An Evening with George Takei
AN EVENING WITH GEORGE TAKEI
An Australian Exclusive
George Takei is a social justice activist, social media superstar, Grammy-nominated recording artist, New York Times bestselling author, and pioneering actor. He has appeared in more than 40 feature films and hundreds of television roles, most famously as Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek. With an uncanny eloquence and signature wit, Takei shares the story of his family's forced internment as Japanese Americans during WWII—a seemingly forgotten part of American history.
He will take the audience through his rise to celebrity as a sci-fi icon, his remarkable journey as social media mega-power, and his passionate fight for LGBTQIA rights and marriage equality in America empowering others to beat the odds and make a difference.
Following George Takei's presentation, he will be in conversation with Professor David Lloyd, Vice Chancellor and President, University of South Australia.
George's book, They Called Us Enemy is available to purchase from Matilda Bookshop's website. George Takei will be signing his book following his presentation. No other items will be signed.
EVENT DETAILS
Tuesday 27 September 2022,
7pm - 8.15pm
Pridham Hall,
211/213 Hindley Street,
University of South Australia,
City West Campus, MAP
Presented by
The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre
SPEAKERS
GEORGE TAKEI
ACTOR, SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTIVIST, SOCIAL MEDIA MEGA-POWER
George Takei is known around the world for his role in the acclaimed original TV series Star Trek, in which he played Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the starship Enterprise. But Takei's story, which includes an acting career that spans six decades, goes where few have gone before. From a childhood spent with his family wrongfully imprisoned in Japanese American internment camps during World War II to becoming one of the world's leading figures in the fight for social justice, LGBTQIA rights and marriage equality, Takei remains a powerful voice on issues ranging from politics to pop culture.
Takei hosts the AARP-produced YouTube series Takei's Take, exploring the world of technology, trends, current events and pop culture, and is the subject of the documentary To Be Takei. On his own YouTube channel, Takei and his husband Brad Takei bring viewers into their personal lives in the "heightened reality" web series It Takeis Two. He was a series regular in the second season of Ridley Scott's anthology drama The Terror: Infamy, which premiered on AMC in August 2019.
His rich baritone has provided narration for the PBS series The National Parks: America's Best Idea, the Peabody Award-winning radio documentary Crossing East, and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, which garnered Takei a Grammy Award nomination for Best Spoken Word Album.
He has also done voiceover work for hundreds of video games, commercials, films and TV series such as Sega’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Fox’s The Simpsons and Futurama; Disney’s Kim Possible, Mulan and Mulan 2; Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Takei’s acting credits include co-starring in five Star Trek movies and appearances on such TV series as Fresh Off the Boat, Supah Ninjas, Hawaii Five-0, The New Normal, The Big Bang Theory, Heroes, Psych, Will & Grace, Miami Vice, MacGyver, The Six Million Dollar Man, Mission: Impossible and The Twilight Zone, among numerous others.
In 2015, Takei made his Broadway debut in the musical Allegiance, which was inspired by his family’s true-life experiences during World War II.
In 2017, he starred in a revival of Stephen Sondheim's Pacific Overtures in New York City.
Takei is the author of five books, including his autobiography To the Stars. His fifth book, the Eisner Award winning and New York Times bestselling graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy, was released in July 2019.
Takei has served as the spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign’s Coming Out Project and was Cultural Affairs Chairman of the Japanese American Citizens League. He is also chairman emeritus and a trustee of the Japanese American National Museum. 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.-Japanese relations.
Takei received both bachelor and master of arts degrees from UCLA (’60, ’64). In June 2019, Takei received the Distinguished Alumni Award in Theater from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (UCLA TFT). In June 2016, California State University, Los Angeles, presented Takei with an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.
More Information:
YouTubeChannel: George Takei's Oh Myyy
Takei's Take
George Takei Facebook: @georgehtakei
Images Courtesy of George Takei
PROFESSOR DAVID LLOYD
VICE CHANCELLOR AND PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Professor David Lloyd is Vice Chancellor and President of the University of South Australia. A Dublin-born and educated chemist who specialises in computer-aided drug design, Professor Lloyd has re-focused institutional culture to position UniSA as Australia's university of enterprise and to shape its activities to better meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Professor Lloyd was a member of the South Australia Economic Development Board (EDB) from 2014 to 2018. A past Chair of the Australian Technology Network group of technology-focused universities, he now sits on the board of Universities Australia, the peak body representing the university sector where he is the lead vice-chancellor for research & innovation.
PRESENTED BY
THE BOB HAWKE PRIME MINISTERIAL CENTRE
While the views presented by speakers within The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre public program are their own and are not necessarily those of either the University of South Australia, or The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, they are presented in the interest of open debate and discussion in the community and reflect our themes of: Strengthening our Democracy - Valuing our Diversity - Building our Future.
The copying and reproduction of any transcripts within The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre public program is strictly forbidden without prior arrangements.
While the views presented by speakers within The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre public program are their own and are not necessarily those of either the University of South Australia, or The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, they are presented in the interest of open debate and discussion in the community and reflect our themes of: Strengthening our Democracy - Valuing our Diversity - Building our Future. The Hawke Centre reserves the right to change their program at any time without notice.
