George Takei: Actor, advocate and role model

George Takei as Sulu in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" in 1982.

Source: https://theultimaterabbit.com/2019/08/30/george-takei-reflects-on-the-significance-of-star-trek-ii-the-wrath-of-khan/

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No matter how charming and tough Captain Kirk is, how smart and endearing Mr. Spock is in an Aspergers kind of way, or how much southern charm Dr. McCoy has, my favourite member of the bridge crew of the USS Enterprise will always be Mr. Sulu.

He was cool under pressure but able to crack a good joke or take on an enemy presence with the best of them. Sulu was also essentially the pilot of the Enterprise and maneuvered her out of some sticky situations.

Able to take over a scene when called upon, George Takei is a fantastic actor, and an advocate and community leader.

It is his birthday today and a chance to look back from the time of “Star Trek” to now, and all George Takei has accomplished off the screen and away from the helm of the Enterprise.

Hard to find
Growing up on a farm in the 1980s, it was hard to find “Star Trek”. There were only three channels on peasant vision, and airing reruns of “Star Trek” was not really high on the list. So, I settled for reading about “Star Trek” in novelizations of episodes, fotonovels of episodes, and books about the history of the show.

By then “Star Wars” had come out and was on the lips of everyone. At one point, in a conversation, one of my friends referred to “Solo” when he meant Sulu. I had to correct him.

It seems like heresy now.

Eventually, CBC Channel 9 did start airing “Star Trek” on Saturdays. Sometimes it was in the morning, and sometimes at night.

One of the first episodes I saw was “The Naked Time”, where the crew contracts a virus that lowers their inhibitions and makes them seem drunk. George Takei steals the show in every scene Sulu appears. He is a swashbuckling, shirtless pirate. At one point he taps the top of his sword and yelps “ouch”, as if he was surprised it was sharp and pointy.

That was just one example of the talent of George Takei.

It is unfortunate, he really didn’t get a lot of chances to stretch his acting muscles.

Going to the movies
The big thing the ‘80s brought to “Star Trek” fans was the movies. It started with “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” in December of 1979, where the crew reunites to save the galaxy from an unknown intelligence. That movie was big on special effects, but the plot was like one of the weaker episodes. It made a lot of money but disappointed fans enough to put the franchise in jeopardy if the next movie wasn’t better.

What resulted was what I like to call the trilogy – “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” in 1982; “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” in 1984; and “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” in 1986. They were excellent movies, especially the “Wrath of Khan” which, to me, saved the franchise.

I don’t recall George Takei doing too much in “The Motion Picture”, but his role grew during the next three movies, especially when the old crew steal the Enterprise to rescue Spock. Sulu is right there, demonstrating his loyalty to his friend and his old crew. He had some memorable moments too. In one, he is called “Tiny” by a security guard. Shortly after, Sulu knocks him out, but does not leave before standing over him and saying, “And don’t call me tiny.”

It was just example of his comic timing and charm on screen.

It was then that I also learned his first name is Hikaru.

The decade ended in 1989 with the disastrous “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier”, which again just was not very good. In fact, it is the only Star Trek movie with the original characters, that I have only seen once. I have had no real interest in seeing it again.

Once more, I don’t recall much of a role for Sulu.

The final movie
That changed in “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country” which came out in 1992. It was the final movie with all the original series characters, and opens with Sulu finally getting his due. In the opening scene, we discover he is captain of his own ship.

It was about time.

The years after
George Takei has forged a unique path since his days on “Star Trek”. In addition to appearing at conventions, fan events, and more, he has become an advocate.

He came out of the closet and had become a champion for the LGBTQ community. He married his long-time boyfriend and has become a role model.

As a child, Takei was interned in camps along with thousands of other Japanese-Americans during the Second World War. It was part of the paranoia after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, and fuelled by racism that already existed in the country. Takei has brought attention to that sorry chapter in history, and told his own story of childhood trauma.

Parting thoughts
George Takei just has a natural charisma and charm on screen. The combination of timing, that deep melodic voice, and just plain acting talent make him my favourite member of the “Star Trek” crew.

However, what has really impressed me is what George Takei has done beyond “Star Trek”. He is an advocate and a role model.

As much as the ideals of “Star Trek” chart out a better world and a brighter future, George Takei embodies that ideal every day with his actions.