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George Takei

Actor

"That torturous period, after the interview, until the phone call from the agent comes, you are made to go through this excruciating process. But the phone call came and I was cast. I was Sulu."

About This Interview

George Takei was interviewed for nearly three hours in Los Angeles, CA.  Takei talked about his earliest years, defined by his placement in Japanese internment camps following the attack on Pearl Harbor.  He talked about his entrance into acting, which included guest appearances on such television series as Playhouse 90 and The Twilight Zone . He then spoke in great detail about the role for which he is most associated, “Mr. Sulu” on the original Star Trek .  He described his casting on the series, working with his co-stars, and notable episodes.  He also talked about the worldwide endurance of the series and described his appearances at Star Trek conventions.  He talked about other television guest appearances he has made through the years, including one on Third Rock From the Sun .  B-roll consisted of several photos from Star Trek, and individual photos from The Twilight Zone, Kissinger and Nixon (telefilm), Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country (feature film), and Star Trek: Voyager.  The interview was conducted by Melody Chen on October 27, 2004.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Genres

Shows

  • 3rd Rock From the Sun
  • Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The
  • Kissinger and Nixon
  • Playhouse 90
  • Star Trek
  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
  • Star Trek: The Animated Series
  • Star Trek: Voyager
  • Twilight Zone, The
  • Year of the Dragon

People

  • Neville Brand
  • Robert Butler
  • Gene Coon
  • James Doohan
  • Harry Guardino
  • Robert Justman
  • DeForest Kelley
  • Walter Koenig
  • Leonard Nimoy
  • Gene Roddenberry
  • Rod Serling
  • William Shatner
  • Ron Silver
  • Jac Venza

Topics

  • Bloopers
  • Historic Events and Social Change
  • Pop Culture
  • Television Industry

Genres

  • Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series

Featured Content

Video: Full Star Trek episode "The Naked Time" - the classic episode where George Takei's "Sulu" fences (airdate: September 29, 1966)

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Interview Chapters

  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 4
  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6

Watch By Chapter

  • Chapter 1
  • On his early years and family
  • On being confined to an American internment camp during World War II 
  • On his early interest in acting; his voiceover work; and his work at Desilu Playhouse
  • Chapter 2
  • On appearing in the Playhouse 90 teleplay "Made in Japan" (1959)
  • On co-starring in the controversial Twilight Zone episode "The Encounter" (airdate: May 1, 1964)
  • On working on the feature film Red Line 7000 directed by Howard Hawks
  • On some of the one-shot roles he had on TV and film
  • On getting cast as Sulu on Star Trek
  • Chapter 3
  • On his role as Mr. Sulu on Star Trek
  • On the production of Star Trek and working with his many colleagues
  • On the history of Desilu Studios, where Star Trek was filmed
  • Chapter 4
  • On studio-owner Lucille Ball; and working with fellow Star Trek castmembers James Doohan, Nichele Nichols, and Walter Koenig
  • On classic Star Trek episodes, including "Naked Time" (his favorite)
  • On Star Trek going off the air and its legacy and his character's legacy
  • On Star Trek: The Animated Series
  • On the legacy of Star Trek
  • Chapter 5
  • On Star Trek conventions and fans
  • On the TV movie The Year of the Dragon (1975)
  • On how he approaches the craft of acting
  • On his role in the TV movie Kissinger and Nixon ; and his guest appearance on 3rd Rock From the Sun
  • Chapter 6
  • On his guest appearance on Star Trek: Voyager
  • On his then-current projects, writing his autobiography, thoughts on racism, advice to aspiring actors, and how he'd like to be remembered

Discussed In This Interview

  • shows
  • people
  • topics
  • genres

shows

  • 3rd Rock From the Sun
    • Clip 1
  • Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The
    • Clip 1
  • Kissinger and Nixon
    • Clip 1
  • Playhouse 90
    • Clip 1
  • Star Trek
    • Clip 1
    • Clip 2
    • Clip 3
    • Clip 4
    • Clip 5
    • Clip 6
    • Clip 7
    • Clip 8
    • Clip 9
  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
    • Clip 1
  • Star Trek: The Animated Series
    • Clip 1
  • Star Trek: Voyager
    • Clip 1
  • Twilight Zone, The
    • Clip 1
  • Year of the Dragon
    • Clip 1

people

  • Neville Brand
  • Robert Butler
  • Gene Coon
  • James Doohan
  • Harry Guardino
  • Robert Justman
  • DeForest Kelley
  • Walter Koenig
  • Leonard Nimoy
  • Gene Roddenberry
  • Rod Serling
  • William Shatner
  • Ron Silver
  • Jac Venza

topics

  • WWII
  • Minorities
  • Bloopers
  • Censorship / Standards & Practices
  • Minorities
  • Minorities
  • Characters & Catchphrases
  • Vietnam
  • Studio Management
  • Minorities

genres

  • Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
  • Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
  • Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
  • TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
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