George Takei was born Hosato Takei on April 20, 1937 in Los Angeles, California. His mother was born in Sacramento to Japanese parents & his father was born in Japan.

After the attack on Pearl Harbour, he and his family were relocated from Los Angeles to the Rohwer Relocation Centre in Arkansas. Later, they were moved to a camp at Tule Lake in Northern California. His first-hand knowledge of the unjust internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans in World War II, poignantly chronicled in his autobiography, created a lifelong interest in politics & community affairs.

Wanting a multi-racial crew, Gene Roddenberry cast him in "Where No Man Has Gone Before", the second "Star Trek" (1966) pilot and Mr. Sulu remained a regular character when it went into production. After "Star Trek" was canceled, he did guest stints in several TV shows, voiced Sulu for the animated "Star Trek" series and regularly appeared at Star Trek conventions.

He campaigned to get more respect for his character in the "Star Trek" features, resulting in Sulu finally obtaining the rank of captain in "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" (1991), a role reprised in the "Star Trek: Voyager" (1995) episode "Flashback."

He received a star on Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame in 1986. His 1994 autobiography, "To the Stars", was well-received.

He remains active as a stage, TV & film actor as well as as an advocate for the interests of Japanese Americans.

More Info: www.imdb.com