“In the United States, we have a large, broad middle that are decent, fair-minded people who are too busy to really think about issues other than their next paycheck. Those are the people that we want to get to in order to change the social climate. And Howard Stern has that audience. So I said, 'Let's boldly go where I've never been before.'”

American actor, author, and activist

George Takei is an American actor, author, and activist. He is best known for playing Hikaru Sulu, the helmsman of the USS Enterprise in the Star Trek franchise. His work on Star Trek made him widely recognizable, and he has also built a public profile as an author and activist. Across those roles, he is associated with a career that links popular culture and civic engagement.