioned the goatee Thomas Riker has in Defiant?

Has anyone mentioned Thomas Riker dramatically taking off his Will Riker disguise?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Better with the beard, I think. I always associate beardless Riker with TNG's first season, and that was when Riker was basically a mannequin.

 

[Catarina]

Beard.

 

[Catarina]

Has anyone mentioned the goatee Thomas Riker has in Defiant?

Has anyone mentioned Thomas Riker dramatically taking off his Will Riker disguise?

Look at him. So bold, so cocky, he can wax his own beard with a single yank and not tear up.

 

[Scotchy]

Would the evil universe Riker have had a Fu Manchu, Hitler stache or been malevolently clean shaven and bald??

 

[Lance]

I'd forgotten all about the Tom Riker goatee!

For the record, here's a comparison of the bushier ''Child'' beard, versus the trimmed down version we're all much more familiar with:

http://tng.trekcore.com/hd/albums/2x01/thechild_hd_023.jpg

http://tng.trekcore.com/hd/albums/2x02/where_silence_has_lease_hd_124.jpg

In it's first appearance, the beard is considerably more 'luxurious', particularly in profile. For it's second appearance it was trimmed back so the sideburns were lower on Frakes' chin, and more of his cheek bones were exposed (aka, the 'Walter Raleigh' look). And that's how it stayed for 14 years, give or take.

 

[Amaraen]

I liked the more trimmed beard better.

 

[Sybok Was Wrong]

Best beard in TV. Used to copy that beard, which requires a lot of trimming and maintenance!

 

[Mister Spock]

Yeah, I prefer the trimmed beard. Although his fluffier hair earlier on makes him look a bit like Kenny Loggins in Space.

 

[DaddlerTheDalek]

Star Trek: Beard

 

[Kevman7987]

I prefer the bushier beard myself. After all, he is an Alaskan in spaaaaaaace, which is even colder than Alaska in winter.

 

[NigellaDeanna20]

We're so used to it, seasons 2-7 with a beard, it wouldn't be the same without it.

Yes I agree completely. I don't really think that it makes that much of a difference whether Riker does or doesn't have the beard. Saw an interview with Jonathan Frakes in which he said the only reason he grew the beard was simply because he didn't like having to shave, apprarently.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Would the evil universe Riker have had a Fu Manchu, Hitler stache or been malevolently clean shaven and bald??

One word: Mullet.

 

[Kor]

If the new Trek series is a TNG remake, Riker will have a buzz cut and a huge, bushy beard, like the hipsters I see walking around downtown all the time.

Kor

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Hipster Riker. Yuck...

 

[JonnyQuest037]

Saw an interview with Jonathan Frakes in which he said the only reason he grew the beard was simply because he didn't like having to shave, apprarently.

Speaking as a currently-bearded guy, that's usually the reason whenever I start growing one.

 

[Mojochi]

Would the evil universe Riker have had a Fu Manchu, Hitler stache or been malevolently clean shaven and bald??

One word: Mullet.

& a porn mustache

 

[Random_Spock]

The Deanna Troi post made me think of this.

Do you prefer William Riker with his beard, or without? I was always partial to his beard, and was a little sad when he shaved it off.

With one . He looked damn handsome with it.