VANCOUVER – George Takei, who is perhaps best known for playing Lt. Hikaru Sulu in the original Star Trek TV series, is in Vancouver Tuesday night for his one-man show at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
He took time out of his busy schedule to talk with Sophie Lui and Steve Darling on the Global BC Morning News.
Takei, who has a huge social media following now, said he got involved in the online world to promote a project close to his heart.
“Actually it was musical theatre that prompted my venture into social media,” he said. “We developed a musical on the internment of Japanese Americans, it’s a story that very few people know anything about.”
Takei’s family was put in an internment camp when he was only five years old.
“I’m particularly shocked when I go to the East Coast of the United States, but it’s important I think that the people know, Americans and Canadians too, know about that chapter of our history because it was our constitution that was egregiously violated,” he added.
The musical is set to hit Broadway in 2015 but a recent documentary also has people talking about Takei’s personal life.
In the project, which is called To Be Takei, the actor speaks about his relationship with his husband Brad Takei, but he didn’t place any restrictions on the film.
“Now I regret it a little bit,” he laughed, “don’t give carte blanche to a documentarian.”
Takei has been with his husband for 27 years, with six of those as a married couple. “Before that, it was in sin,” he laughed.
“Certainly we have security now,” he said. “I’m a tad bit older than Brad and it’s comforting to know that when I should go he’ll be well taken care of, but also I’ve found that it’s more comforting to our friends, our straight friends, because now they can relate to us with a great deal more, or less awkwardness.”
To hear Takei’s story about his first time on the Howard Stern radio show, check out the video above.
Takei’s show takes place at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Tuesday night, starting at 8 p.m.
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