James Frakes was the father of actor, director and author Jonathan Frakes, best know for his role in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

He was the husband of Doris J. (Yingling) Frakes. They were married for 54 years in January. He was a professor of English literature at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, 1958-2001, and was the Edmund W. Fairchild Professor in American Studies. He was awarded the 1969 Outstanding Teaching Award by the university student body and also received the Lindback Award. He previously was a professor for Penn State University, University Park, Centre County, for 10 years and before that for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y. He received a bachelor's degree from Penn State in 1948, a master's degree from the University of Chicago in 1949, and a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania in 1952.