Don Franklin
A versatile actor who became a familiar face of 1990s sci-fi television, commanding submarines and leading covert time-travel missions.
Born 1960 (age 66)·American actor (b. 1960)·Birthday: December 14·Baby Boomers
Biography
Don Franklin built a solid career as a dependable and charismatic leading man in the world of genre television. After early roles in series like 'The A-Team' and '21 Jump Street,' he landed his breakout part as the stalwart Commander Jonathan Ford on Steven Spielberg's underwater adventure series 'seaQuest DSV.' His calm authority and physical presence made him a fan favorite. He later anchored the cult series 'Seven Days' as Captain Craig Donovan, leading a government team that could reverse disasters. While never achieving blockbuster film fame, Franklin carved out a niche as a trusted performer who brought gravity and reliability to imaginative, high-concept shows.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Don was born in 1960, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Don Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Don's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 40
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 50
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 60
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 66 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Commander Jonathan Ford across three seasons of the NBC sci-fi series 'seaQuest DSV.'
- Starred as Captain Craig Donovan in the paranormal action series 'Seven Days' for its entire run.
- Played the lead role of Alex Wheeler in the short-lived but notable Dick Wolf series 'Nasty Boys.'
- Appeared in numerous popular TV shows including 'The A-Team,' 'Matlock,' and 'JAG.'
Did You Know?
He is an accomplished martial artist, holding a black belt in Taekwondo.
He worked as a model before transitioning into acting.
He is a licensed pilot.
He played college football at the University of Oregon.
“I'm just a working actor who shows up and tries to do a good job.”
