George Takei
Biography
George Hosato Takei Altman is an American actor, author, and activist born on April 20, 1937, in Los Angeles, California. Of Japanese descent, he spent part of his childhood relocated to the Rohwer Relocation Center in Arkansas following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Takei is widely recognized for his long-standing career in the entertainment industry and his dedicated advocacy work. He is a prominent proponent of LGBTQ rights and has contributed significantly to Japanese-American relations, including his involvement with the Japanese American National Museum. Beyond his professional acting credits, he is noted for his active participation in state and local politics and his presence on social media.
Career overview
George Takei is best known for his portrayal of Hikaru Sulu, the helmsman of the USS Enterprise, in the original Star Trek television series and subsequent films. This role remains the most prominent feature of his acting career, which spans 252 known credits according to industry databases. Throughout his professional life, Takei has maintained a consistent presence in both television and film, establishing himself as a recognizable figure in the science fiction genre and popular culture.
In addition to his work as an actor, Takei is an accomplished author and a dedicated activist. He utilizes his public platform to advocate for gay rights and the Asian American community. His contributions to society extend to his work with the Japanese American National Museum, for which he has received various awards and accolades. Takei continues to balance his ongoing acting career with his commitment to political and social causes, maintaining a career that bridges the gap between entertainment and public service.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- Hunky Jesus (2026)
- The Gettysburg Address (2025) as Self
- Lost Voyages: Phase II and the Rebirth of Star Trek (2025) as Self
- Beam Me Up, Sulu (2025) as Self
- Reclaim the Flag (2025) as Self
- Coroner to the Stars (2025) as Self
- Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024) as Koh (voice)
- To the Journey: Looking Back at Star Trek: Voyager (2024) as Self
- BLUE EYE SAMURAI (2023) as Seki (voice)
- Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai (2023) as Noggin (voice)
- Star Trek: very Short Treks (2023) as Sulu (voice)
- One Fighting Irishman: Wayne M. Collins and the Tule Lake Segregation Center (2023) as Narrator
- The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms (2023) as AO the Wise (voice)
- The Shuttlepod Show (2022) as Self
- Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (2022) as Ohga (voice)
- ONI: Thunder God's Tale (2022) as Mr. Tengu (voice)
- Way of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies (2022) as Self - (archive footage)
- Soul of a Nation Presents: Together As One: Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage (2022) as Self - Host
- Yorktown: A Time to Heal (2022) as Lt. Cmdr. Hikaru Sulu
- Resident Alien (2021) as The Gray (voice)
- Jellystone! (2021) as SoSo (voice)
- Call Me Kat (2021) as George Takei
- Marvel's Hit-Monkey (2021) as Shinji (voice)
- Woman in Motion (2021) as Self
- Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020) as Hikaru Sulu (voice)
- Love Monster (2020) as Elder Panda (voice)
- Visible: Out on Television (2020) as Self
- The Soul of America (2020) as Self
- Aliens Stole My Body (2020) as Phil the Plant (voice)
- Who’s on Top? (2020)
- Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? (2019) as George Takei (voice)
- Cool Cat's Crazy Dream (2019) as Dream World George
- True Terror with George Takei (2019) as Self - Host
- The Terror (2018) as Nobuhiro Yamato / Yamato-san
- Star Trek: Short Treks (2018) as Hikaru Sulu (voice) (archive footage)
- Yamasong: March of the Hollows (2017) as Elder Masook (voice)
- And Then They Came for Us (2017) as himself
- Elena of Avalor (2016) as King Toshi (voice)
- Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) as Hosato (voice)
- For the Love of Spock (2016) as Self
- Star Trek: The Original Series – The Roddenberry Vault (2016)
- Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault (2016) as Self
- Allegiance (2016) as Sam Kimura / Ojii-Chan
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self - Guest
- Fresh Off the Boat (2015) as Bernard
- StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson (2015) as Self
- Entourage (2015) as George Takei
- Tab Hunter Confidential (2015) as Self
- Hopeful Romantic (2015)
- Do I Sound Gay? (2015) as Self
- Roddenberry's Trek (2015) as himself
- Message From Hiroshima (2015) as Narrator
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- BoJack Horseman (2014) as Audiobook Narrator (voice)
- Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero (2014) as Sylvester Kobayashi (voice)
- The 7D (2014) as Dr. Sweet Tooth (voice)
- To Be Takei (2014) as Self
- Eat With Me (2014) as George
- Ava & Lala (2014)
- Through the Keyhole (2013) as Self
- Free Birds (2013) as S.T.E.V.E. (voice)
- Axel: The Biggest Little Hero (2013) as Elder (voice)
- The Missing Scarf (2013) as Narrator
- Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man (2012) as Master of K'un L'un (voice)
- The New Normal (2012) as Sam
- Space Milkshake (2012) as Gary (voice)
- 8 (2012) as William Tam
- Art of Submission (2012) as Krang
- Backyard Blockbusters (2012) as Sulu (archive footage)
- Strange Frame (2012) as Tamadamsa (voice)
- Bubble Guppies (2011) as Major Bummer (voice)
- Bubble Guppies (2011) as Master Rakunuki (voice)
- Larry Crowne (2011) as Dr. Matsutani
- These Amazing Shadows (2011) as Self
- Supah Ninjas (2011) as Hattori 'Hologramps' Fukanaga
- The Problem Solverz (2011) as Mr. Konishi (voice)
- Dark Vengeance (2011) as Tanaka
- Hawaii Five-0 (2010) as Uncle Choi
- Conan (2010) as Self - Guest
- Regular Show (2010) as Daisuke (voice)
- Adventure Time (2010) as Ricardio (voice)
- Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010) as Mr. Wang / White Wizard (voice)
- Hot in Cleveland (2010) as Reverend Matsuda
- Fish Hooks (2010) as Bird / Robot (voice)
- Fish Hooks (2010) as Mr. Bird (voice)
- Fish Hooks (2010) as Mr. K (voice)
- Lost Girl (2010) as Engelram
- Transformers: Prime (2010) as Alpha Trion (voice)
- Pound Puppies (2010) as Mr. Julius (voice)
- Pound Puppies (2010) as Mr. Julius / Monsieur Mitch (voice)
- The Untold Story of Ralph Carr and the Japanese: The Fate of 3 Japanese-Americans and the Internment (2010) as Himself
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- Community (2009) as George Takei (voice)
- Archer (2009) as Mr. Moto (voice)
- Party Down (2009) as George Takei
- The Pool Boys (2009) as Maitre D (Joon)
- Scooby-Doo! and the Samurai Sword (2009) as Old Man Samurai (voice)
- Live from Studio Five (2009) as Self
- Toyo's Camera (2009) as Self
- Annul Victory (2009) as Self
- Bring Back... Star Trek (2009) as Self
- You Don't Know Jack: The Jack Soo Story (2009) as Self
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) as Lok Durd (voice)
- The Suite Life on Deck (2008) as Rome Tipton
- You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008) as George Takei
- All Star Mr & Mrs (2008)
- The Great Buck Howard (2008) as George Takei
- Futurama: Bender's Game (2008) as George Takei (voice)
- Ninja Cheerleaders (2008) as Hiroshi
- Secret Talents of the Stars (2008)
- Phineas and Ferb (2007) as Positive Re-enforcement Machine (voice)
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self - Guest
- The Big Bang Theory (2007) as George Takei
- Chowder (2007) as Foie Gras (voice)
- Transformers: Animated (2007) as Yoketron (voice)
- El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera (2007)
- Cory in the House (2007) as Ronald
- Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World (2007) as Mayor Screwsum / Police Chief (voice)
- Thank God You're Here (2007) as Self
- Finishing the Game: The Search for a New Bruce Lee (2007) as Man in Black (Voice)
- Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier (2007) as Self
- Psych (2006) as George Takei
- Heroes (2006) as Kaito Nakamura
- The Howard Stern Interview (2006) as Self
- A.I. Assault (2006) as Major Lane
- 40 Years of Star Trek (2006) as Self
- Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner (2006) as Self - Roaster
- American Dad! (2005) as George Takei (voice)
- The Colbert Report (2005) as Self - Guest
- Robot Chicken (2005) as Godzilla vs. Jason Narrator / Yakuza (voice)
- Robot Chicken (2005) as Hikaru Sulu / Purple Crayon Narrator (voice)
- Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005) as Warden (voice)
- Freddie (2005) as Martin
- Bring Back... (2005) as Self
- How William Shatner Changed the World (2005) as Self
- Mulan II (2004) as First Ancestor (voice)
- The Eavesdropper (2004) as Dr. Hsieh
- Birth of a Timeless Legacy (2004)
- Kiss 'N' Tell: Romance in the 23rd Century (2004)
- Real Time with Bill Maher (2003) as Self - Guest
- Comedy Central Roasts (2003) as Self
- Alienated (2003)
- Roddenberry on Patrol (2003) as Narrator
- DC 9/11: Time of Crisis (2003) as Norman Mineta
- Kim Possible (2002) as Sensei (voice)
- I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (2002) as Self
- Watching Ellie (2002) as George Takei
- After They Were Famous (2002) as Self
- New World Order (2002) as Radio Free World (voice)
- Scrubs (2001) as George Takei
- According to Jim (2001) as George Takei (voice)
- Samurai Jack (2001) as Warrior #4 (voice)
- The Chronicle (2001) as Mr. Shen
- Malcolm in the Middle (2000) as George Takei
- Jackie Chan Adventures (2000) as High Mystic (voice)
- Son of the Beach (2000)
- Baby Blues (2000)
- Grosse Pointe (2000) as Japanese Ad Executive (uncredited)
- The Brak Show (2000) as TV Executive (voice) (uncredited)
- Futurama (1999) as George Takei's Head (voice)
- Batman Beyond (1999) as Mr. Fixx (voice)
- The Early Show (1999) as Self
- Batman Beyond: The Movie (1999) as Mr. Fixx (voice)
- Who Gets the House? (1999) as Elliott
- Will & Grace (1998) as George Takei
- V.I.P. (1998) as KOP's Voice / Self
- Mulan (1998) as First Ancestor (voice)
- Bug Buster (1998) as Dr. Hiro Fujimoto
- The View (1997) as Self - Guest
- Trekkies (1997) as Self
- The Magic Pearl (1997) as Ha Ping (voice)
- The Best Bad Thing (1997) as Mr. Yamanaka
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self - Guest
- 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) as George Takei
- Hey Arnold! (1996) as Phoebe's Father (voice)
- Early Edition (1996) as Mr. Lee
- Muppets Tonight (1996) as Self
- Once a Thief (1996)
- Space Cases (1996)
- Oblivion 2: Backlash (1996) as Doc Valentine
- The Making of Star Trek Deep Space Nine Trials And Tribble-ations (1996) as Self
- Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond (1996) as Self
- William Shatner's Star Trek Memories (1996) as Self
- Star Trek: Voyager (1995) as Captain Sulu
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995) as Keiji (voice)
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995) as Change / Peddler (voice)
- In the House (1995)
- Brotherly Love (1995) as George Takei
- Kissinger and Nixon (1995) as Le Duc Tho
- Spider-Man (1994) as Wong (voice)
- Oblivion (1994) as Doc Valentine
- Star Trek: A Captain's Log (1994) as Self
- William Shatner: Captain's Log (1994) as Self
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- Diagnosis: Murder (1993) as Man In Black
- GMTV (1993) as Self
- Kung Fu: The Legend Continues (1993) as Colonel Ong
- The Curse of the Dragon (1993) as Narrator (voice)
- Moving Memories (1993)
- Live by the Fist (1993) as Uncle Coronado
- Lightning Force (1991) as General Seng
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) as Captain Hikaru Sulu
- Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special (1991) as Self
- Blood Oath (1990) as Vice-Admiral Baron Takahashi
- The Simpsons (1989) as Akira Kurosawa (voice)
- The Simpsons (1989) as Wink - The Game Show Host (voice)
- The Simpsons (1989) as Waiter (voice)
- The Simpsons (1989) as Sushi Chef (voice)
- The Simpsons (1989) as George Takei (voice)
- Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) as Cmdr. Hikaru Sulu
- Return from the River Kwai (1989) as Lieutenant Tanaka
- The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation to the Next (1988) as Self
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) as Cmdr. Hikaru Sulu
- Who's Who (1986)
- MacGyver (1985) as Dr. Shen Wei
- Doctor Who's Who's Who (1985) as Sulu
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Bert Tanaka
- Miami Vice (1984) as Kenneth Togaru
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) as Cmdr. Hikaru Sulu
- Matt Houston (1982) as Sam Shima
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) as Cmdr. Hikaru Sulu
- Beyond Westworld (1980) as Doctor Marcus
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) as Lt. Cmdr. Hikaru Sulu
- Vega$ (1978)
- Have I Got a Christmas for You (1977) as Doctor
- The Star Trek Dream (1975) as Self
- The Year of the Dragon (1975) as Fred Eng
- The Six Million Dollar Man (1974) as Chin-Ling
- Chico and the Man (1974)
- Star Trek (1973) as Hikaru Sulu (voice)
- Josie's Castle (1971) as Ken Tanaka
- Which Way to the Front? (1970) as Yamashita
- The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1969) as Mr. Sato
- The Japanese Sword as the Soul of the Samurai (1969) as Narrator
- Hawaii Five-O (1968) as Nathaniel Blake
- The Green Berets (1968) as Captain Nim
- Ironside (1967)
- The Big Mouth (1967) as Diamond Jeweler (uncredited)
- Star Trek (1966) as Sulu
- Mission: Impossible (1966) as Roger Lee
- Felony Squad (1966)
- Walk Don't Run (1966) as Police Captain
- An American Dream (1966) as Attorney Ord Long
- Mister Roberts (1965)
- Red Line 7000 (1965) as Kato
- Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964) as Cheng
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963)
- King Kong vs. Godzilla (1963) as Osamu Sakurai (voice) (uncredited)
- PT 109 (1963) as Helmsman on Japanese Destroyer (uncredited)
- The Gallant Men (1962)
- My Three Sons (1960) as Won Tsun
- The Islanders (1960) as Yung
- Ice Palace (1960) as Wang
- Hell to Eternity (1960) as George Une
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Arthur Takamori / Taro
- Hawaiian Eye (1959)
- Never So Few (1959) as Soldier in Hospital
- Gigantis, the Fire Monster (1959) as Ikeda / Osaka SDF Dispatcher (voice) (uncredited)
- Perry Mason (1957) as Toma Sakai
- Rodan! The Flying Monster (1957) as Dr. Kyuichiro Kashiwagi / Izeki / male honeymooner (voice)
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Doctor
- Holograms All the Way Down as Hikaru Sulu