The actor that will be forever be known as Sulu from Star Trek has been a pioneer for the LGBT community and boldly gone where many gays have not gone before.
Not only has he performed in six Star Trek films but when he came out of the closet he made a big splash for equality. His work with Japanese American rights has led him to create a musical called Allegiance, which debuted in San Diego at the Globe Theatre. He brought attention to the horrors of Japanese internment camps in Arkansas in the process but now a documentary To Be Takei immortalized on film. He addresses subjects like how to say his name correctly, Takei rhymes with "I'm gay" not "Oh, my" and he's named after George VI so don't call him a queen.
He fought stereotypes on the television show Star Trek and continues today as grand marshal for many Pride parades, including Chicago's in 2006. He came out in Frontiers Magazine followed by continued spirited interviews with Howard Stern that have become quite memorable.
We chatted with the long-lasting talent about his new movie and what life is like being Takei.
Windy City Times: Hi, George. I came out to San Diego and saw your show Allegiance at the Old Globe Theatre.
George Takei: Oh, wonderful. What did you think?
WCT: I loved it.
George Takei: What prompted you to fly halfway around the country?
WCT: I was writing a travel story in California and the tourism board encouraged me to see your show.
George Takei: I am glad you saw it. I hope you are spreading the good word about Allegiance!
WCT: It ties in with your current documentary so it all came together.
George Takei: Yes, it did. In fact, my one regret is that we have not been able to get a Broadway house in time for the finish of To Be Takei so we could include the opening night as the grand finale of the movie.
There is this strange thing happening where every season there are at least one or two theaters that are dark. Every theater is booked up now and we have had to wait in line for a theater.
I just read in The New York Times that Bryan Cranston in All the Way at the Neil Simon Theatre is closing, so that will be opening up. I am going to call our producer to see if the situation is there. Another musical, Newsies, is closing so the Nederlander Theatre will be opening up. We have been waiting in line for a year now for a Broadway theater. We are hoping that the latter part of this year we will be able to share Allegiance with the great Broadway audience. It is the most important stage in America.
WCT: Is the cast standing by? Would my buddy Telly Leung still be in it?
George Takei: Telly, Lea Salonga and I are all waiting. Well, we are all working and doing other things but we are arranging our schedules so we can be available for it when we are ready to open on Broadway.
WCT: How long was the process of making the documentary To Be Takei?
George Takei: Jennifer Kroot, the director, approached us. I think it was in 2009. She and her team followed us for three years. Then they had a post production process. Bill Weber is a really gifted editor. He's like a stand up comic who knows how to set up a story then comes in with a punchline! He did a fantastic job of editing the film. So here we are now excitingly anticipating a public showing on Direct TV then in the theaters come August.
WCT: How was your husband, Brad, at being part of the process?
George Takei: He blossomed in the process. In fact I think Brad steals the movie! He was very apprehensive at the beginning. Brad can be a controlling guy and I think that comes off but plays well onscreen. As far as I am concerned he is the star of the movie.
WCT: Where did your expression "Oh, my" originate?
George Takei: Well, everyone uses it and it's a very common expression. I have been using it all my life. I did the Howard Stern Show. First of all, there are some outrageous things that he asks people to do and there are some outrageous responses to those requests. One time he asked a very buxom woman if she had a bra on and asked her to take her shirt off. When she did take it off I said, "Oh, my—oh, my," so he had various ones on tape. Whether I am there or not he's got this button he presses when someone says something outrageous and there is my voice saying, "Oh, my!" By repetition, it has become my signature. He's a little rascal.
WCT: From the documentary it looks like you have had a great relationship with Stern over the years.
George Takei: [Laughs] Yes, a very lively relationship. He can be very irritating at times but he is an extraordinary guy, I think. People thought he was homophobic. He knows how to use everything to get a laugh. If acting like he's a homophobe gets him a laugh then he has chosen to do it in the past. Now he knows better.
He's a champion for LGBT equality; as a matter of fact, he said on the air that he and Beth would not get married until George and Brad could, also. Of all things, he did stick to that. It wasn't until we got married that he and Beth got married. He's a principled guy with good values. He's an advocate for equality as well as what's decent.
WCT: On the other hand we have [Donald] Trump, who you worked with on Celebrity Apprentice. Have you clashed at all with him about gay rights?
George Takei: He's another case, yes. When I did Celebrity Apprentice we were at a press conference. At the end I decided to give him a public challenge. Since he's a very public guy and opposed to marriage equality I invited him to have lunch with me at Jean George, located in Trump Tower. He said, "You know, George, I think I can learn something from you so we are on!" We tried to schedule it because we both travel a lot, but finally did. Immediately when we sat down he told me he went to a beautiful gay wedding. He mentioned all the families that were there and subtly said he supported it. I asked him if I could share that with the world.
Donald has a wide range of friends and some of them happen to be gay. I think his public position has been shared because he's a Republican and may be running for office. I think it is only a political posture. I don't think he has that position any more, particularly with the climate change in America.
A year from this week the Supreme Court came down with the ruling striking down the Defense of Marriage Act with California's Proposition 8. I think Donald has changed but not publicly [announced] that change.
WCT: Will you be in New York for Pride?
George Takei: No; this weekend we are going up to Seattle for their Pride. I have done New York's parade for two years so I am little shopworn for New York.
WCT: What is the craziest thing a Star Trek fan has ever asked of you?
George Takei: Would you believe in two more years Star Trek will be 50 years old? We first went on the air in 1966, so in 2016 we will be 50 years old. I have met all kinds of Star Trek fans, from the United States to Bagdad. I have had many bizarre, weird and difficult requests! Let your imagination go, but I will say to you that I have autographed many body parts, including a few private ones.
WCT: You are so polite to the fans. I saw how you were after the show meeting them for Allegiance.
George Takei: Well, thank you very much but I am in trouble when they stop asking, particularly after a performance. I am thankful that they came, bought tickets and spent some time with us.
Allegiance is a project that is very near and dear to my heart. I wanted to reciprocate and say thank you.
I learn a lot from the fans when I talk to them. There are many people that don't know about that dark chapter in our history. I discovered that many Japanese-Americans don't know about it. They may know that mom or dad or grandma was incarcerated but they never talked about it to their children. People said to me this was the first time they ever found out how horrible the camp was. I learn things like that by chatting with them at the theater. I will stand out there, talk to them and pose for selfies but then I learn how valuable Allegiance is to Japanese-Americans.
WCT: I hope it goes on to be a movie and brings even more attention to it.
George Takei: Oh, yeah; that is part of our game plan. We want a London company as well. The same thing happened in Canada when Japanese-Canadians were incarcerated. Because it is colder, it was really a hardship there.
We are planning on a Canadian company starting in Toronto. Ultimately, we see it going to Tokyo, with a Japanese cast and have things translated into Japanese. It is an international story.
WCT: Best of luck to you, so "live long and prosper!"
To Be Takei warps onto big and small screens with DIRECTV, running exclusively from July 3 through Aug. 6; then, it will be released theatrically.
