Takei was born toJapanese-American parents, with whom he lived inTule Lake Segregation Center duringWorld War II. He began pursuing acting in college, which led in 1965 to the role of Sulu, to which he returned periodically into the 1990s. Upon coming out as gay in 2005,[3] he became a prominent proponent ofLGBT rights and active in state and local politics. He has been a vocal advocate of the rights of immigrants, in part through his work on the 2012Broadway showAllegiance, about the internment experience.[4][5]
Takei spoke both English and Japanese growing up and remains fluent in both languages.[6][7] He has won several awards and accolades for his work on human rights andJapan–United States relations, including his work with theJapanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, California.
Takei had several relatives living in Japan duringWorld War II. Among them, he had an aunt and infant cousin who lived inHiroshima and who were both killed during theatomic bombing that destroyed the city. In Takei's own words, "My aunt and baby cousin [were] found burnt in a ditch in Hiroshima."[16] At the end of World War II, after leaving Tule internment camp, Takei's family was left without any bank accounts, home or family business; this left them unable to find any housing, so they lived onSkid Row, Los Angeles for five years.[17] He attended Mount Vernon Junior High School and served as Boys Senior Board President atLos Angeles High School.[18] He was a member ofBoy Scout Troop 379 of theKoyasan Buddhist Temple.[19][20]
Takei began his career inHollywood in the late 1950s, providing voiceover for characters in the English dubbing of the Japanese monster filmsRodan (1956, US: 1957)[24] andGodzilla Raids Again (1955, US:Gigantis the Fire Monster, 1959). He appeared in the anthology television seriesPlayhouse 90, thePerry Mason episode "The Case of the Blushing Pearls" (both 1959), and a handful of times inHawaiian Eye during the 1960–61 season, including an eponymous episode as Thomas Jefferson Chu. He originated the role of George in the musicalFly Blackbird!, but when the show traveled from Los Angeles[25] toOff-Broadway the West Coast actors were forced to audition and the role went to William Sugihara instead. Eventually Sugihara had to give up the role and Takei closed out the show's final months.[24]
Takei starred as a landscaper of Japanese descent in "The Encounter",[26] a 1964 episode of theTwilight Zone.[27] CBS considered the episode's theme of US-Japanese hatred "too disturbing" to include when the series was syndicated.[28] "The Encounter" was not seen after its initial airing until it was released on video in 1992 as part of theTreasures of the Twilight Zone collection.[27][28]
Takei guest-starred in an episode ofMission: Impossible during that show's first season in 1966. He also appeared in twoJerry Lewis comedies,The Big Mouth (uncredited, 1967) andWhich Way to the Front? (1970). Takei narrated the documentaryThe Japanese Sword as the Soul of the Samurai (1969).[29]
It was intended that Sulu's role be expanded in thesecond season, but Takei's role inThe Green Berets (1968) as Captain Nim, aSouth Vietnamese Army officer alongsideJohn Wayne's character, took him away fromStar Trek filming and he only appeared in half the episodes of that season.Walter Koenig asPavel Chekov substituted for him in the other episodes. When Takei returned, the two men had to share a dressing room and a single episode script.[30] Takei admitted in an interview that he initially felt threatened by Koenig's presence, but later grew to be friends with him as the image of the officers sharing the ship's helm panel side-by-side became iconic.[30]
Takei has since appeared in numerous television and film productions, reprising his role as Sulu inStar Trek: The Animated Series from 1973 to 1974, and in the first sixStar Trek films, the last of which promoted his character to captain of his own starship. Meanwhile, he became a regular on thescience fiction convention circuit throughout the world. He has also acted and provided voice acting for several science fictioncomputer games, includingFreelancer and numerousStar Trek games. In 1996, in honor of the 30th anniversary ofStar Trek, he played Captain Sulu in an episode ofStar Trek: Voyager.
Takei has spoken about personal difficulties withWilliam Shatner.[31][24][32][33] However, in an interview in the 2004 DVD set for the second season ofStar Trek, Takei said of Shatner: "He's just a wonderful actor who created a singular character. No one could have done Kirk the way Bill did. His energy and his determination, that's Bill. And that's also Captain Kirk." He appeared alongside Shatner on the 2006Comedy CentralRoast of William Shatner in which the two mocked each other in good humor and embraced, Takei noting that he was "honored" to be there "despite our past tensions".
In 1979, Takei co-wrote the science fiction novelMirror Friend, Mirror Foe withRobert Asprin.[36]
Takei's autobiography,To the Stars,[24] was published in 1994. At one point, he had hoped to make a film or telefilm based on chapters dealing with the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, of which he had personal experience.
In January 2007, Takei began appearing onHeroes, as Kaito Nakamura, a successful Japanese businessman and father to one of the main characters, time/space-travellingHiro Nakamura, who also happens to be an obsessive fan ofStar Trek. In the first episode in which Takei appears, "Distractions", the license plate of the limo he arrives in isNCC-1701, another reference to theStar Trek series. He appeared in all four seasons of the show.
Takei appeared on the first episode ofSecret Talents of the Stars, singingcountry music, but was not selected to proceed to the next stage. However the point became moot as the series was abruptly cancelled after the opening episode.
In 2008, he appeared on the 8th season of the reality TV seriesI'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! on the BritishITV television network. He lived in the Australian bush for 21 days and nights, doing tasks along with fellow campers to gain better meals and survive eviction from the show. His politeness and calmness made him popular with the other campers. Out of 12 participants the British public voted him into 3rd place behind 2nd placedMartina Navratilova and winnerJoe Swash.
In 2009, Takei appeared in an episode ofStar Wars: The Clone Wars as the Neimoidian general, Lok Durd, the first time a leading actor fromStar Trek worked in aStar Wars production. In April that year, he voiced a fictitious version of himself in the NASA animated short "Robot Astronomy Talk Show: Gravity and the Great Attractor", part of the web-seriesIRrelevant Astronomy produced by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Takei (and his husband Brad Altman) appeared in a documentary short titledGeorge & Brad in Bed (2009) that profiled their relationship and was a guest onNPR'sWait Wait... Don't Tell Me!.
In 2010, Takei recorded a series ofpublic service announcements for the Social Security Administration to help promote applying online for benefits.[37]
In 2012, Takei starred in the musicalAllegiance, which Takei described as his legacy project. The show is based on Takei's own experiences and research into theJapanese American internment ofWorld War II and premiered at theOld Globe Theatre inBalboa Park in San Diego, California.[43]Allegiance debuted onBroadway on November 8, 2015, to mixed reviews.[44]The Guardian said it was "unexceptional though often affecting";Deadline called it "a triumph of a rare sort, shedding light in a dark corner of our history with uncommon generosity of spirit".The New York Times praised the "well-intentioned and polished" play for tackling a difficult subject while trying at the same time to entertain its audience, but saidAllegiance "struggles to balance both ambitions, and doesn't always find an equilibrium". TheAssociated Press saidAllegiance tries to tackle internment camps, discrimination and war, "but does so unsuccessfully in a bombastic and generic Broadway musical".Variety wrote, "In their sincere efforts to 'humanize' their complex historical material, the creatives have oversimplified and reduced it to generic themes."The Hollywood Reporter said "the powerful sentiments involved are too often flattened by the pedestrian lyrics and unmemorable melodies of Jay Kuo's score".USA Today calledAllegiance "as corny as Kansas in August and as obvious asLady Gaga on a red carpet. But darned if it won't get a grip on your heartstrings."[45]
In 2013, Takei was a guest judge in theTBS reality showKing of the Nerds, in which he is one of three judges of the Cosplay Competition.[46]
Beginning September 17, 2013, Takei hostedTakei's Take,[47] a web series reviewingconsumer technology in a manner for viewers over 50 years in age. The series is produced byAARP.[48]
Takei made an appearance in issue no. 6 ofKevin Keller where the titular character cites Takei as one of his heroes. Upon reading about Kevin with his partner, Takei decides to travel to Riverdale and surprise Kevin. Takei also wrote the foreword for the second volume of theKevin Keller comics.[49]
Starting in 2013, Takei became spokesperson forRooms To Go, an American furniture retailer. He was seen in a series of television commercials where he used his famous "Oh Myyy!" tag line.[51]
In 2015, he produced a YouTube mini-seriesIt Takeis Two featuring himself and Altman,[53][54] described as a "parody-scripted reality series" that also includes Internet culture.[55] The series ran for nine episodes.[56]
In early 2017, Takei was featured in television commercials promoting the restaurantPizza Hut.[57]
In 2019, Takei publishedThey Called Us Enemy, a 208-page memoir in the form of agraphic novel, with a particular focus on his family's time in internment, co-written with Justin Eisinger and Steven Scott and illustrated byHarmony Becker.[58] The book received anAmerican Book Award in 2020.[59] He narrated the documentaryWho's on Top? in 2020.[60] In June 2021,dean of theUnited States Air Force AcademyBrig. Gen.Linell Letendre announced thatThey Called Us Enemy, which details both Takei's struggle with internment and understanding ofAmerican democracy, would be part of the Academy's new reading initiative for cadets. On February 23, 2022, Takei was the NCLS Kickoff speaker at USAFA, elaborating on his book and how his past influences his future.[61]
In October 2005, Takei revealed in an issue ofFrontiers magazine that he isgay and had been in a committed relationship with his partner, Brad Altman, for 18 years; the move was prompted by then California governorArnold Schwarzenegger's veto ofsame-sex marriage legislation. Takei said "It's not reallycoming out, which suggests opening a door and stepping through. It's more like a long, long walk through what began as a narrow corridor that starts to widen."[62][63][3] Nevertheless, Takei's sexuality had been anopen secret amongStar Trek fans since the 1970s, and Takei did not conceal his active membership inLGBTQ organizations, includingFrontrunners, where he developed public friendships with openly gay couples such asKevin and Don Norte.[64] In an on-air telephone interview with Howard Stern in December 2005, Takei explained, "[We (gay people)] aremasculine, we arefeminine, we are caring, we are abusive. We are just like straight people, in terms of our outward appearance and our behavior. The only difference is that we are oriented to people of our own gender."[65] Takei also described Altman as "a saint" for helping to take care of Takei'sterminally ill mother.
Takei currently serves[66] as a spokesperson for theHuman Rights Campaign "Coming Out Project". In 2006, he embarked on a nationwide "Equality Trek" speaking tour sharing his life as a gayJapanese American, his 18-year relationship with Altman, Frontrunners, andStar Trek, encouraging others to share their own personal stories.[67][68] In the wake of the 2007 controversy over formerNBA playerTim Hardaway, who had stated "I hate gay people", Takei recorded a mockpublic service announcement which began as a serious message of tolerance, then turned the tables on Hardaway by proclaiming that while he may hate gay people, gay people love him and other "sweaty basketball players", and promising Hardaway that "I will have sex with you". This was aired onJimmy Kimmel Live![69] Takei also appeared on the Google float atSan Francisco Pride 2007.[70]
In 2014, Takei raised $100,000 for an adultEagle Scout to start a web series, titledCamp Abercorn, documenting his experiences in theBoy Scouts of America after he was forced to leave, due to their anti-gay adult policy. Takei stated, "As a former Boy Scout myself, it pains me deeply that the BSA still boots out gay Scouts when they turn 18. This web series will help educate and inform, as well as entertain. That gets a big thumbs up from me. Let's make this happen."[71]
In 2015, after the announcement of the U.S. Supreme Court same-sex marriage decision,Obergefell v. Hodges, Takei was critical ofClarence Thomas's dissent and called Thomas "a clown inblackface".[72] After defending his comments for over a week, Takei apologized for his wording.[72]
Takei was criticized for his response on Twitter to theshooting of Steve Scalise in June 2017. Calling Scalise "bigoted" and "homophobic", Takei criticized his previous opposition to same-sex marriage and commented that Crystal Griner, the officer who saved Scalise, was a lesbian. Takei's response was widely criticized, withJake Tapper calling it "unfathomable".[73][74][75]
On May 16, 2008, Takei announced that he and Altman would be getting married. They were the first same-sex couple to apply for a marriage license in West Hollywood.[76] On June 17, shortly after Takei and Altman obtained their marriage license, they spread the news by holding a press conference outside the West Hollywood city auditorium.[77] They were married on September 14, 2008, at the Democracy Forum of theJapanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, of which Takei is one of the founders and serves as a member of its board of trustees.[78]Walter Koenig was his best man, andNichelle Nichols, eschewing the title "matron of honor", was "best woman". Reverend William Briones of the Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple of Los Angeles presided.[79]
Takei and Altman appeared in a celebrity edition ofThe Newlywed Game TV show, which the GSN cable network aired October 13, 2009. They were the first same-sex couple to be featured on the show.[80] Takei and Altman won the game, winning $10,000 for their charity, the Japanese American National Museum.[81]
In February 2010, Takei and Altman became the second same-sex couple to appear on the British game showAll Star Mr & Mrs, losing to rugby playerPhil Vickery and his wife Kate.[82]
Takei was an alternate delegate from California to the1972 Democratic National Convention. The following year he ran for a seat on theLos Angeles City Council, finishing second of five candidates in the special election and losing by 1,647 votes; the winner, David Cunningham Jr., received 42% of the votes cast and Takei received 33%. During the campaign, Takei's bid for the city council caused one local station to stop running the repeats of the originalStar Trek series until after the election andKNBC-TV to substitute the premiere episode of theStar Trek animated series scheduled by the network with another in which his character did not appear, in attempts to avoid violating theFCC'sequal-time rule.[83] The other candidates in the race complained that Takei's distinctive and powerful voice alone, even without his image on television every week, created an unfair advantage.[84]
In 1980, Takei began a campaign for California State Assemblyman (District 46) from the greater Los Angeles area. However, he chose to withdraw after his opponent challenged the airing of episodes ofStar Trek on local television under theFederal Communications Commission'sFairness Doctrine "equal time" regulations,[86][87] saying also that "this is the wrong time to interrupt my career as an actor and author."[86] He also appeared as a sadistic Japanese POW camp commander in the World War II filmReturn from the River Kwai (1989).
In November 2010, Takei released a PSA blasting Clint McCance, who was at the time the vice president of the school board for the Midland School District in southernIndependence County, Arkansas.[88] In the video, Takei repeatedly called McCance "a douchebag". Takei's video was made as a response to McCance making blatantlyhomophobic remarks, stating that he "enjoys the fact that [gay people] give each other AIDS and die".[89] McCance went on to encourage gay people to commit suicide, and stated that he would disown his children if they were gay.[90] McCance later resigned his seat on the Midland school board. Takei was praised for his response to McCance and garnered much media attention with the PSA.
Takei in September 2012
In May 2011, in response to a Tennessee State Legislature bill that prohibited school teachers or students from using any language that alludes to the existence of homosexuality, Takei released another PSA in which he offered up his name, suggesting that people could just substitute that for 'gay'. For example, they could supportTakei marriage or watchTakei pride parades; or even use slurs such asThat's so Takei, or singDon we now our Takei apparel duringthe holiday season.
Takei marked the 70th anniversary of the internment of Americans of Japanese descent, including himself as a child, by asking his readers to contact the US Congress to block S. 1253, theNational Defense Authorization Act, that "would authorize a similar sweeping authority, granted to the President, to order the detention—without charge or trial—of any person even suspected of being associated with a 'terrorist organization'".[91]
On December 8, 2015, followingDonald Trump's call to ban all Muslims from traveling to the United States, Takei appeared onMSNBC to denounce him: "It's ironic that he made that comment on December 7,Pearl Harbor Day – the very event that put us in those internment camps", Takei said. "[A congressional commission] found that it was three things that brought that about. One was racial hysteria, second was war hysteria and third was failure of political leadership. Donald Trump is the perfect example of that failure. ... What Donald Trump is talking about is something that's going to make his logo 'America disgraced again'."[92] During thetransition followingTrump's election,Carl Higbie cited the internment of Japanese Americans as a historical precedent for a register of Muslims.[93][94] Takei described Higbie's comments as "dangerous"[95] and went on to say onThe Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell that "[r]egistration of any group of people, and certainly registration of Muslims, is a prelude to internment."[96]
On March 31, 2017, Takei announced his intent to challengeDevin Nunes, Republican incumbent House Representative for the 22nd District of California.[97] A few hours later, he acknowledged that it had all been anApril Fools' joke and instead announced his support forJon Ossoff, who was running inGeorgia's 6th congressional district special election, 2017.[98][99] While Ossoff did not win the House seat, he did become Georgia's Senator in 2021.
Takei formerly served as chair of the Council of Governors ofEast West Players, one of the pioneering Asian Pacific American theaters in the United States, until 2018.[100] That same year, he played the parts of Sam Kimura and Ojii-San in East West Players' and the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center's joint production ofAllegiance. Throughout the press tour of the production, he spoke openly about parallels he saw between the WWII-setting of the musical and the current political climate of the United States.[101]
Takei and his husband Brad Altman own a New York City-based digital publication called Second Nexus which publishes "news with commentary from a progressive perspective".[102]
In the run-up to the2024 United States presidential election, Takei came out strongly forKamala Harris while criticizingDonald Trump. He wrote in an opinion piece in the Daily Beast that he viewed Trump as a creator of "cruel chaos" who must be prevented from taking office again.[103] Takei also criticizedGaza war protesters for not backing Harris' presidential campaign claiming that "I doubt they speak for most progressives."[104]
On September 22, 2025, Takei was named the Honorary Chair of the 2025 edition ofBanned Books Week. Takei mentioned his upbringing as having a "lack of access to books and media," and called on people to fight against censorship of books.[105]
Takei is aBuddhist.[106] His father practicedZen Buddhism and his mother practicedShin Buddhism. He kept a small shrine when the family was incarcerated at an internment camp during World War II. After the war, Takei attended Sunday school atSenshin Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles, California. Takei and husband Brad Altman were married in 2008 at a Buddhist ritual performed by the Reverend William Briones.[107]
Takei has also gained attention for his Facebook page where his daily posts of humorous pictures (many of which are related to science fiction, LGBT culture and political satire) have attracted over 9 million followers,[108][non-primary source needed] some of whom are unfamiliar with Takei orStar Trek. He has been lauded as "the funniest guy on Facebook".[109][110] In September 2013, Takei used his Facebook page to defendNina Davuluri, who was targeted by a backlash of racist andxenophobic comments after being namedMiss America 2014.[111][112] He later appeared in a jointABC interview with Davuluri, in which she revealed that she is aTrekkie. Takei told her, "InStar Trek we have this creed: 'Infinite diversity in infinite combinations'. That's whatStarfleet was all about so you're a part of that." Davuluri ended the interview by stating, "I have to say 'Live Long and Prosper'" at which point Takei offered her theVulcan salute, which she returned.[113] However, Takei also attracted criticism from some people with disabilities in 2014 for his posting of ameme on Facebook and Twitter which shows a wheelchair-using woman standing up to reach something from the top shelf in a store and is captioned "there has been a miracle in the alcohol isle" [sic].[114] Disabled people responded that people need not be paralyzed to need wheelchairs; Takei then removed the post and apologized on Facebook for his comments.[115]
In November 2017, former actor and model Scott R. Brunton toldThe Hollywood Reporter that Takei drugged and groped him in Takei's condo in 1981, when Brunton was 23 years old.[116][117][118] Takei denied the allegation, writing on Twitter: "I have wracked my brain to ask if I remember Mr. Brunton, and I cannot say I do. ... Non-consensual acts are so antithetical to my values and my practices, the very idea that someone would accuse me of this is quite personally painful."[117][119] In response to the allegation,Mic,Slate,Refinery29,Upworthy,GOOD andFuturism announced they would be cutting ties with Takei.[120][121]
On May 24, 2018, theNew York Observer's Shane Snow reported that Brunton had "changed his story", describing his encounter with Takei as a "great party story" and confessing to "not remembering any touching" of his genitalia. Snow also consultedtoxicologists, who suggested Brunton likely hadpostural hypotension rather than a drugged drink, and a former Senior Deputy District Attorney, who contended "there's nothing to prosecute" if it was the case that Takei stopped physical contact with Brunton after being denied consent.[122][123] That same month, Takei posted Snow's article on his social media platforms while publicly forgiving Brunton for his misdeeds, stating: "despite what he has put us through, I do not bear Mr. Brunton any ill will, and I wish him peace."[124]
This list (which may have dates, numbers, etc.)may be better in asortable table format. Please helpimprove this list or discuss it on thetalk page.(November 2025)
Asteroid7307 Takei is named in his honor. Upon learning of the decision to name the asteroid after him, he said, "I am now a heavenly body. I found out about it yesterday. ... I was blown away. It came out of the clear, blue sky—just like an asteroid."[127]
In July 2013, the National Association of Asian American Professionals honored Takei with the NAAAP100 award for his contributions to the Asian community.
In May 2015, theJapanese American National Museum honored Takei with its Distinguished Medal of Honor for Lifetime Achievement and Public Service at the Japanese American National Museum's 2015 Gala Dinner in Los Angeles.[132]
On September 28, 2022, Takei was awarded an honorary Doctorate by theUniversity of South Australia in recognition of his distinguished service to the community.[136]
^abPresnell, Don; McGee, Marty (1998).A Critical History of Television's The Twilight Zone, 1959–1964. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 188.ISBN978-0-7864-3886-0.
^abChen, Kelly (July 3, 2015)."George Takei Apologizes For Calling Clarence Thomas A 'Clown In Blackface'".HuffPost. New York. RetrievedMarch 19, 2022.But my choice of words was regrettable, not because I do not believe Justice Thomas is deeply wrong, but because they were ad hominem and uncivil, and for that I am sorry.
^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafagah"George Takei (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. RetrievedNovember 26, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
