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(1940– ). American actor.
Appeared
in documentaries: Doctor Who's Who's Who
(tv special) (1986); Trekkies
(Roger Nygard 1997).
Provided
voice for animation: Star Trek
(tv series) (1973-75); "One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Bluefish" (1991), "Thirty
Minutes over Tokyo" (1994), "Simpson Tide" (1998), episodes of The Simpsons; episode of Freakazoid! (1995); "Dr. Strange" (1995),
episode of Spider-Man; Jonny Quest (tv series) (1996); Mulan (Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook 1998);
Hercules (tv series) (1998);
"Rebirth" (1999), two-part episode of Batman
Beyond.
Provided
voice for American versions of Japanese films: Gigantis,
the Fire Monster (Motoyoshi Oda 1955); Rodan (Inoshiro HONDA 1956).
Which makes it all the more
surprising that Takei has now emerged as the center of a massive fan campaign
to install Captain Sulu of the Excelsior
as the star of the next Star Trek
series. However, while the current masters of the Star Trek franchise can be legitimately criticized for any
number of reasons, credit them with enough common sense to flatly reject the
whole idea, for one only has to watch what might be regarded as that projected
series' failed pilot, the Star Trek: Voyager
episode "Flashback," to see that Takei couldn't possibly inspire any confidence
in his abilities as a starship commander. Other actors who sit in the captain's
chair look straight ahead in a calm, decisive manner; Takei keeps looking
around uncertainly, as if still waiting for the real captain to return.
Other than inconsequential dramatic
roles and Star Trek-related guest
appearances, Takei has most recently been visible, so to speak, as the voice of
characters in animated television series and the Disney film Mulan. Indeed, his deep, articulate voice
(first heard in the American versions of 1950s Japanese monster movies) remains
his only real asset as a performer. If the fans really want Takei to play a
recurring role in future incarnations of Star
Trek, perhaps they should campaign to have him replace Majel Barrett
RODDENBERRY as the ubiquitous voice of the ship's computers; if he cannot
command a starship, he could at least serve as its capable spokesperson.
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