From the past to the future, George Takei talked about his life as an Asian American imprisoned after Pearl Harbor, gave advice to aspiring Asian American actors, and discussed his upcoming roles during the “Sulu Solo” panel Fri at 11:30AM in the Sheraton Grand Ballroom A-F.

At five years old, a young Takei watched as soldiers with bayonets attached to their rifles marched up the driveway to arrest his family, just for looking like the people who bombed Pearl Harbor. He noted that watching your mom cry as she carries your baby sister and a duffel bag of belongings out of your house is not something you forget. His family’s story was recently dramatized by UCLA students and can be seen in the musical Allegiance, which hits Broadway next spring.

Takei gave great advice to aspiring Asian American actors and their families. According to Takei, parents should be careful of discouraging their children from pursing their dreams of working in the arts. The arts are a very risky area and a parent’s hesitation is understandable, but they should continue to encourage their child to “have faith in (his/her) abilities and keep on staying positive.”

What do green tights and time traveling turkeys have in common? Takei’s upcoming roles. He has a unique and distinctive role in SyFy’s Lost Girl where he plays a dapper, wealthy, and charming partier who stays in his room and wears green tights. His episode should air sometime in November. Also premiering in November, the animated film Free Birds follows two turkeys, voiced by Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson, as they travel back in time to convince the pilgrims to not cook a certain staple of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Takei lends his voice as S.T.E.V.E., the talking console of the time travel capsule. This Thanksgiving, he noted that he definitely will be not indulging in a certain part of the meal.