George Takei
He transformed a childhood spent in a Japanese American internment camp into a lifetime of advocacy, while piloting the Starship Enterprise into pop culture history.
Born 1937 (age 89)·American actor, author and activist·Birthday: April 20·The Silent Generation
Biography
George Takei's story is one of resilience forged in the unlikeliest of places. At age five, he and his family were forced from their Los Angeles home into internment camps for Japanese Americans during World War II, an experience that would later define his activism. His path to acting led him to the bridge of the USS Enterprise in 1966, where his portrayal of the calm and capable Lieutenant Sulu broke ground as one of the first positive Asian American characters on mainstream television. After Star Trek's initial run, Takei didn't rest on his sci-fi laurels. He became a powerful voice for LGBTQ+ rights, sharing his life with husband Brad Takei, and a digital sage to millions, using social media to blend sharp political commentary with wry humor. His work ensures that the lessons of history are not forgotten while championing a more inclusive future.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
George was born in 1937, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When George Was Born
The biggest hits of 1937
#1 Movie
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Best Picture
The Life of Emile Zola
George's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1937Born
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1942Started school
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1950Became a teenager
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1953Could drive
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1955Could vote
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1958Turned 21
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1967Turned 30
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 40
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 50
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 60
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 70
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 80
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 89 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu on the original Star Trek series and in six subsequent feature films.
- Authored the graphic novel memoir 'They Called Us Enemy,' detailing his family's internment during WWII.
- Served as the spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign's 'Coming Out Project.'
- Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1986.
Did You Know?
The asteroid 7307 Takei is named in his honor.
He served as the Grand Marshal of the 2019 Rose Parade.
He provided the voice for a character in the animated series 'The Simpsons' on multiple occasions.
He was a vocal opponent of California's Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage.
“We are a nation of people with diverse backgrounds, of different colors and creeds, and yet we are all Americans.”
