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George Takei’s Childhood
Courtesy George Takei
George Hosato Takeiwas born on April 20, 1937 in Los Angeles, California. When he was just 5 years old, the star and his family were forced at gunpoint from their home andsent to live in an internment campduring World War II for nearly four years.
02of 20George Takei’s Early CareerCBS via GettyAs a young adult, he attended UCLA to study acting, and found work doing voiceovers, during a time when there were barely any opportunities for Asian American actors. By 1965, Takei booked a job that would forever change his life.Takei was cast as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu in the originalStar Trektelevision series, alongside William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols, DeForest Kelley and James Doohan. The series would only run for three seasons, but it would live on as a cult classic that spawned many future adaptations.
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George Takei’s Early Career
CBS via Getty
As a young adult, he attended UCLA to study acting, and found work doing voiceovers, during a time when there were barely any opportunities for Asian American actors. By 1965, Takei booked a job that would forever change his life.
Takei was cast as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu in the originalStar Trektelevision series, alongside William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols, DeForest Kelley and James Doohan. The series would only run for three seasons, but it would live on as a cult classic that spawned many future adaptations.
03of 20George Takei as Star Trek’s Lieutenant SuluCBS via GettyAs Lieutenant Sulu, Takei and most of the cast returned to film five sequels and a movie.Here, the star and costars Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock), Walter Koenig (Pavel Chekov), William Shatner (Captain James T. Kirk), Nichelle Nichols (Uhura) and James Doohan (Montgomery “Scotty” Scott) filmed on the Starship Enterprise set for the “Spock’s Brain” episode in September 1968.
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George Takei as Star Trek’s Lieutenant Sulu
As Lieutenant Sulu, Takei and most of the cast returned to film five sequels and a movie.
Here, the star and costars Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock), Walter Koenig (Pavel Chekov), William Shatner (Captain James T. Kirk), Nichelle Nichols (Uhura) and James Doohan (Montgomery “Scotty” Scott) filmed on the Starship Enterprise set for the “Spock’s Brain” episode in September 1968.
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George Takei in the Star Trek Movie
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty
05of 20George Takei Releases Autobiography To the StarsRon Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/GettyThe actor had written about his upbringing, career obstacles and the massive success ofStar Trekin his autobiography calledTo the Stars. During a Nov. 1993 promo stop in Miami, Florida, Takei signed books for fans at a Borders bookstore.
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George Takei Releases Autobiography To the Stars
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty
The actor had written about his upbringing, career obstacles and the massive success ofStar Trekin his autobiography calledTo the Stars. During a Nov. 1993 promo stop in Miami, Florida, Takei signed books for fans at a Borders bookstore.
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George Takei Guest Stars on Will & Grace
Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty
07of 20George Takei Gets Roasted By Gilbert GottfriedJoe Corrigan/GettyThe lateGilbert Gottfriedtook the podium to roast friend Takei at the Friars Club’sSo You Think You Can Roast?!in August 2008 in New York City.
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George Takei Gets Roasted By Gilbert Gottfried
Joe Corrigan/Getty
The lateGilbert Gottfriedtook the podium to roast friend Takei at the Friars Club’sSo You Think You Can Roast?!in August 2008 in New York City.
08of 20George Takei Marries Brad AltmanVALERIE MACON/AFP/GettyThat same year, Takei and his longtime partner Brad Altman posed proudly with their wedding certificates in West Hollywood in June 2008.
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George Takei Marries Brad Altman
VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty
That same year, Takei and his longtime partner Brad Altman posed proudly with their wedding certificates in West Hollywood in June 2008.
09of 20George Takei Guest Stars on Hawaii Five-0Norman Shapiro/CBS/GettyWhile guest acting onHawaii Five-Oas Uncle Choi, Takei posed with a young Daniel Dae Kim, who played his nephew Chin Ho Kelly, in November 2012.
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George Takei Guest Stars on Hawaii Five-0
Norman Shapiro/CBS/Getty
While guest acting onHawaii Five-Oas Uncle Choi, Takei posed with a young Daniel Dae Kim, who played his nephew Chin Ho Kelly, in November 2012.
10of 20George Takei Guest Stars on The Big Bang TheoryCliff Lipson/CBSThe actor starred as himself onThe Big Bang Theory’s “The Hot Troll Deviation” episode on October 2010.
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George Takei Guest Stars on The Big Bang Theory
Cliff Lipson/CBS
The actor starred as himself onThe Big Bang Theory’s “The Hot Troll Deviation” episode on October 2010.
11of 20George Takei Plays Kaito Nakamura on HeroesPaul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/GettyTakei played Masi Oka’s character’s father, Kaito Nakamura, on the hit seriesHeroesfrom 2007 to 2010.
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George Takei Plays Kaito Nakamura on Heroes
Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty
Takei played Masi Oka’s character’s father, Kaito Nakamura, on the hit seriesHeroesfrom 2007 to 2010.
12of 20George Takei Joins Celebrity ApprenticeMichael Loccisano/GettyCelebrity Apprenticeseason 12 contestants Debbie Gibson, Takei, Lisa Lampanelli and Aubrey O’Day posed for a photo in May 2012. (He only made it to episode 3 of his season.)
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George Takei Joins Celebrity Apprentice
Michael Loccisano/Getty
Celebrity Apprenticeseason 12 contestants Debbie Gibson, Takei, Lisa Lampanelli and Aubrey O’Day posed for a photo in May 2012. (He only made it to episode 3 of his season.)
13of 20George Takei Poses for To Be Takei Portraits at SundanceLarry Busacca/GettyCo-director Bill Weber, producers Gerry Kim and Mayuran Tiruchelvam, Takei and husband Brad, and director Jennifer M. Kroot posed for portraits at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, where they premiered a documentary about his life,To Be Takei.
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George Takei Poses for To Be Takei Portraits at Sundance
Larry Busacca/Getty
Co-director Bill Weber, producers Gerry Kim and Mayuran Tiruchelvam, Takei and husband Brad, and director Jennifer M. Kroot posed for portraits at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, where they premiered a documentary about his life,To Be Takei.
14of 20George Takei Guest Stars on Fresh Off the BoatJohn Fleenor/ABC/GettyAppearing in two episodes ofFresh Off the Boat, Takei played Bernard — Grandma’s ESL teacher — on Halloween episode “It’s a Plastic Pumpkin, Louis Huang” and “The Day After Thanksgiving.”
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George Takei Guest Stars on Fresh Off the Boat
John Fleenor/ABC/Getty
Appearing in two episodes ofFresh Off the Boat, Takei played Bernard — Grandma’s ESL teacher — on Halloween episode “It’s a Plastic Pumpkin, Louis Huang” and “The Day After Thanksgiving.”
15of 20George Takei Takes the Stage on Opening Night of AllegianceWalter McBride/WireImageThe actor embraced the crowd during the opening night curtain call for his Broadway musicalAllegiancein N.Y.C. in November 2015. TheStar Trekstar brought his family’s internment experience during WWII to life in the show, which Takei created as a tribute to his father.
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George Takei Takes the Stage on Opening Night of Allegiance
Walter McBride/WireImage
The actor embraced the crowd during the opening night curtain call for his Broadway musicalAllegiancein N.Y.C. in November 2015. TheStar Trekstar brought his family’s internment experience during WWII to life in the show, which Takei created as a tribute to his father.
16of 20George Takei Receives Honorary Doctorate DegreeEmma McIntyre/GettyIn June 2016, Takei received an honorary doctorate degree from Cal State L.A. at Billie Jean King Sports Complex.
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George Takei Receives Honorary Doctorate Degree
Emma McIntyre/Getty
In June 2016, Takei received an honorary doctorate degree from Cal State L.A. at Billie Jean King Sports Complex.
17of 20George Takei’s ‘New Frontiers’ Exhibition Is Held in L.A.Albert L. Ortega/GettyA “New Frontiers: The Many Lives Of George Takei” exhibition press conference was held at the Japanese American National Museum in March 2017 in L.A. to honor the actor and his many accomplishments.
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George Takei’s ‘New Frontiers’ Exhibition Is Held in L.A.
Albert L. Ortega/Getty
A “New Frontiers: The Many Lives Of George Takei” exhibition press conference was held at the Japanese American National Museum in March 2017 in L.A. to honor the actor and his many accomplishments.
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George Takei Arrives at the They Called Us Enemy Book Signing
19of 20George Takei Is Honored at the U.S.-Asia Entertainment SummitAlberto E. Rodriguez/GettyTakei was celebrated for his philanthropic efforts at the 2021U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summitin L.A.
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George Takei Is Honored at the U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty
Takei was celebrated for his philanthropic efforts at the 2021U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summitin L.A.
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George Takei’s Activism
Dia Dipasupil/Getty
“I consider it my responsibility as an American citizen to actively participate, particularly because I know my childhood imprisonment — the unjust imprisonment,“he told ABC. “If we don’t participate, if we don’t educate our fellow Americans to the vulnerability of our democracy, how fragile it can be, then we’re not being responsible citizens.”
source: people.com
