University of North Texas

Actor, social justice activist and social media mega-power George Takei, right, will speak 8 p.m. Oct. 27 in the UNT Coliseum as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series.

• Purchase tickets online.

With a career spanning five decades, Takei is known around the world for his founding role in the acclaimed television series Star Trek, in which he played Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the Starship Enterprise. Takei starred in three seasons of Star Trekand later reprised his iconic role in six movies.

From ages 4 to 8, Takei, a Japanese American, was unjustly interned in two U.S. internment camps during World War II, and is an outspoken supporter of human rights issues and a community activist. The openly gay Takei served as the spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign's "Coming Out Project," and as cultural affairs chairman of the Japanese American Citizens League. In 2007, Asteroid 7307 Takei, located between Mars and Jupiter, was named in the performer's honor.

Takei was ranked the most influential person on Facebook by Mashable.com in 2012. Takei has more than 7.7 million likes on Facebook and more than 1.3 million Twitter followers. Takei authored “Lions and Tigers and Bears: The Internet Strikes Back” and “Oh Myyy! There Goes the Internet,” which ranked No. 10 on The New York Times e-book nonfiction list.

The Distinguished Lecture Series program introduces the UNT community to the excellence of world-class speakers whose messages enhance student learning outside the classroom. Previous speakers include President George W. Bush, Condoleezza Rice, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., John Legend, Bill Nye, Mythbusters Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, Steve Wozniak, Rainn Wilson and Vicente Fox.

The Distinguished Lecture Series is sponsored by UNT's Division of Student Affairs.

• For more information, contact Michelle Bradley, UNT student affairs special projects coordinator, at 940-565-3355.
• Follow UNT Student Affairs on Twitter and Facebook, and follow the event’s Twitter hashtag #untTakei, to win VIP opportunities.
• Student tickets are free, and student guest tickets are $5; UNT faculty, staff and alumni tickets are $10 and tickets for the public are $15. All tickets may be purchased online.

—Leslie Minton, News Promotions