Ohh Myyyyy! Today is the birthday of a mammoth in the cult fandom which is Star Trek. George Takei is certainly best known today for his role in Star Trek the Original Series. The rapier wielding Asian helmsman Hikaru Sulu. A role which Takei had believed would have never been possible. He stated in an interview that the Asian community was proud that such a character was onscreen without being a stereotype, without having an accent. Though Takei has become far more than the character of Sulu. He has taken a prominent role within the noble cause for LGBT rights, with his belief that homosexuals should be able to have the same right to marry as heterosexual couples. He has also gained popularity amongst those who otherwise wouldn't have watched Star Trek with his witty and comic facebook page. He has involved himself within local and state politics, one point running for Los Angeles Council during the 70s. He lost, but did gain an appointment to the board of directors in the Southern California rapid transit district. This had made him leave a day of filming the Motion Picture so that he could lay the tie-breaking vote in the creation of the Los Angeles Subway system.
George Takei was born Hosato Takei in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California to Japanese American parents. His father worked in real estate, and was an avid anglophile who decided to name his son after George VI in relation to his coronation. After Pearl Harbor George, now aged 4, and his family were sent to an internment camp in Rohwer, Arkansas and then sent to a camp in California titled Tue Lake. This camp was under guard, three layers of barbed wire fencing and Tanks. He has given talks at schools and universities talking about his experiences in both of the internment camps, highlighting that it was a dark period in American History, in which proud Americans had been alienated and prevented from national service based on their ethnic characteristics. Takei has also been involved in getting this piece of history recognized through the median of theatre, taking a starring role in the San Diego Globe Theatre show Allegiance. Takei as a teenager was a Boy Scout in Troop 379 of the Koyasan Buddhist Temple. He has since campaigned with other former scouts to remove the institution’s ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. Takei has spoken about how much he enjoyed his time within the Scout Movement, but cannot deny that it still holds the draconian delusion that homosexuals prey upon children. Something which he continues to campaign against as he concludes that this type of message is extremely damaging to the youth, many of which are struggling with their own Sexual Identity.
Takei enrolled in architecture at the University of California Berkeley. Whilst studying architecture he saw an ad in a newspaper looking for an Asian voiceover for the English version of the Japanese monster movie Rodan. This led to more work in dubbing and later television acting, which led Takei to take up acting professionally. Takei later transferred to the University of California Los Angeles, where he earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in theatre. Takei shortly afterwards took the role of Sulu in Star Trek. A much loved character played by a much loved actor.
At the age of 77 George is showing no signs of slowing down. He is still seen regularly in guest appearances be it Heroes or the Big Bang Theory. He is taking part in fan made trek, continuing to comment on political and social problems, and amusing us on facebook. He has shown himself to be far more than a cult character on a television program but also an incredible man of moral and duty. I hope you all join me in wishing George a very happy birthday.
Well done, Hermanator!