Walter Koenig, 1936 – 2026

Walter Koenig, who played Ensign Pavel Chekov in Star Trek, died on Oct. 25. He was 90. The Chicago native played the Russian crew member on the famously multi-national series from 1967-69, and in several spin-off movies (poor Anton Yelchin, who died such a horrible death, took over the role in several movies). Koenig got his start on TV’s Combat!, The Untouchables, General Hospital, Gidget, I Spy, and Mannix, before being cast in Star Trek. That role pretty much took over the rest of his career, though he made non-Trekkie appearances in Columbo, Antony and Cleopatra, and Diagnosis Murder, among other vehicles. Koenig was married to actresses Judy Levitt and Anjanette Comer (who just died in May); his children are director and actor Andrew Koenig (who died in 2010) and screenwriter Daniellle Koenig. “No, I don't have any regrets about my involvement with Star Trek,” he said. “Star Trek deserves the respect it has received. If I'm going to be aligned with something, it might as well be something that makes a worthwhile statement most of the time.”