'Star Trek:' George Takei's favorite drinking buddy was James Doohan

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Star Trek actor and social media guru George Takei said James Doohan was his favorite drinking buddy from his days on the hit science fiction series.

Takei, who played Sulu on the series, told Parade he enjoyed tossing back a few cold ones with the actor who played Montgomery "Scotty" Scott.

When asked who from the cast he stays in touch with most, he said Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig.

"Nichelle is more telephone, and we have dinners and you know, there are still Star Trek conventions that happen, so we go out to dinner, chew over old times," he said. "But my favorite, my best drinking buddy, was Jimmy Doohan, who's passed now. He was a great guy and I had some wonderful times with him."

Doohan died in 2005.