George Takei

George Takei is a Japanese-American actor, author, and activist. He was born on April 20, 1937, as Hosato Takei. Takei is best known for his portrayal of Hikaru Sulu, the helmsman of the fictional starship USS Enterprise, in the television series Star Trek and subsequent films. He began his acting career in college and landed the role of Sulu in 1965, which he reprised periodically until the 1990s. In addition to his acting career, Takei is a prominent advocate for LGBT rights, having come out as gay in 2005. He is also an active supporter of immigrant rights and has been involved in state and local politics. Takei is fluent in both English and Japanese and has received numerous awards for his human rights work and efforts to strengthen Japan–United States relations.