George Takei is best known for his portrayal of Mr. Sulu in the
acclaimed television and film series ‘Star Trek’. He’s an actor, social justice
activist, social media mega-power, New York Times bestselling author,
originated the role of Sam Kimura and Ojii-Chan in the Broadway musical
‘Allegiance’, and subject of ‘To Be Takei’, a documentary on his life and
career. Takei’s acting career has spanned five decades, with more than 40
feature films and hundreds of television guest-starring roles to his credit. He
is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Academy of
Television Arts and Sciences, Actors’ Equity Association and Screen Actors
Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
Now a community activist, Takei serves as chair of the council of
governors of East West Players, the nation’s foremost Asian Pacific American
theatre. He is also a member of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest national
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender political organisation. Takei is
Chairman Emeritus of the Japanese American National Museum’s Board of Trustees;
a member of the US-Japan Bridging Foundation Board of Directors; and served on
the Board of the Japan-United States Friendship Commission under President Bill
Clinton. In recognition of his contribution to the Japan-United States
relationship, in 2004, Takei was conferred with the Order of the Rising Sun,
Gold Rays with Rosette, by His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan.
With Takei’s expansion into social media, interest in his personal life
grew. In January 2014, ‘To Be Takei’, a Jennifer M. Kroot documentary on
George’s life and career, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival that January,
and was later released in select cinemas across North America.
Among his many accomplishments is a Grammy nomination Takei shared with
Leonard Nimoy, in 1987, in the Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Recording
category. He received a star on Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame in 1986. And
in 1991, Takei left his signature and hand print, in cement, in front of
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.
As an author, Takei’s first book, his autobiography, ‘To the Stars’, was
published in 1994; and in 2012 and 2013 he published his second and third
books, ‘Oh Myyy! There Goes The Internet’, and its sequel, ‘Lions And Tigers
And Bears: The Internet Strikes Back’. The latter two books explored his forays
on social media and the Internet, earning placement on the Amazon e-book and
paperback best-seller lists in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
Takei’s social media dominance is best denoted by his numerous awards.
Mashable.com named George a “social media superstar” on Facebook in 2012, where
he currently has over 19.6 million combined fans. In 2013, Takei won the Shorty
Award for Distinguished Achievement in Internet Culture. He has 32.48 million
followers on Twitter, and posts on various social media platforms. He expanded
his internet presence with the 2015 YouTube series, “It Takeis Two,” starring
with husband, Brad Takei. The “reality” series shared the couple’s daily
navigation of their world, with George’s vibrant sense of humour and Brad’s
less-than-optimistic pragmatism.
In 2015, Cosmopolitan Magazine named Takei “One of the Internet’s 50
Most Fascinating People.” Takei and his husband, Brad, were married at the
Japanese American National Museum on September 14, 2008. The Takeis reside in
Los Angeles, California.
