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SAN DIEGO — George Takei is looking back on 60 years of living long and prospering.
The 89-year-old actor discussed the sci-fi series’ 60th anniversary with cast members from the “Star Trek” universe during a panel discussion at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25. The original Star Trek show, starring Takei as Hikaru Sulu, first aired in 1966.
“It’s always great when people come up to you and say, ‘Congratulations’ or ‘Happy 60.’ It makes you feel so young! I’m well over 60,” he joked.
Takei called this an “extraordinary phenomenon” that “Star Trek” has endured for 60 years, noting that the original show “started out with low ratings” and was canceled after three seasons. But it has survived, he said, “because of the intelligence and the sensitivity and the vision of people like you and your parents and your grandparents.”
Takei was joined on the Comic-Con panel by Michael Dorn (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Robert Picard (Star Trek: Voyager), Shirok Lofton (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Dominic Keating (Star Trek: Enterprise), Doug Jones (Star Trek: Discovery), and Michelle Hurd (Star Trek: Discovery). Picard), Jerry O’Connell (Star Trek: Lower Decks), Christina Chong (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds), and Karim Diane (Star Trek: Starfleet Academy).
Several of the panelists expressed how surprised they were to be able to sit alongside Takei. O’Connell joked, “It’s a shame because I actually paid at the consultation to get George’s autograph, so I saved a lot of money!”
In an emotional moment, Heard gushed about how “honored” it was to be “sitting here next to” Takei, and reflected on how important it was for him to see himself represented on screen in Nichelle Nichols’ “Uhura,” from the original “Star Trek” series.
“[Star Trek]is what we want this world to be. It’s hope for tomorrow. It talks about diversity, equity and inclusion, those three beautiful words,” she said. “I’m so grateful to be a part of this family. … Take refuge in love, everyone.”
Takei expressed his gratitude to the rest of the panel for keeping “Star Trek” alive, calling them “children and grandchildren,” and said the series has always thrived on diversity dating back to the original show.
“I look different than her and she looks different than him, but it’s more than that. It’s the background, it’s the history, it’s the differences we bring besides the visuals,” he said. “We have a history that has shaped our perspective on life and how we see life. It’s about us all coming together and recognizing that our strength lies in working together.”
