05/27/2026
We are nearing the end of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and wanted to take a moment to honor actor, author, and activist George Takei, best known for playing Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu on the original Star Trek television series (and in six subsequent films.)
George Hosato Takei was born on April 20th, 1937, in Los Angeles, California. He sadly spent part of his childhood in Japanese American internment camps in Arkansas and northern California after his family was forcibly relocated during World War II. That traumatic experience deeply influenced his later activism and creative work.
Takei originally studied architecture at the University of California Berkeley, but became interested in acting after landing voiceover work for the English version of the Japanese monster movie Rodan (1956). He later transferred to UCLA, where he earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in theater. During the 1960s, Takei appeared in television shows such as Perry Mason before achieving breakthrough success in 1966 as Sulu on Star Trek, becoming one of the few Asian Americans in a major television role at the time.
After the series ended in 1969, Takei continued acting in television, voiceover roles, and the Star Trek animated series before returning for Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) and five sequels. His later work included roles in Mulan, The Simpsons, and Allegiance, a play about Japanese American internment.
Outside entertainment, Takei served on the Southern California Transit District board and has worked closely with Japanese American organizations. In 2005, he publicly came out as gay and went on to marry his longtime partner Brad Altman. Today, George Takei is widely recognized for his activism, humor, and influential presence on social media. We are honored to share his story!
