Main content

George Takei: 'Diversity was represented on the bridge of the Enterprise'

Actor and activist George Takei is probably best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek. The series was created by George Roddenberry and it follows the adventures of the space ship the USS Enterprise.

The original series ran for three seasons from 1966, amidst what George Takei describes as a "fracturing of our society." The American nation was divided on the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement was coming to a head and the diversity of the nation was not reflected on television.

George Takei spoke to The Arts Hour's Nikki Bedi about the pioneering production team behind the science fiction series and the diversity of the cast and storylines:

"The utopian society he [Roddenberry] envisioned in the 23rd Century would have our diversity seen as our strength."

(Photo: George Takei. Credit: Luke Fontana)

Release date:

Duration:

3 minutes