George Takei couldn't have had higher than fifth or sixth billing, and he didn't even play a significant role in every show. But he has had an amazing career as an actor, and more important, he has become a wonderful spokesman for civil rights.
Takei was born in 1937 in Los Angeles. After Pearl Harbor, he and his family were interned at Rohwer War Relocation Center in southeastern Arkansas, just across the state line from Mississippi. Since his parents refused to take a loyalty vow, they were relocated and spent the rest of the war at Tule Lake on the edge of the Mojave Desert in California.
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| George Takei as Sulu |
Some people age badly, but Takei has matured into a strong battler for the underdog. He was one of the first Californians to be married after the state's ban on gay marriage was overturned in 2008., and he spoke out last week when the fate of an Arizona bill allowing discrimination against gay people hung in the balance.
Even more important, he has become a spokesman against bullying of both gay and straight kids.
One wonderful moment occurred in November 2010, when he responded to an anti-gay school board member in Arkansas who said he hoped more gay teenagers would kill themselves or give each other AIDS.
While he recorded a statement to bigot Clint McCance that lasted several minutes, it came down to four words:
"You are a douchebag."
It's nice to see someone who isn't afraid to speak out.
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