About
George Takei is an American actor, author, and activist, best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek. Born in Los Angeles, he was interned with his family in Japanese-American camps during World War II, an experience he recounted in his graphic memoir. After studying at UCLA, he pursued an acting career while advocating for civil rights and U.S.-Japan relations. He came out as gay in 2005 and became a prominent LGBTQ+ rights advocate. He has received numerous honors, including the Order of the Rising Sun and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
* 1937-04-20
Major works
- To the Stars (1994)autobiography
- They Called Us Enemy (2019)graphic memoir
- My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story (2024)children's picture book
- Allegiance (2015)musical
Key milestones
- 1942Interned with his family in Japanese-American camps in Arkansas and California.
- 2005Came out publicly as gay.
- 2008Married Brad Altman, becoming the first same-sex couple to apply for a marriage license in West Hollywood.
Themes
Civil rightsJapanese-American internment experiLGBTQ+ rightsU.S.-Japan relationsAsian-American representation
Sources: britannica.com · californiamuseum.org · simonandschuster.ca