George with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

TAKEI

["Here’s a helpful hint for your crossword clue:\n\n**\"This actor is best known for his role as Sulu in a famous sci-fi franchise.\"**\n\nThis hint guides the solver toward George Takei by referencing his iconic role in *Star Trek* without directly naming him or repeating the original clue. It’s easier than the original but still requires some pop culture knowledge to connect the dots."]

The clue **"George with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame"** leads to the answer **"TAKEI"** through the following reasoning: 1. **First Name Reference**: The clue specifies a person named "George" who has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 2. **Last Name Connection**: George Takei is a well-known actor famous for his role as Hikaru Sulu in *Star Trek*, making him a recognizable figure with a Walk of Fame star. 3. **Wordplay Consideration**: While the clue doesn’t rely on complex wordplay, it does require knowledge of celebrities with the first name "George" who have been honored in Hollywood. "Takei" is the most fitting surname for this context. Thus, the answer is **"TAKEI"**—the last name of actor George Takei.