OTTAWA - George Takei doesn't mind being confused with his Star Trek character Mr. Sulu, who he played on the TV series between 1966-1969 and six feature films.
Even though he was typecast as the stargazing helmsman of the USS Enterprise for most, if not all, of his career, the 72-year-old knows that without Gene Roddenberry's groundbreaking television series, he'd still be waiting tables.
And even though Takei's never quite been able to leave Sulu behind him, he's now proud to have been associated with the series he describes as "ahead of its time."
"Sulu was a powerful role model for Asian-Americans because the show was a real door-opener for many people," Takei says with that familiar articulation from his home in Los Angeles. "Blacks, Asians, women, even astronauts told me they got into the NASA program because they watched Star Trek as a kid.
"Star Trek was an optimistic view of society, what it had the potential to be," he adds. "It speaks profoundly that an African-American is president in the land of Jim Crow."
As the unflappable Sulu, Takei was responsible for navigating the Enterprise through the universe to places "where no man has gone before."
No doubt that experience will help Takei when he narrates Sci-Fi Spectacular, the NAC Orchestra's concert of extraterrestrial themes -- including Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Superman, 2001: A Space Odyssey and other familiar TV themes -- with Jack Everly conducting the NACO Pops tonight through Saturday at Southam Hall.
Though Takei's never been a sci-fi fan, he's learned to embrace the genre that made him famous, appearing at conventions and even doing the occasional cameo as Sulu on the Internet-based series Star Trek: New Voyages in 2007.
Much to his shame, he admits he named his autobiography about his family's internment during Second World War To The Stars to give the book an instant market.
Now at 72, he is branching out, with a recurring role on the TV hit Heroes and a cameo in the comedy Don't Mess with the Zohan.
"Fans want to see Mr. Sulu do something else," he laughs.
That includes the classical pops concerts where Sulu, I mean Takei, reads a cosmological monologue and, naturally, discusses Star Trek.
One thing he probably won't be discussing are gay rights. Takei's become a vocal spokesman for gay, lesbian and transgendered organizations, particularly since marrying Brad Altman, his partner of 22 years, in 2008.
"Coming out helped my career because it gave me a great sense of freedom and comfort," Takei says.
His mood turns a tad sour when asked about former colleague William Shatner. The two had a falling-out measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale when Shatner complained about not being invited to his Takei's history-making nuptials.
As far as Takei is concerned, Shatner's just blowing a lot of hot air.
"Look, Bill doesn't show up for anything, so we weren't surprised when he didn't answer our wedding invitation, but that's Bill. He's self-centred and demanding. I think he was trying to stir up some controversy for his interview show Shatner's Raw Nerves on the Biography channel."
Tickets for Sci-Fi Spectacular are $29-$86 at the NAC box-office, Ticketmaster (613-755-1111) or at nac-cna.ca.
