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George Takei

George Takei
Usage Conditions Apply
Artist
Grav Weldon, born 1971
Sitter
George Hosato Takei, born 20 Apr 1937
Date
April 16, 2013 (printed 2020)
Type
Photograph
Medium
Inkjet print
Dimensions
Image: 38.8 × 38.8 cm (15 1/4 × 15 1/4")
Sheet: 40.7 × 40.7 cm (16 × 16")
Mat: 71.1 × 55.9 cm (28 × 22")
Topic
Exterior
Nature & Environment\Clouds
Costume\Dress Accessory\Eyeglasses
Equipment\Camera
Costume\Dress Accessory\Eyeglasses\Sunglasses
Nature & Environment\Animal\Insect\Butterfly
Equipment\Podium
Costume\Dress Accessory\Belt
George Hosato Takei: Male
George Hosato Takei: Performing Arts\Performer\Actor
George Hosato Takei: Society and Social Change\Reformer\Activist
Portrait
Place
United States\Arkansas\Desha\Rohwer
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Copyright
© 2013 Grav Weldon
Object number
NPG.2019.116
Exhibition Label
Born Los Angeles, California
When George Takei made his debut as helmsman Hikaru Sulu on Star Trek in 1966, he became the first Asian American to play a major, nonstereotyped character in a U.S. television series. Takei appeared in almost every episode of the short-lived but wildly popular series, as well as in all six of its feature films released between 1979 and 1991.
Earlier in life, during World War II, Takei and his family were imprisoned in Japanese American internment camps in Arkansas and California. This photograph was taken when Takei returned to one of these camps, in Rohwer, Arkansas, for a dedication ceremony of the Jerome-Rohwer Interpretive Museum and Visitor Center. Takei’s experiences as an internee inspired his 2015 Broadway musical, Allegiance. Long active in politics and civic affairs, he “came out” in 2005 and continues to advocate for LGBTQ+ and social justice issues through his large social media following.
Nacido en Los Ángeles, California
Cuando debutó en 1966 como el piloto Hikaru Sulu en Star Trek, George Takei fue el primer asiáticoamericano que interpretó un personaje importante libre de estereotipos en una serie televisiva estadounidense. Takei participó en casi todos los episodios de la serie, corta pero sumamente popular, así como en sus seis películas derivadas entre 1979 y 1991.
En su niñez, durante la 2da Guerra Mundial, Takei y su familia fueron prisioneros en campos de internamiento para japoneses-americanos en Arkansas y California. Esta fotografía fue tomada cuando regresó a uno de esos campos en Rohwer, Arkansas, para la inauguración del Museo Interpretativo y Centro de Visitantes Jerome-Rohwer. Las experiencias de reclusión de Takei inspiraron su musical Allegiance (Lealtad), presentado en Broadway en 2015. Activo por largo tiempo en el ámbito político y cívico, Takei hizo pública su homosexualidad en 2005 y continúa abogando por la justicia social y los derechos LGBTQ+ con una influyente presencia en las redes sociales.
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Location
Currently not on view