‘There was one prima donna on Star Trek’: George Takei on William Shatner, love and life as an ‘enemy alien’



‘At 5 years antique I turned into an enemy’ … George Takei. Photograph: Luke Fontana‘At 5 years aged I became an enemy’ … George Takei. Photograph: Luke Fontana

TV made him a star, but activism became him into a hero. Now 85 and inactive going robust, the histrion recalls his friendships and feuds, and his shameful attraction wrong the 2nd planetary conflict

George Takei is connected a project. But this clip the Star Trek histrion isn't boldly going wherever nary feline has gone earlier than. Now he’s boldly going successful which excessively galore men went earlier than, to marque definite past does not hide them.

Takei is acceptable to prima successful the British manufacturing of the philharmonic Allegiance, stimulated via his aboriginal beingness arsenic 1 successful each greater than a 100 and twenty,000 Japanese Americans pressured into internment camps aft Japan attacked Pearl Harbor successful 1941. Now a younger eighty five, helium says it stays the defining bask of his beingness – 1 which shaped him arsenic an histrion and an activist.

It’s 31 years connected relationship that helium performed Sulu wrong the past of his six Star Trek films, but Takei is arsenic outstanding arsenic ever. He is outspoken, has a monolithic societal media following, and whitethorn beryllium adjacent amended recognised nowadays arsenic an creator (in 2019 helium posted They Called Us Enemy, a beautifully illustrated representation caller astir his internment) and an LGBTQ+/anti-racist campaer than he's for Star Trek.

We conscionable wrong the penthouse of a London inn overlooking the town’s landmarks. Takei, who is present on with his husband, Brad, is mild, neatly dressed and vivid arsenic a sunny time – adjacent if talking astir 1 of these bleak difficulty. He grew up successful Los Angeles, considered 1 of 3 youngsters calved to a Japanese American parent from California and a begetter who grew up successful Japan. Takei’s begetter became a a deed businessman, going for walks a high-end dry-cleaning support successful LA. The household person been looking guardant to a satisfied and affluent future. But that each 1 changed with Pearl Harbor and the desation of Japanese Americans arsenic “enemy extraterrestrial beings”.

George (proper) and his brother, Henry, with their father. Photograph: Handout

It changed into 3 weeks aft George’s 5th birthday, successful 1942, that the service got present for the Takeis. “My begetter got present into the chamber I shared with my younger brother, Henry, and dressed america hurriedly and told america to be wrong the dwelling country adjacent arsenic they did final-minute packing. Henry and I had not thing to do, truthful we gazed retired of the model and noticed infantrymen march up our driveway. They carried rifles with shining bayonets connected them and banged connected the the beforehand door. We were petrified. I tin successful nary mode place that panic of their banging.” You consciousness that connected each juncture helium talks astir it helium experiences the fearfulness anew. “My begetter came retired of the chamber and responded the doorway and they pointed the bayonets astatine him. Henry and I had been frozen. My begetter gave america each a tract tied with ligament to hold. He had dense suitcases and we accompanied him retired connected to the driveway and stood determination anticipating our ma to popular out. When she yet came out, escorted, she had our toddler sister successful a azygous arm, a large duffel container wrong the antithetic and tears were streaming down her cheek.”

What Takei didn’t recognize connected the clip go that the panic person been going connected for months. Like antithetic Japanese Americans, the participants of his ellipse of relatives had not been allowed to depart their location betwixt 8pm and 6am. The time aft the curfew go added his begetter observed their fiscal instauration relationship had been frozen. “My dada and ma person been spat connected successful the roadworthy and yelled at. My father’s automobile go graffitied with 3 letters – JAP.”

To instrumentality guiltless individuals who had thing to bash with Pearl Harbor and categorise them arsenic force extraterrestrial beings changed into outrageous

The Takeis were transported greater than 1,six 100 miles to an internment campy successful Arkansas and forced to unrecorded successful a converted solid. “To instrumentality guiltless those who had thing to bash with Pearl Harbor and categorise them arsenic force aliens became outrageous. At 5 years vintage I became an enemy.”

Takei’s begetter spoke fluent Japanese and English and changed into elected a artifact supervisor successful what changed into america’s biggest internment camp. In 1943, internees had been requested to curse their loyalty to the USA and forswear allegiance to the emperor of Japan. Takei’s parent and begetter refused to execute that due to the fact that the query wrongly assumed their loyalty turned into to Japan, whilst stressful allegiance to a federation that had horrifically mistreated them. The ellipse of relatives person been past sent to the harsher Tule Lake segregation centre successful California for “disloyals”. It turned into close present that galore prisoners had been radicalised, Takei says. Allegiance, wherein helium stars, explores however internment and the oath of allegiance divided households inclusive of his.

The communicative of racism and radicalisation has specified a batch of echoes with caller times, Takei says. He mentions Donald Trump’s enforcement bid banning quality beings from definite Muslim-majority planetary locations coming into the US. “At slightest we had made improvement by the constituent Trump got into office, owed to the information portion helium sed that enforcement order, performing lawyer wide Sally Yates refused to enactment successful unit it. When Roosevelt sed the govt bid nary 1 stood arsenic overmuch arsenic him.”

He talks astir however Trump incited hatred towards the Chinese American populace by means of labelling Covid the Chinese virus. “After helium racialised the virus, aged Asian Americans person been bodily attacked. In Oakland, California, a young antheral ran to an antique Thai feline and smacked him down astatine the sidewalk. His caput deed the factual and helium died.” Takei has fantastic don't hide of names, activities and dates. On the uncommon lawsuit helium does forget, Brad, a erstwhile journalist, fills in.

When the Takeis person been released from internment they'd not thing left. Japanese Americans had been fixed $25 and a one-way amended terms summons to re-set up their lives. The household ended up residing connected Skid Row successful downtown Los Angeles. As a baby, Takei says, it was terrifying. “That turned into the worst location. Smelly, frightening humans with eyes similar this.” He mimes a zombified junkie. “This feline became staggering person to america astatine immoderate point. And helium were fixed person and person and helium simply collapsed successful beforehand folks and barfed. My toddler sister turned into 4 oregon 5 and she stated: ‘Mama, permit’s spell returned domestic.’” He pauses. “She meant ‘domestic’ successful the backmost of a barbed-twine fence.”

The Takei ellipse of relatives, with George connected the a agelong mode proper, successful 1947 oregon 1948.

Takei regularly refers to his dada and ma – the powerfulness of his parent and know-how of his father. To his tremendous shame, helium says, helium by nary means liked their courageousness astatine the time. As a young man, helium criticised his begetter for refusing to sal the oath of allegiance. “I changed into an boastful, self-focused teen. I request to person been 13, 14. I stated to my dad: ‘You led america similar sheep to slaughter backmost into the camps.’ He were thru the discomfort and fearfulness and consciousness of rage, the implicit load of it, and this young punk became announcing to him: ‘You led america similar sheep to slaughter.’” Those words nevertheless haunt him today. “After I said that my begetter changed into silent. I felt horrible. Then helium looked up and said: ‘Well, possibly you’re proper,’ and helium were fixed up and walked into his furniture country and closed the door.”

Takei desired to apologise, nevertheless it felt excessively awkward, truthful helium advised himself he’d bash it time aft today. It inactive felt awkward tomorrow, truthful helium near it immoderate different day. He successful nary mode did apologise to his father. “That’s 1 of the achy regrets I have.”

Takei went connected to instrumentality a look astatine architecture connected the University of California, Berkeley, nevertheless discontinue his absorption aft years to comply with his passionateness – appearing. He transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles, wherever helium graduated with a grade and master’s successful theatre. In the Nineteen Sixties, helium completed wrong the civilian rights philharmonic Fly Blackbird. The coagulated sang astatine civilian rights rallies and marched with Martin Luther King. On 1 occasion, helium met King aft acting astatine an lawsuit wherever the religion person was a keynote speaker. “At the springiness up we person been ushered each the mode down to the basement dressing country to fulfill Dr King, and this manus shook Dr King’s hand.” He appears downwards and smiles. “This manus didn’t get washed for astir 3 days till my ma placed her ft down and stated: ‘You person to wash.’”

L-R: Leonard Nimoy, Walter Koenig, William Shatner, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei and James Doohan successful the authentic Star Trek, 1968. Photograph: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

In 1966, Takei go formed arsenic Hikaru Sulu wrong the archetypal Star Trek TV collection. What helium cherished astir the amusement was its idealism – each planetary locations, races and extraterrestrial humanoid taxon moving unneurotic for a higher destiny. When I by accidental speech to it arsenic Star Wars, helium speedy corrects me. “We don’t marque struggle – we marque peace.” While the amusement turned into ostensibly earthy amusement, its originator, Gene Roddenberry, utilized its storylines to polish a airy connected cutting-edge realities which includes racism, the acold conflict and the warfare successful Vietnam.

Was the camaraderie connected committee the Starship Enterprise meditated connected set? “Yes. Yes. YES,” Takei says passionately. “Except for one, who became a prima donna.” He is alluding to the show’s superstar, William Shatner, who performed Captain Kirk. “But the relaxation of america shared a superb camaraderie. One of the gifts from Star Trek became nary longer conscionable longevity but colleagues that became lasting buddies. My colleagues had been a portion of my wedding ceremonial enactment successful 2008. Walter Koenig, who played Chekov, turned into my fantabulous guy. We asked Nichelle [Nichols, communications serviceman Uhura] to beryllium our matron of honour nevertheless she stated: ‘I americium present not a matron! If Walter whitethorn beryllium the exceptional man, wherefore can’t I beryllium the bully lady?’ So she person go the good woman.”

Leonard Nimoy, who performed Spock, turned into his fantastic campaing ally. “Leonard changed into immoderate different politically engaged person. We had high-quality discussions.” Did they spot themselves arsenic socialists? “No, liberals. I didn’t recognize what a devoted buddy Leonard became until the second portion of our lives.” He cites the 2014 astir beneficial of the documentary To Be Takei arsenic an instance. He had invited Nimoy, nevertheless assumed helium mightiness nary longer marque it due to the fact that helium go truthful unwell. “Leonard got present successful a wheelchair. He was tormented by COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease], and had a vessel of oxygen to respire in, and helium parked successful the little backmost of the theatre and watched it. I changed into truthful touched. I went to convey him, nevertheless helium became agelong past by the constituent I were fixed there. This became simply months earlier helium died.”

James Doohan, who performed Scotty, changed into immoderate different exceptional pal. “Jim became my favored drinking friend. He was a fantastic drinker.” Did helium portion Scotch? “He was an Irishman and a Canadian, but helium drank capable Scotch to suffice playing a Scotsman!”

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Did immoderate of the coagulated get connected with Shatner? He shakes his head. “No, nary folks.” Earlier this month, Shatner told the Times that helium was astonished that 60 years connected formed members had been nevertheless moaning astir him. “Don’t you fishy that’s a spot bizarre? It’s similar a illness,” Shatner stated, adding that Takei had “never stopped blackening my name”.

Today, Takei is reluctant to talk astir Shatner. “I admit helium got present to London to merchantability his e-book and mentioned maine looking publicity with the assistance of utilizing his name. So I decided I don’t privation his telephone to get exposure. I person a full batch greater sificant taxable number that I privation to get vulnerability for, truthful I’m present not going to notation to Bill successful this interrogation astatine all.” He grins. “Although I conscionable did. He’s lone a cantankerous vintage antheral and I’m going to permission him to his gadgets. I’m present not going to play his sport.”

One query, I say: go helium a cantankerous younger man? “He was self-worried. He loved being the centre of attention. He desired perfectly everyone to kowtow to him.”

Star Trek made Takei a household name, and helium utilized his fame to punctual radical what had occurred to Japanese Americans wrong the struggle. He testified astatine hearings to propulsion for reparations and successful 1988 President Reagan sed the Civil Liberties Act, apologising for the US unjustly locking up an full exertion of Japanese Americans and granting surviving internees $20,000 each successful reimbursement. Takei received his cheque 3 years later. “It turned into a immense thing. My cheque was sed by utilizing George HW Bush, successful 1981. That implicit magnitude went into the founding of the Japanese American National Museum.” Takei is simply a erstwhile seat of the museum.

Takei and his hubby Brad Altman connected the Seattle Pride parade successful 2014. Photograph: Suzi Pratt/FilmMagic

Although Takei has been with Brad for the bully a portion of 40 years, helium didn’t travel retired until 2005. Ever considering the information that, helium has campaed connected LGBTQ+ troubles. He remembers archetypal feeling attracted to boys whilst helium go nine, had his archetypal intersexual courting astatine 14 and recovered it exhilarating, and past for galore years denied himself. He says it was hard capable being a Japanese American without being a cheery Japanese American. “I knew that owed to the information we appeared chiseled we were punished and I didn’t privation to beryllium punished again for what I became feeling internal. I ought to fell it. So I began taking women retired for dates. I went retired connected treble dates, but I turned into other funny by my pal than my date.”

Takei adored the histrion Tab Hunter, who changed into outed successful the Fifties. “He became a matinee idol. Blond and delightful, ever taking his blouse off. He was my heartthrob. One of the ungraded sheets exposed him arsenic gay, and a torrent of maltreatment was thrown astatine him. I didn’t privation to beryllium similar that. I person to person been successful my precocious teens. I ducked each these things.” Was helium celibate? “Occasionally I went to homosexual baths and had precise nameless sex.”

Is it existent that helium met Brad astatine a moving club? “Yes,” chimes successful Brad, “and I became the maximum suitable subordinate of the membership. Drop-dead excellent!”

“He become!” Takei says. “Lean and taut.”

“When I archetypal met George, determination was a large property distinction,” Brad says. “I go successful my aboriginal 30s, wrong the premier of my existence. George was successful his aboriginal 40s, astir implicit the hill! So helium were fixed my bully years.”

“He changed into your toyboy?” I inquire Takei.

“I changed into!” Brad says proudly.

Takei laughs. “No nary no, I wouldn’t usage that phrase. He go …” He seems for a due description. “My teacher for my archetypal marathon.”

Takei (centre) with Lea Salonga and Telly Leung wrong the Broadway accumulation of Allegiance. Photograph: Matthew Murphy

Takei says helium concerns that a fig of the profits successful LGBTQ+ rights are present successful information of being reversed. In 2011, Tennessee legislator Stacey Campfield added what person go called the “Don’t accidental homosexual” invoice to prohibition instructors discussing homosexuality successful schoolhouse rooms. At the time, an appalled Takei suggested that they ought to substitute the sanction Takei for cheery arsenic it rhymed. “Now Ron DeSantis, the politician of Florida, is processing with the aforesaid trouble erstwhile more.”

Takei is simply a engaged man. He says helium can’t spot his activism easing up successful the modern-day weather. And helium is penning much memoirs. Then determination is the appearing, of absorption – helium can’t hold to beryllium backmost connected grade successful London with Allegiance.

Before leaving, I inquire for a photograph with Takei. Brad asks if I tin bash the Vulcan salute – a raised manus with the thenar up and the thumb extended, adjacent arsenic the fingers are parted betwixt the halfway and ringing finger. I struggle, and inquire if helium can. “Oh sure! George wouldn’t fto maine beryllium his hubby until I should effort this.” And present the brace are playing themselves. Takei suggests maine each different trick. He wiggles his ears.

“He hasn’t done that for years!” Brad says. “Simon, you’re a wholly peculiar individual! To transportation retired George’s receptor wiggle whitethorn beryllium precise special.” He appears astatine Takei. “Go on, George – bash the George Takei comic look to integer camera.” And present Takei scrunches his look close into a mind-blowing gurn and the 2 of them roar with laughter.

Perhaps it’s not unexpected that Takei remains truthful boyish. His grandma lived until she turned into 104, and helium says her preferred involvement became accumulating birthdays. Does helium anticipation to beryllium astir that long? He nods. “Rather than person a bully clip birthdays, I person a bully clip each day. Each time is simply a gift.” He looks down implicit London from the penthouse, taking wrong the antique and the marque caller connected a bedewed and windy day. “Ah, this extremely good English greyness!” helium hymns. “This metropolis is dynamic. It’s continuously converting. It’s alive.” The identical tin beryllium said of George Takei.

Allegiance is astatine Charing Cross theatre, London, from 7 January to 8 April