Updated: October 2026

Jonathan Frakes Wife: Married to Genie Francis? (2026)

Jonathan Frakes, best known as Commander William T. Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation, has been married to soap opera star Genie Francis since May 28, 1988. The couple, married for more than 37 years, has two children: a son, Jameson Ivor Frakes, and a daughter, Elizabeth Frances Frakes.

Who Is Genie Francis?

Genie Francis, born Eugenie Ann Francis on May 26, 1962, in Englewood, New Jersey, is an American actress best known for playing Laura Spencer on ABC's daytime drama General Hospital. She won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2007 for the role and has also appeared on Days of Our Lives, All My Children, and The Young and the Restless. She first met Frakes in 1982 while filming the television miniseries Bare Essence; they met again while filming the miniseries North and South in 1985 and began dating after encouragement from co-star Kirstie Alley. They became engaged in 1986 and married on May 28, 1988, two days after Francis's 26th birthday. The officiant reportedly joked at the ceremony, "You're going on a voyage where no man has gone before." Francis also owned and operated a cottage-style home furnishings boutique, The Cherished Home, in Belfast, Maine.

Marriage Timeline

Francis and Frakes first met in 1982 on Bare Essence and began dating in 1985 during the filming of North and South. They were engaged in 1986 and married on May 28, 1988. Their son, Jameson Ivor Frakes, was born on August 20, 1994, named in part for Francis's father Ivor, who had died two years before the wedding. Their daughter, Elizabeth Frances Frakes, was born on May 30, 1997. After years living in Belfast, Maine, the family moved to Beverly Hills, California, in 2008 and later relocated to Calabasas, California. The couple has been married for more than 37 years with no public separations.

Children

Jonathan Frakes and Genie Francis have two children: Jameson Ivor Frakes, born August 20, 1994, and Elizabeth Frances Frakes, born May 30, 1997. Jameson has worked as a fisherman and conservationist, while Elizabeth is an actor and writer.

Career Highlights

Jonathan Scott Frakes was born on August 19, 1952, in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater Arts from Pennsylvania State University in 1974 and began his career in theater before early screen roles, including Tom Carroll on the soap opera The Doctors. His breakthrough came in 1987 as Commander William T. Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994), a role he reprised in Star Trek films, video games, and later series including Star Trek: Picard. He moved into directing during the third season of The Next Generation and has since directed numerous television episodes and films. He is also the host of the anthology series Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction. Frakes has worked in the industry as an actor and director since the late 1970s.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jonathan Frakes still married in 2026?

Yes. He remains married to Genie Francis, his wife since May 28, 1988.

Who is Jonathan Frakes's wife?

His wife is Genie Francis, the Emmy-winning actress known as Laura Spencer on General Hospital.

How many children does Jonathan Frakes have?

He has two children with Genie Francis: son Jameson (born 1994) and daughter Elizabeth (born 1997).

What is Jonathan Frakes known for?

He is best known for playing Commander William Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994) and as a television director.

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