Gee Takei on Why There Were No Gay Characters on 'Star Trek' | Time

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• GEE {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}JAPANE AMERIN ACTOR GEE TAKEI PLAYED LITENANT SULU THE ORIGAL 'STAR TREK' TELEVISN SERI AND MOVI AND IS A POPULAR SOCIAL-MEDIA {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: APR 30, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: KEV WTER/GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1937-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS GEE TAKEI?GEE TAKEI OVERME THE RACIAL BARRIERS OF HIS TIME TO LNCH A SUCCSFUL ACTG REER. HE STARRED AS LITENANT HIKA SULU DURG THE THREE-YEAR TELEVISN N OF STAR TREK, AND LATER REPRISED THE ROLE FOR SIX MOVI. PROMENTLY VOLVED WH GAY RIGHTS AND JAPANE AMERIN GROUPS, TAKEI HAS BEE A HIGHLY POPULAR SOCIAL-MEDIA PRENCE.EARLY YEARSGEE HOSATO TAKEI WAS BORN ON APRIL 20, 1937, LOS ANGEL, CALIFORNIA. AT THE AGE OF 5, HE AND HIS FAY WERE UPROOTED OM THEIR HOME AND FORCED TO LIVE AT JAPANE TERNMENT MPS ARKANSAS AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THEY RETURNED TO LOS ANGEL AFTER WORLD WAR II, AND TAKEI ENROLLED AT THE UNIVERSY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY TO STUDY ARCHECTURE.STAGE AND SCREENWHILE LLEGE, TAKEI RPOND TO A NEWSPAPER AD LOOKG FOR ASIAN VOICEOVER ACTORS FOR THE ENGLISH VERSN OF THE JAPANE MONSTER MOVIE RODAN (1956). THAT LED TO MORE VOICEOVER WORK, AS WELL AS SMALL PARTS TELEVISN PROGRAMS SUCH AS PERRY MASON AND THE FILM ICE PALACE (1960). DECIDG TO FOC ON ACTG FULL TIME, TAKEI TRANSFERRED TO THE UNIVERSY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGEL, WHERE HE EARNED BOTH A BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S GREE THEATER. IN 1966, TAKEI BEME ONE OF THE FEW ASIAN AMERINS TO BE FEATURED PROMENTLY ON TV WHEN HE STARRED AS LITENANT HIKA SULU ON THE SCIENCE-FICTN SERI STAR TREK. HE RETURNED AFTER TAKG TIME OFF DURG THE SEND SEASON TO FILM THE GREEN BERETS (1968), BUT HIS ROLE AS SULU WAS TEMPORARILY SHELVED WHEN STAR TREK WAS NCELED 1969. TAKEI NTUED TO MAKE REGULAR TV APPEARANC THE 1970S, ON SUCH PROGRAMS AS THE SIX MILLN DOLLAR MAN AND HAWAII FIVE-O, WHILE PROVIDG THE VOICE OF SULU FOR THE STAR TREK ANIMATED SERI. MOMENTUM GATHERED FOR THE MAKG OF THE MOVIE, AND TAKEI RNED WH THE RT OF HIS OLD STMAT FOR STAR TREK: THE MOTN PICTURE (1979) AND FIVE SEQUELS OVER THE NEXT DOZEN YEARS. THE 1990S BROUGHT A STEADY STREAM OF VOICEOVER GIGS, WH TAKEI'S SIGNATURE BARONE SURFACG THE DISNEY ANIMATED FEATURE MULAN (1998) AND EPISOS OF THE SIMPSONS. THE VETERAN ACTOR ALSO BEME A SEMI-REGULAR GUT ON THE {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}HOWARD STERN SHOW, AND 2006, HE WAS NAMED STERN'S OFFICIAL ANNOUNCER FOLLOWG THE SHOCK-JOCK'S MOVE TO SIRI XM RAD. TAKEI WAS VOLVED A PROJECT CLOSE TO HIS HEART WHEN HE TOOK ON A STARRG ROLE ALLEGIANCE, A PRODUCTN ABOUT THE WORLD WAR II TERNMENT OF JAPANE AMERINS. THE PLAY PREMIERED AT SAN DIEGO'S OLD GLOBE THEATER SEPTEMBER 2012.PUBLIC SERVICE AND PRIVATE REVELATNSTAKEI HAS REMAED A BY MAN AWAY OM SHOW BS. AFTER NARROWLY LOSG HIS BID FOR A SEAT ON THE LOS ANGEL CY COUNCIL 1973, HE JOED THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRANS DISTRICT OM 1973 TO 1984. TAKEI SERVED ON THE BOARD OF THE JAPAN-UNED STAT FRIENDSHIP COMMISSN FOR PRINT BILL CLTON AND WAS NFERRED WH THE ORR OF THE RISG SUN, GOLD RAYS WH ROSETTE BY HIS MAJTY THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN 2004. HE IS ALSO CHAIRMAN EMER OF THE JAPANE AMERIN NATNAL MM'S BOARD OF TSTE AND SERV AS CHAIR OF THE UNCIL OF ERNORS OF EAST WT PLAYERS, A RENOWNED ASIAN-AMERIN THEATER ANIZATN. IN 2005, TAKEI PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED HIS HOMOSEXUALY TO FRONTIERS MAGAZE. HE MARRIED HIS LONGTIME PARTNER, BRAD ALTMAN, SEPTEMBER 2008. IN RECENT YEARS, TAKEI HAS EARNED A FOLLOWG OM A NEW GENERATN OF FANS WH HIS FUNNY, CISIVE POSTS ON FACEBOOK. HIS EXPANSIVE SOCIAL-MEDIA PRENCE, ALONG WH THE 2013 RELEASE OF STAR TREK INTO DARKNS, HAS HELPED KEEP THIS ACPLISHED ACTOR AND ACTIVIST THE PUBLIC {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS
• 6 STAR TREK ACTORS YOU DIDN’T KNOW WERE GAY IN REAL LIFE!
• GEE TAKEI EXPLAS WHY THERE WERE NO GAY CHARACTERS ON STAR TREK
• GEE TAKEI DISCS GAY RIGHTS, 'STAR TREK' AND BEG A COMIC BOOK HERO
• JOHN CHO ON REPRENTATN AND HIS NCERNS WH GAY SULU
• SULU IS GAY IN 'STAR TREK BEYOND,' MAKG FRANCHISE HISTORY

GEE {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}JAPANE AMERIN ACTOR GEE TAKEI PLAYED LITENANT SULU THE ORIGAL 'STAR TREK' TELEVISN SERI AND MOVI AND IS A POPULAR SOCIAL-MEDIA {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: APR 30, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: KEV WTER/GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1937-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS GEE TAKEI?GEE TAKEI OVERME THE RACIAL BARRIERS OF HIS TIME TO LNCH A SUCCSFUL ACTG REER. HE STARRED AS LITENANT HIKA SULU DURG THE THREE-YEAR TELEVISN N OF STAR TREK, AND LATER REPRISED THE ROLE FOR SIX MOVI. PROMENTLY VOLVED WH GAY RIGHTS AND JAPANE AMERIN GROUPS, TAKEI HAS BEE A HIGHLY POPULAR SOCIAL-MEDIA PRENCE.EARLY YEARSGEE HOSATO TAKEI WAS BORN ON APRIL 20, 1937, LOS ANGEL, CALIFORNIA. AT THE AGE OF 5, HE AND HIS FAY WERE UPROOTED OM THEIR HOME AND FORCED TO LIVE AT JAPANE TERNMENT MPS ARKANSAS AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THEY RETURNED TO LOS ANGEL AFTER WORLD WAR II, AND TAKEI ENROLLED AT THE UNIVERSY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY TO STUDY ARCHECTURE.STAGE AND SCREENWHILE LLEGE, TAKEI RPOND TO A NEWSPAPER AD LOOKG FOR ASIAN VOICEOVER ACTORS FOR THE ENGLISH VERSN OF THE JAPANE MONSTER MOVIE RODAN (1956). THAT LED TO MORE VOICEOVER WORK, AS WELL AS SMALL PARTS TELEVISN PROGRAMS SUCH AS PERRY MASON AND THE FILM ICE PALACE (1960). DECIDG TO FOC ON ACTG FULL TIME, TAKEI TRANSFERRED TO THE UNIVERSY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGEL, WHERE HE EARNED BOTH A BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S GREE THEATER. IN 1966, TAKEI BEME ONE OF THE FEW ASIAN AMERINS TO BE FEATURED PROMENTLY ON TV WHEN HE STARRED AS LITENANT HIKA SULU ON THE SCIENCE-FICTN SERI STAR TREK. HE RETURNED AFTER TAKG TIME OFF DURG THE SEND SEASON TO FILM THE GREEN BERETS (1968), BUT HIS ROLE AS SULU WAS TEMPORARILY SHELVED WHEN STAR TREK WAS NCELED 1969. TAKEI NTUED TO MAKE REGULAR TV APPEARANC THE 1970S, ON SUCH PROGRAMS AS THE SIX MILLN DOLLAR MAN AND HAWAII FIVE-O, WHILE PROVIDG THE VOICE OF SULU FOR THE STAR TREK ANIMATED SERI. MOMENTUM GATHERED FOR THE MAKG OF THE MOVIE, AND TAKEI RNED WH THE RT OF HIS OLD STMAT FOR STAR TREK: THE MOTN PICTURE (1979) AND FIVE SEQUELS OVER THE NEXT DOZEN YEARS. THE 1990S BROUGHT A STEADY STREAM OF VOICEOVER GIGS, WH TAKEI'S SIGNATURE BARONE SURFACG THE DISNEY ANIMATED FEATURE MULAN (1998) AND EPISOS OF THE SIMPSONS. THE VETERAN ACTOR ALSO BEME A SEMI-REGULAR GUT ON THE {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}HOWARD STERN SHOW, AND 2006, HE WAS NAMED STERN'S OFFICIAL ANNOUNCER FOLLOWG THE SHOCK-JOCK'S MOVE TO SIRI XM RAD. TAKEI WAS VOLVED A PROJECT CLOSE TO HIS HEART WHEN HE TOOK ON A STARRG ROLE ALLEGIANCE, A PRODUCTN ABOUT THE WORLD WAR II TERNMENT OF JAPANE AMERINS. THE PLAY PREMIERED AT SAN DIEGO'S OLD GLOBE THEATER SEPTEMBER 2012.PUBLIC SERVICE AND PRIVATE REVELATNSTAKEI HAS REMAED A BY MAN AWAY OM SHOW BS. AFTER NARROWLY LOSG HIS BID FOR A SEAT ON THE LOS ANGEL CY COUNCIL 1973, HE JOED THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRANS DISTRICT OM 1973 TO 1984. TAKEI SERVED ON THE BOARD OF THE JAPAN-UNED STAT FRIENDSHIP COMMISSN FOR PRINT BILL CLTON AND WAS NFERRED WH THE ORR OF THE RISG SUN, GOLD RAYS WH ROSETTE BY HIS MAJTY THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN 2004. HE IS ALSO CHAIRMAN EMER OF THE JAPANE AMERIN NATNAL MM'S BOARD OF TSTE AND SERV AS CHAIR OF THE UNCIL OF ERNORS OF EAST WT PLAYERS, A RENOWNED ASIAN-AMERIN THEATER ANIZATN. IN 2005, TAKEI PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED HIS HOMOSEXUALY TO FRONTIERS MAGAZE. HE MARRIED HIS LONGTIME PARTNER, BRAD ALTMAN, SEPTEMBER 2008. IN RECENT YEARS, TAKEI HAS EARNED A FOLLOWG OM A NEW GENERATN OF FANS WH HIS FUNNY, CISIVE POSTS ON FACEBOOK. HIS EXPANSIVE SOCIAL-MEDIA PRENCE, ALONG WH THE 2013 RELEASE OF STAR TREK INTO DARKNS, HAS HELPED KEEP THIS ACPLISHED ACTOR AND ACTIVIST THE PUBLIC {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

Promently volved wh gay rights and Japane Amerin groups, Takei has bee a highly popular social-media YearsGee Hosato Takei was born on April 20, 1937, Los Angel, California.

In 2005, Takei publicly announced his homosexualy to Frontiers magaze.

Leonard Nemoy himself gave support 1991, sayg, "It is entirely ftg that gays and lbians will appear unobtsively aboard the Enterprise—neher objects of py nor melodramatic attentn. Together, they play the science fictn anchise’s first regularly appearg gay uple aboard the U. And of urse, they'll be fans who say, ‘”Oh, they’re killg off the gays aga!

6 STAR TREK ACTORS YOU DIDN’T KNOW WERE GAY IN REAL LIFE!

Ennis: As a pneer Star Trek, terms of beg an out gay man, playg a gay character, a relatnship wh another man, do you see that the unfoldg of havg non-bary characters like Adira and a trans character, even a ghostly versn, how do that make you feel terms of the craft and and our muny? LOS ANGELES -- Much has been ma of the cisn to reveal that the "Star Trek" character Sulu is gay the latt anchise stallment "Star Trek Beyond, " but for actor John Cho, one of the most important thgs was ensurg that Sulu's hband was also of Asian scent.

And bee he was gay, the Asian and Asian thg would ironilly be super radil. The choice, Cho said, was partially tend as a "valente" to a gay iend he had growg up. "I always felt was harr beg gay and Asian than any other batn.

GEE TAKEI EXPLAS WHY THERE WERE NO GAY CHARACTERS ON STAR TREK

6 Star Trek Actors You Didn’t Know Were Gay In Real Life! But what if you get to know that some of the actors who you thought straight are actually gay?! “I did very privately brg up the issue of gays and lbians, ” said Takei, who played Sulu on the long-nng sci-fi seri.

On Thursday, the Herald Sun announced that the character Hika Sulu will be revealed to be gay Star Trek Beyond, which hs theaters July 22. Gee Takei, who played Sulu the origal show and who has been a proment LGBT activist sce g out as gay jt over a ago, told the Hollywood Reporter that he has been agast revealg the character as gay sce he first heard was unr nsiratn last year.

“I’m lighted that there’s a gay character, ” Takei told THR.

GEE TAKEI DISCS GAY RIGHTS, 'STAR TREK' AND BEG A COMIC BOOK HERO

He believed ma more sense to create a new character who has always been gay, rather than brgg Sulu out of a prumed closet.

” But he also exprsed a ncern, which he discsed wh L and -wrer Doug Jung, that a new gay character may have been perceived by the dience as a token gay character, “primarily fed by their sexualy.

JOHN CHO ON REPRENTATN AND HIS NCERNS WH GAY SULU

” Pegg believ Rodnberry’s cisn not to velop a gay character earlier was a product of his time, not of his visn. ” Based on the movie’s timele, the cisn to make Sulu gay do not necsate his havg been the closet, Pegg explas, and prum that there has been an LGBT prence sce the begng of the anchise’s universe.

SULU IS GAY IN 'STAR TREK BEYOND,' MAKG FRANCHISE HISTORY

" Wh over four ln fans on Facebook and over 700, 000 followers on Twter, the beloved actor is a social media force to be reckoned wh and he his magnificent reach to champn lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr . In honor of LGBT Pri Month, the Huffgton Post ught up wh Takei to chat about everythg om his time on "Star Trek" to gut starrg a ic book wh Archie Comics' first gay character to brgg his new mil to Broadway and Huffgton Post: You wrote a blog about Jodie Foster’s speech at the Goln Glob and how celebri should e out. As a visible spokperson for equaly, I was no longer simply "that guy om Star Trek" but one of the few out, and outspoken, gay actors of the time.