Actor Walter Koenig, who played Chekov on Star Trek, dies at 90
The Chicago native passed away Sunday at his home in North Hollywood after a career spanning six decades in television, film, and video games.
By Julian Khan ·
Walter Koenig, best known for portraying Pavel Chekov in the original Star Trek television series, has died. He was 90 years old. His talent representative, Zachery McGinnis, confirmed the news to CBS News on Monday.
Koenig died on Sunday night at his residence in the North Hollywood district of Los Angeles. McGinnis stated that the actor was surrounded by his daughter and niece at the time of his death.
The character of Chekov served as the sole representative from the Communist bloc on the Enterprise bridge. Koenig performed the role with a heavy Russian accent, embodying traits of pride and loyalty that contrasted with the Western crew members. He first appeared in the role when the series aired on NBC from 1966 to 1969. The character continued to appear in seven feature films beginning in 1979.
Born on September 14, 1936, in Chicago, Koenig was the son of a businessman. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1958. He then spent two years studying acting at The Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. He began receiving television roles in the early 1960s, appearing on shows such as Mr. Novak and Ben Casey.
Castmate George Takei paid tribute to Koenig on social media. "My heart is heavy," Takei wrote. "Walter was more than Chekov. He was a writer, a teacher, a thoughtful man, and a loyal friend." Takei noted that Koenig served as his best man at his wedding to Brad Altman in 2013.
Koenig remained active in the entertainment industry after the original series ended. He wrote scripts for television programs including Family and The Incredible Hulk. He also taught part time at UCLA. In the mid-1990s, he worked in the computer game industry, taking a role in the 1995 CD-ROM game Maximum Surge.
In 1995, Koenig told The Associated Press that he chose to pursue new opportunities rather than settle into a predictable routine. He said, "I'm of the opinion that adventure is still a very enticing and exciting option." He later made occasional appearances on the syndicated series Babylon 5.
Source: CBS News
