Garrett Wang
He navigated the Delta Quadrant as the earnest Ensign Harry Kim, becoming a face of Star Trek for a new generation in the 1990s.
Born 1968 (age 58)·American actor·Birthday: December 15·Generation X
Biography
Garrett Wang's path to the stars was anything but guaranteed. Born in Riverside, California, to Chinese immigrant parents, he studied Asian studies and theater at UCLA before landing the role that would define his career. Cast as the fresh-faced and morally centered Ensign Harry Kim on Star Trek: Voyager, Wang spent seven seasons portraying the ship's operations officer, often the heart and conscience of the stranded crew. His tenure on the series made him one of the most recognizable Asian-American actors on television during its run. Beyond the bridge, Wang has become a steadfast presence on the convention circuit, known for his candid reflections on the industry and his advocacy for greater representation. His career, while forever linked to Star Trek, speaks to the enduring impact of a character who represented youthful optimism and integrity in the far reaches of space.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Garrett was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Garrett Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Garrett's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played Ensign Harry Kim for all seven seasons of Star Trek: Voyager, a central role in the franchise.
- Served as a director for the documentary 'The Need for Speed', showcasing work behind the camera.
- Became a popular figure at fan conventions, maintaining a decades-long connection with the Star Trek community.
Did You Know?
He was named one of People magazine's '50 Most Beautiful People' in the world in 1997.
Wang is an avid collector of vintage Star Trek memorabilia and action figures.
He initially auditioned for the role of Chakotay on Voyager before being cast as Harry Kim.
“I was the only ensign in the fleet who got stranded in the Delta Quadrant.”
