'To Be Takei' Traces George Takei's Journey From Japanese Internment Camps to Cultural Icon: The documentary To Be Takei, which made its premiere at Sundance, tells the epic tale of George Takei, from his childhood in Japanese internment camps to shattering racial stereotypes on Star Trek, and emergence as an influential LGBT activist.

George Takei is obsessed with fitness. Every morning, he powerwalks around his Los Angeles neighborhood like a man on fire. After that come sets of push-ups and sit-ups. He used to run marathons, which is how he met his husband, Brad. Trekkies are well aware of his physique.

"It's about being your best self," he says.

It's this philosophy--and drive--that has propelled Takei to cultural icon status. Sure, he could have rested on his laurels and retired a decade ago. After all, as Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the USS Enterprise on the TV series Star Trek , and its multiple blockbuster film adaptations, the actor had achieved a devoted fan base, and shattered not only stereotypes of Asian actors on film and television, but also the notion that Asians can't drive.

"I was the best helmsman in the galaxy!" jokes Takei.

But, around 2005, something strange happened. Although he'd been openly gay among his friends and family, and had been with Brad for 18 years, he publicly came out. That's not the strange part. Following his personal reveal, Takei's popularity soared . He's since become a prominent LGBT activist and a highly influential presence on social media, where he engages daily with his 6 million Facebook followers, sharing humorous memes as well as messages of tolerance. And later this year, his musical Allegiance is expected to open on Broadway.

George Takei Through the Years (PHOTOS)

Jennifer M. Kroot's captivating documentary To Be Takei , which premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, traces Takei's journey from his childhood in Japanese-American internment camps all the way to Star Trek and the present, giving viewers background into how, at 76, the actor-cum-activist is at the height of his stardom.

The Daily Beast sat down with Takei to discuss his wild, crazy ride.

It's so fitting that To Be Takei is premiering in Utah, of all places, which has really become a battleground state in the fight for marriage equality.

GEORGE TAKEI: When we first heard that Sundance accepted the film, we thought, "How wonderful! It's the perfect place because they now have marriage equality." Utah's gay marriage ban was ruled unconstitutional, and 1,300 couples seized that opportunity and, in a brief period of time, got married....