Actor George Takei, who has successfully taken social media where no social network has gone before, has signed on to lead the world’s largest chicken dance during an annual festival in Cincinnati, Ohio.
According to Cincinnati.com, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber confirmed the news on Tuesday. The Star Trek actor will be in the city from Sept. 20-22 to take part as the grand marshal of the Oktoberfest Zinzinnati event, during which he will appear with the Cincinnati Pops to lead attendees in the chicken dance. The event celebrates the city’s German heritage.
As the Associated Press, notes, Takei follows a long line of celebrities who have taken part in the event, including Reds greats Tom Browning and Joe Morgan, trumpeter Al Hirt, singer Weird Al Yankovic and Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil.
“He is a cultural phenomenon,” Pat Sheeran, vice president, corporate and community programming at the Chamber told Cincinnati.com. “He’s a true celebrity. He’s going to be fun and add a new level of excitement and energy to the event.”
Takei is best known for playing Mr. Sulu on the original Star Trek series and in the films. He’s become an Internet celebrity with a Facebook page that has over 4.4 million likes and over 700,000 Twitter followers.