For more than 30 years, whenever a fan saw - or heard - George Takei, it was usually because they knew him as Hikaru Sulu, the USS Enterprise helmsman on the original "Star Trek." But the 70-year-old actor with the distinctive baritone voice is now also known for his role as Hiro Nakamura's father on NBC's "Heroes."

Still, if you ask George why he is has enjoyed such a resurgence in popularity in recent years, he will give you a two-word answer: Howard Stern.

"There are more people coming up to me all the time and asking me about Howard and my participation in his show," he said when we spoke recently. "I do a week every quarter on the 'Howard Stern Show' and more people seem to connect me with that show than from 'Heroes' it seems. It's amazing. Howard is fantastic manna from heaven - he just came out of nowhere."

The refined George Takei and shock jock Stern are unlikely foils but their connection dates back to 1991 when George was appearing in a play in New York and booked onto Stern's show - which he had never heard of.

"I had this address and went to it. They asked me to wait because somebody else was on and I was going though some magazines and they had this radio program on. It was the crudest, coarsest most offensive conversation. I said to the other guy who was waiting, 'Why can't they get some nice music, this is really disgusting.' And he said, 'That's the show we're waiting to go on!' I thought, 'Oh my Lord.' Then they usher me in and there's this skinny, wild-haired guy and he says, 'Oh, so you have a deep voice. Anyone with a voice that deep has got to have a big [bleep].' That was my introduction to Howard Stern!"

His catch phrase, "Oh my!" came as a result of his many appearances on Stern's show where it has been played endlessly. He became a recurring guest announcer when Stern's show moved to satellite radio in 2006.

George has been in a relationship with life partner Brad Altman for 20 years but it is only in recent years that he has become increasingly open about being gay and become more visible in promoting gay causes. It took quite some time before he discussed it on the radio with Stern.

"I was closeted and had dated girls trying to keep that veil around me. So we had talked about that aspect of it. But when I talked to the press about my being gay, I got a call from Howard - on the air - and we had a long conversation. I know what the show is like so I was candid, I talked about my duel lives. Literally duel."

Dealing with his sexuality was not his first encounter with adversity. His family was sent to an internment camp in Arkansas in 1942 then later transferred to one in Califiornia.

"I grew up in two U.S. internment camps behind those barbed wire fences. When we came out and I started school, I had a teacher who kept referring to me as that little Jap boy which stung. So I knew we were hated, simply because we happened to look like the people who bombed Pearl Harbor. We were Americans, we had nothing to do with it. So, you grow up feeling guilty for b eing who you are - a Japanese-American - but then as start to become aware of your (sexual) orientation, i find two things about me that are not of the norm. Obviously, I could not hide the face that I'm Japanese-American, I'm visibly that. But the gay part isn't visible so you're able to draw a veil around that. Once I talked to the press and became public about it, I felt much more liberated."

The series may have lasted only three years, but it has remained alive through sci-fi conventions, computer games and several TV sequels. Last summer, George reprised his role of Sulu in the fan-made Internet based series "Star Trek: New Voyages." The voice has ensured continual employment as the voice of animated shows and video games. And if a good role isn't available, he can often be seen playing himself on shows as varied as "Will & Grace" and "Psych."

To still be in demand after all these years, George counts his blessings.

"It's wonderful," he said. "I love working and to be given these wonderful opportunities like 'Heroes' and that great character which continues to develop and grow the more the series continues on. It's a great gift."