4076. John Cho as Hikaru Sulu

John Cho was born in Seoul, South Korea, but moved to Los Angeles as a child, where his father was a Christian Minister. Cho was educated at Herbert Hoover High School in California before moving on to the University of California at Berkeley where he studied English Literature. Upon graduation, Cho moved back to Los Angeles, working for a while as a teacher at Pacific Hills School. He also began acting with the famed Asian American theater company East West Players.

A screen acting career began with small roles in projects such as Wag the Dog (1997) and Bowfinger (1999). His breakthrough came in 1999 when he appeared in the hit American Pie (1999) and helped coin the phrase "MILF". Other roles followed, and he scored another hit in slacker comedy Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004). Cho also starred in the re-booted Star Trek (2009), in the sought after role of Sulu.

As well as acting, Cho is also a singer. He performs in the band Viva La Union. He is married to actress Kerri Higuchi and they have a son.

Hikaru Sato Sulu was a human Starfleet officer, best known for commanding the USS Excelsior, as well as serving aboard the USS Enterprise and USS Enterprise-A.

Hikaru Sulu was born in San Francisco, Earth on 2237. (TOS novelization: The Voyage Home)
His parents named him after the protagonist of the Japanese novel The Tale of Genji. (TOS novel: The Entropy Effect)

In 2248, Sulu and his family moved from Earth to Ishikawa, on the planet Ganjitsu, located along the Federation-Klingon border. An unexpected Klingon force attacked the colony they lived at. This resulted in the death of a girl Sulu was close friends with. Only many years later, did he finally release this consuming guilt he had harbored. (TOS novelization: The Final Frontier)

By 2251, Sulu was living on Hafjian, a high-gravity planet where the inhabitants were forced to wear Lieber exoskeletons. Years later, Dr. McCoy was concerned that this might cause problems for Sulu after he turned 70. By 2252, Sulu was once again living on Ganjitsu, when he snuck aboard the USS Aerfen to meet Captain Hunter. Sulu was discovered and given a guided tour of the starship. (TOS novel: Enterprise: The First Adventure)

Sulu entered Starfleet Academy in 2255, and quickly developed an aptitude for Spatial Navigation, as well as fencing, in which he became champion for three years running. Hikaru also took up an extra curricular in botany, finally graduating in 2259. This aspect of his hobbies earned him the nickname, "D'Artagnan" six years later. (TOS episode: "The Man Trap"; TOS episode: "The Naked Time")

However, instead of taking a shipboard assignment, Sulu decided to continue his studies, and as a result of his research and publishing an article about "Experimental Subparticle Physics and Their Application to Warp Drive", received a promotion to lieutenant, junior grade in the same year. (ST video game: Starship Creator)

In 2259, Sulu entered Starfleet Command School at the Academy. He entered for the fall semester of that year. He had flown a simulation helicopter, much like the Huey 204 series, while training there for his pilot certificate.