We are chatting tonight with George Takei, Mr. Sulu from the original Star Trek series, later Captain Sulu of the U.S.S. Excelsior in 'Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.' Mr. Takei recently published his autobiography, To The Stars. Welcome George Takei!

George Takei: Wonderful to be joining you.

Question: What are your view on the path Star Trek has taken so far?
Kenneth

GT: At this time, when we are about to celebrate the 30th anniversary, my feeling is of wonder and gratitude. When we were working on the television series back in the sixties, it was a real struggle to keep on the air. We never imagined that there would be a next season much less decades of life after cancellation with three spin off series. The thing I feel most is a profound appreciation for the support from the fans who gave us this stellar gift of three decades.

Q: What did you think of your appearance on Voyager? I know you weren't in the TOS Episode "The Trouble with Tribbles" so we won't see you in the DS9 "Troubles and Tribblations" in November. What do you think of this technology?
James

GT: I have strongly mixed feelings about the Trouble with Tribbles episode. I was actually supposed to be in that episode, in fact, in a wonderfully substantial role. However, I happened to have accepted a role in the film The Green Berets during the hiatus between the first and second seasons of the Star Trek series. The filming, alas, went way over schedule and I couldn't be back in Hollywood for the commencement of the work on the second season of Star Trek. So Walter Koenig was brought in to do the role that I had lobbied Gene Roddenberry so diligently for during the first season.

So while I have some melancholy about having lost out on what turned out to be one of the most loved and funniest episodes, I'm glad that a good friend got to be a part of the history of Star Trek.

Sorry about my long windedness but I guess I have to stay in character. Now, continuing.... The technology that will be utilized in the Deep Space Nine revisit of that episode is both wonderful and worrisome. Wonderful in that technology can be utilized to tell such delightfully fanciful stories with such magical touches- Worrisome in that our jobs as actors are now in jeopardy by the insidious power of technology. I could go on and on but in the interest of brevity, I will quit here for the next question.

Q: Mr. Takei. Thank you for all the good entertainment over the years. I remember you in "Walk Don't Run". Was that your first movie role?
KJT0007

GT: No, my first movies role was Ice Palace starring Richard Burton and Robert Ryan.

Q: How was your experience on "Space Cases"? You really seemed to get into the role of the Spung warlord.
davidwel

GT: Space Cases came about because of my friendship with Peter David. He called to tell me about the script he was working on and an inquiry as to my interest in the role of a green reptilian alien.

I said that if my face were to be completely transformed by prosthetics, why cast me? He said the character cried out for my voice.

I love working with my voice and eyes. Having done a lot of children's plays in the early part of my career and getting back to those roots in the science fiction mold was a real hoot. I had great fun.

I have been asked to reprise that role next month. I'm told that it is to be a two character episode with Lord Shank marooned on a desolate planet with a boy alien. I look forward to the script but not the two hour sit in make up.

Q: Do you pattern your real life after the ideals set forth in the Star Trek Universe? If so, what ideals would you teach or instill to others?
Michael

GT: A lot of Gene Roddenberry's philosophy had been a part of my life before my association with him. But, I must say, he strengthened and more firmly shaped them into my life. I truly believe that the strength of our society must be based on our diversity.

But that diversity can become fatal if we cannot work together tapping that diversity to our collective benefit.

I am also a firm believer in the necessity of having confidence in our collective problem solving capacity, our inventiveness and our creativity in meeting the challenges of our society.

Q: What got you into acting, George? Did you have any role models/heroes?
Frasier2

GT: My mother likes to tell people that I made my theatrical debut in the maternity ward. As far back as I could remember, I always enjoyed performing in front of people. I studied theater arts at UCLA and was seen by a casting director from Warner Brothers in a student production and thus landed my first feature film, Ice Palace.

Q: Mr. Takei. How did you or your family respond to all of the prejudices Japanese-Americans experienced (internment) during WWII?
ronzy

GT: World War II for Americans of Japanese ancestry was one of the most anguishing tests of the meaning of citizenship. To be imprisoned in barbed wire camps by your own government for no other reason than that you are descended from a nation with which your country is at war was one of the most trying and enraging experiences anyone could go through. I still marvel at that amazing generation of Japanese Americans who put on the uniforms of their jailer to fight with such extraordinary valor for the fundamental ideals of this country.

I know the value of my American citizenship because I'm aware of the incredibly high price that has been paid for it.

Q: What was Mr. Takei's favorite ST movie?
Fallborn

GT: The very best Star Trek movie ever....Star Trek VI -- the Captain Sulu Movie!

Q: George, in Japan you are known as Mr. Katoh because Sulu (suru) is a verb meaning to do. Was anyone aware of this in the original series?
masae

GT: I discovered the name change when I was visiting Japan in the 70's when young teenagers would point in my direction and whisper the name "Kato-san." I was totally baffled. Then my Japanese friend told me that in the dubbing, my character name and only my character's name had been changed because the Japanese recognized the actor's surname as Japanese, but Sulu was not. So I suppose Kato was an expression of the famous Japanese national chauvinism.

Q: George, what advice would you give someone interested in an acting/writing SF career?
dalede

GT: You will be assaulted on all sides by rejection and heartbreaks. Don't be downed by them. They are endemic to this business. Maintain you confidence in your talent and be tenacious in your pursuit. It will eventually pay off.

Q: Mr. Takei, have you considered joining your friend, Walter Koenig, for an episode on Babylon 5?
TCAndo

GT: Yes. I think Walter is doing a terrific job and I would love to be on Babylon 5. However, it's a matter of them inviting me with a tantalizing role and that hasn't happened yet.

Q: Last year, my wife and I had a huge Star Trek wedding up here in Seattle. We had a flying starship cake and showed scenes from the original Star Trek (particularly the scene where Sulu runs around with a sword). I simply what to thank you, Mr. Takei, for helping us out with our wedding.
Raymond

GT: Delighted to have been able to add a little swashbuckle to your wedding. May your union Live Long and Prosper!

Q: How did you feel about being named Japanese American of the Biennium by the Japanese-American Citizens League?
Gleknar

GT: It was a great honor and humbling recognition. The award through the years had been given to a pantheon of great Japanese Americans from U.S. Senators to artists who I've admired since childhood. I recognize that with it too comes a large responsibility to live up to the ideals that the award represents.

Q: If I sent my copy of "To The Stars" to Mr. Takei care of Paramount. Would he receive it and be so kind as to autograph it and return it? Pre-paid of course. I'm a big fan!
DOCCUERDON

GT: It might be quicker if it were sent to my office at:

419 North Larchmont Blvd., Suite 41
Los Angeles, CA 90004

Q: Do you think that television is better or worse now compared to 30 years ago?
LANDRU-1-ONE

GT: Despite Senator Dole's kvetch about the quality of television and movies, I feel strongly that television has been addressing really relevant issues of our times in a mature way. Shows such as NYPD Blue, Murphy Brown, Law and Order are outstanding examples of entertainment with timely and relevant issues being addressed.

Q: George Takei: I was wondering if you spoke Japanese and if Walter Koenig really spoke Russian?
mkendall27

GT: Yes, I do speak Japanese as well as Spanish fluently. I don't know about Walter's Russian, but I know he is of Russian descent.

Q: Mr. Takei, how do you think humans will react to alien contact, or vice-versa, react to aliens that we contact?
Jason_Ng_Edm

GT: I hope that our reaction would be akin to the way in which we approached alien life forms on Star Trek - with curiosity, respect and an open mind. I hope it isn't the attitude that we saw depicted on Independence Day where anything strange and different had to be wiped out first.

Q: Mr. Takei, would you consider running for public office again (We could use a good presidential candidate?
Dan

GT: >In a democracy such as ours, it is vital that we have good people offering themselves for public service. The dissuader in our times however, is the need to offer up one's entire life and even those of our families and loved ones up to intense media scrutiny. When we get that balance between the "public's right to know" and responsible media reportage, I think we will get good people to participate. I think we are fortunate that we have the candidates that we have in the arena.

Q: Mr. Takei....What is your greatest memory in Star Trek?
Brooks

GT: It was the 25th Anniversary convention at the Shrine Auditorium where Gene Roddenberry was the honoree. All of the cast from the original and the next generation were there on stage when Gene was introduced. He had been ill for some time and was wheeled on-stage by his son. When the explosive applause came rolling on stage, Gene rose up to accept the ovation by pushing himself up by his still muscular arms. His spirit and his grit was truly demonstrated by that magnificent and heroic gesture. A few months later, he was gone. I still remember the smile and the valor of that moment.

Q: I briefly met Mr. Takei twenty years ago at a Trek convention in Phoenix. He was so kind and humorous to a nervous young fan. I just wanted to say Thanks for those few moments he spent speaking with me, no other Trek star has ever been so kind.
DOCCUERDON

GT: Thank you so much for your comment. I truly feel that we have a large extended family now in the friends that we have developed over the past 3 decades. That is the great gift that the longevity of our show has given us.

Q: Will there be any MORE Captain Sulu adventures, and/or will you be doing any more books-on-tape from the Star Trek Novel series?
Ken Adams

GT: Captain Sulu comes gloriously back on the episode of Star Trek: Voyager entitled "Flashback." I understand that that episode might be a pilot for another spin off series. If that is true and should come to pass, yes indeed, there will be a lot more Captain Sulu adventures. As far as I am concerned, we will continue to live long and prosper.

It was stellar chatting with all of you. Hope we keep our sights up "to the stars."