Walter Koenig, Star Trek’s Original Chekov, Sends Condolences to Anton Yelchin’s Family

Walter Koenig, who played Ensign Pavel Chekov in the original Star Trek, has released a statement responding to the unexpected death of Anton Yelchin, who succeeded him as the character in J.J. Abrams’s recent series of films in the rebooted sci-fi franchise.

“We spoke on a sound stage for about two hours,” Koenig told The Hollywood Reporter. “His reputation as an artist preceded him, however. I knew I was in the presence of a gifted performer. What I learned that day was how bright and sensitive he was. I walked away thinking – this is a good person. My heart goes out to his mother and father. I know what you’re going through.”

Yelchin was killed early yesterday morning after being pinned between his car and a brick mailbox. The car was in neutral, with the engine running, when he was found. The driveway on the property is apparently on a steep incline.

No foul play is suspected, and it’s unclear why the actor got out of the car. The accident is still under investigation and Fiat Chrysler is cooperating with authorities following rumors that the actor’s vehicle may have been a Jeep involved in a recent voluntary recall.

Besides three Star Trek movies (including the forthcoming Star Trek Beyond), Yelchin is best known in fanboy circles for his roles in Terminator Salvation, The Smurfs, and Alpha Dog. The actor also played the title roles in Huff and Charlie Bartlett.

Yelchin was born in the USSR and moved to the United States in 1989 after his parents were relocated as political refugees. His parents, Irina (née Korina) and Viktor Yelchin, were pair figure skaters who were stars of the Leningrad Ice Ballet for 15 years. They apparently qualified for the 1972 Olympics but Soviet Union did not permit them to participate. They both remain involved in figure skating as coaches and trainers. Yelchin’s uncle is the children’s author and painter Eugene Yelchin.

Yelchin’s career started in the ’90s, although he didn’t find widespread acclaim until 2006’s Alpha Dog, in which he played the victim of a kidnap-and-murder plot based loosely on a true story. He’s also appeared in the horror films Fright Night and Odd Thomas. He has a number of projects in production or post-production as of this writing, including Trollhunters, We Don’t Belong Here, and the pilot to Mr. Mercedes, a planned TV adaptation of Stephen King’s novel of the same name.