Out in Film: George Takei

Best known for his groundbreaking role as Hikaru Sulu in the original Star Trek television series, George Takei is a hero to millions of science fiction fans around the world. Heck, he even has his own asteroid.

Takei began his acting career providing English dubs for the Japanese giant monster movie Rodan, but it was in Ice Palace that he made his official film debut. More war films followed (Hell to Eternity, Moituri, The Green Berets), but his big break came when Gene Roddenberry cast him in his racially diverse "western in space", Star Trek. For three seasons and six theatrical features, Takei's Lieutenant Sulu took the helm of the Starship Enterprise, steering it to where no man had gone before. Sulu was finally made a captain of his own ship in the sixth film, and later appeared on the TV spin-off Star Trek: Voyager and the internet series Star Trek: New Voyages.

Takei's distinctive voice can be heard in everything from Disney's Mulan to Howard Stern's radio show, and he has been a constant presence on television apart from his Trek duties. He has guest-starred on everything from such classic programs as The Twilight Zone and Mission: Impossible to modern favorites like Will and Grace and 3rd Rock from the Sun, wherein he appeared as himself in a hysterical self-parody ("I'm George Takei!"). Most recently, Takei has had a recurring role on this generation's sci fi obsession, Heroes.

Outside of show business, Takei has been active in many organizations stemming from his Japanese American heritage, and is a member of the Human Rights Campaign, proving that he is a true hero both on and off screen.

Links via Imdb.com, Advocate.com, StarTrekNewVoyages.com and HRC.org.