Walter Koenig, Star Trek’s Chekov, dies at 90

Walter Koenig, the actor who played Ensign Pavel Chekov on the original Star Trek television series, has died at age 90, his talent representative said.

Zachery McGinnis confirmed the death to CBS News in a statement. He said Koenig died Sunday night at his home in North Hollywood, Calif., surrounded by his daughter and niece. Some outlets reported the death as occurring on Monday.

Koenig was born Sept. 14, 1936, in Chicago. He graduated from UCLA in 1958 and studied acting for two years at New York’s Neighborhood Playhouse, CBS reported.

He played Chekov, the young Russian navigator on the starship Enterprise, on the NBC series that aired from 1966 to 1969. He later returned to the role in seven Star Trek films, beginning in 1979.

Outside the role, Koenig wrote a 1980 Star Trek book, Chekov’s Enterprise, and wrote scripts for the television series Family and The Incredible Hulk, CBS reported. He also taught part-time at UCLA and other schools and made occasional appearances on Babylon 5.

McGinnis said Koenig shared his kindness and wit with fans at conventions for decades. “Thank you, Walter, for the memories, the inspiration, and for boldly going where few have gone before,” McGinnis said.

Castmate George Takei, who played Sulu, wrote on social media that his heart was heavy. He called Koenig “more than Chekov,” and described him as “a writer, a teacher, a thoughtful man, and a loyal friend.”

Koenig’s name was among the top trending searches in Canada on Tuesday, with more than 20,000 searches over the past 24 hours, according to Google Trends. Searches for Takei, Star Trek and Chekov also climbed as fans shared tributes.

The franchise has a long Canadian connection. William Shatner, who played Capt. James T. Kirk, was born in Montreal and remains one of the best-known Canadian actors in the world. Media reports on Koenig’s death noted that Shatner and Takei are now the only surviving members of the original series’ main cast.

Chekov was added to the show in its second season, and the character became one of the best-known members of the Enterprise bridge crew. Koenig’s convention appearances kept him in regular contact with fans long after the original series ended.

Walter Koenig in 2016. File photo by Mike Muegel, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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Sources: CBS News, statement from talent representative Zachery McGinnis.