Celebrated actor, author and LGBTQ activist George Takei headlined Cunard’s
popular holiday voyage on the flagship liner Queen Mary 2 as part of
the luxury cruise line’s renowned Insights program in December.
George is an activist for LGBTQ rights, marriage equality, and has won
several awards and accolades for his work on human rights and Japan-U.S.
relations, including his work with the Japanese American National
Museum, where he is chairman emeritus and a trustee. He was appointed to
the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission by former President Clinton and
the government of Japan awarded Takei the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold
Rays with Rosette, for his contribution to U.S-Japan relations.
While sailing on the 12-night Caribbean voyage, roundtrip out of New
York, George and his husband rubbed elbows with QM2 guests and delivered
two presentations, a Q&A, and a book signing for guests. His
candid, first person accounts gave him the chance to reflect on American
history and his childhood spent in a Japanese American internment camp
during WWII. In his second lecture, George regaled every guest with his
storied Hollywood moments and behind-the-scenes anecdotes with some of
his famous friends such as Tom Hanks, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Cary
Grant, Brad Pitt, Howard Stern, Leonard Nimoy, Patrick Stewart and Jane
Fonda.
An internationally beloved figure, George is most notably known for his
role as Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the USS Enterprise, in the acclaimed TV
series Star Trek. His acting career has spanned six decades including appearances on the TV series Fresh Off the Boat, Hawaii Five-0, The New Normal, The Big Bang Theory, Heroes, Will & Grace, Miami Vice, MacGyver, The Six Million Dollar Man, Mission: Impossible and The Twilight Zone, among others.
Takei is the author of five books, including his autobiography To the Stars, and his latest graphic memoir, the New York Times bestseller They Called Us Enemy,
which debuted in July 2019. He first sailed with Cunard as an Insights
speaker in 2014 when Queen Mary 2 screened the documentary “To be
Takei,” about his journey from imprisoned child to pop culture icon.