George Takei: podcast appearances and interviews

George Takei, born Hosato Takei on April 20, 1937, is an American actor, author, and activist. He is best known for portraying Hikaru Sulu, the helmsman of the USS Enterprise, in the Star Trek franchise. Takei was born to Japanese-American parents and experienced life in the Tule Lake Segregation Center during World War II. He pursued acting in college, which led to his casting as Sulu in 1965; he reprised this role periodically into the 1990s. After coming out as gay in 2005, Takei became a prominent advocate for LGBTQ rights and participated actively in state and local politics. He has also been an outspoken supporter of immigrant rights, notably through his involvement with the Broadway show Allegiance in 2012, which focuses on the internment of Japanese Americans. Growing up bilingual in English and Japanese, Takei remains fluent in both languages. His work has earned him multiple awards and recognition for his contributions to human rights and efforts to strengthen Japan–United States relations. He has also contributed significantly to the Japanese American community through his involvement with the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, California.