Jennifer M. Kroot's fun and insightful documentary To Be Takei, which made its world premiere at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, traces George Takei's epic journey from life as a child in Japanese-American internment camps to TV stardom on Star Trek and through to the present, where the 76-year-old serves as an influential LGBT activist and social media maven. See photos of Takei's life from the past to the present day.
Takei is best known for playing Hiraku Sulu, helmsman of the USS Enterprise, on the TV series Star Trek (and subsequent film adaptations). Here, he's flanked by the rest of the ship's crew.
Takei's favorite episode Star Trek is "The Naked Time." It's the sixth episode of the show's first season, and originally aired on Sept. 29, 1966. In the episode, Sulu gets delirious and fancies himself a Musketeer, running about the decks of the Enterprise brandishing a fencing sword (and a killer six-pack).
Takei starred as Captain Nim--opposite the great John Wayne--in the Vietnam War film The Green Berets.
Here's Takei arriving at the Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner in 2006. Shatner played Capt. Kirk on Star Trek, and the two have a somewhat strained relationship in real life.
Here, Star Trek stars Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Leonard Nimoy, Walter Koenig and William Shattner strike a pose during the 2007 Spike TV Scream Awards in 2007.
Takei boldly went where numerous daredevils have gone before by throwing himself out of a plane on the Australian reality series I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! Takei was a fan favorite on the show.
Here, Takei and his partner, Brad Altman, display their receipt as they start the procedure to get their marriage certificate permit in West Hollywood, Calif. on Tuesday, June 17, 2008. They were the first gay couple to file for a marriage license in West Hollywood.
This comic book cover released by Archie Comics shows an animated depiction of George Takei as Mr. Sulu from Star Trek with Archie characters for issue No. 6 of Archie Comics' “Kevin Keller," series about Riverdale's only gay teenager. Takei says his appearance dovetails nicely with his real-life advocacy for equal rights and shows that anyone can aspire to be what they want to be no matter who they are.
A scene from Jennifer M. Kroot's documentary To Be Takei, a documentary on cultural icon George Takei, which premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.
Takei poses for a portrait during the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 18, 2014 in Park City, Utah.
