10 Behind The Scenes Reasons For Star Trek Characters' Quirks

2. Frakes Did His Back In And The Leg Lift Was Born

Jonathan Frakes asserts dominance over almost every chair he encounters in Star Trek: The Next Generation, but far from the meme-bait this might feel like, it was due to a very real-life issue that has followed him for most of his life. Wil Wheaton confirmed on this Reddit thread that a back injury was the cause of Frakes' iconic leg lift and leans.

Frakes sustained an injury prior to his casting on Star Trek, when his job moving furniture resulted in damage to his back. This meant that he struggled with standing for long periods of time, which then in turn, led to a slight lean to the left.

Riker is also well known for resting his leg against consoles and the odd rock if he can find it, which was Frakes' way of taking some of the pressure off, but his interactions with Starfleet's various chairs is what has stuck long in the memory of the show's fans. Don't beleive us, check out the compilation video above.

Contributor
Contributor

Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"