Who Is George Takei's Husband, Brad Altman?
If you're a fan of George Takei, aka Lt. Hikaru Kato Sulu, you probably know that the actor is beyond beloved by fans the world over. He is, in so many ways, an icon. Whether you love him for his performances, his LGBTQIA+ advocacy, or his delightful internet persona, you probably can't help but wonder what he's up to when he's not enchanting the world.
The answer is simple: He's spending time with his husband, Brad Altman (Takei). And Altman isn't simply Takei's partner in life, he's also his partner in work, as well. Altman takes care of a lot both around the house and in Takei's long-held performance career.
Despite its longevity, Takei and Altman's relationship hasn't always been at the forefront of their lives, but they are not wasting any time now when it comes to being one of the cutest duos around. So, who is Altman, the man who Takei once referred to as "dashingly good-looking," according to Variety?
Brad Altman is a supportive partner
Because of George Takei's professional life (as well as the taboos around the LGBTQIA+ community), he didn't come out publicly until 2005 (per The Wrap). Regardless, Takei and Brad Altman have been together since 1985 (per Variety). They met after Takei joined a gay club called the Frontrunners where Altman was often the fastest runner in the group, according to Variety. Although they couldn't be open about their relationship, Altman was often working behind the scenes to support Takei professionally and personally.
"I've always been behind the scenes with the business side of his career, helping with bookkeeping and reviewing contracts, we've always shared where George wanted to go with his life and career, we've always been in total sync," Altman told The Wrap. "Meaning all those dozens, maybe hundreds of 'Star Trek' conventions that George has done, all his film work, I've always been behind the camera during his very public career."
That support has been pivotal for Takei and Altman's relationship. The 36 years they have been together are thanks to the momentous support they have for one another. "We truly are a team," Takei told Variety in 2020. "[W]e love being able to share our lives and our livelihood."
Brad Altman and George Takei want to be voices for their community
In 2014, Brad Altman was introduced on the big screen with his then-husband George Takei in the documentary "To Be Takei." But the doc was more than just a glimpse into the actor's life for fans; it was an opportunity for Takei and Altman to work their activism muscles. "The mission statement was to allow access into our private lives to show fair-minded Americans that a same-sex couple, this is like everyone else in our culture dominated by opposite-sex couples," Takei told The Wrap at the time. "Maybe if our doc showed we're just like everyone else, just the same gender, maybe fair-minded people will think twice about wanting to discriminate against the LGBT community."
Now that the world has seen the longtime couple in their documentary, we can enjoy their adorable antics online. We're looking forward to more posts highlighting "Bradder" (Takei's nickname for his husband) and their love in the future.