Star Trek’s Chekov, actor Walter Koenig, dies aged 90

Another bright star of science fiction has gone out. Walter Koenig, the American actor who played Russian navigator Pavel Chekov in the original Star Trek series, has died at the age of 90. His agent said Koenig died at his home in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, on Sunday, with his daughter and niece beside him.

A Russian officer in the Cold War years
Koenig joined Star Trek in its second season in 1967, when series creator Gene Roddenberry decided to add a young Russian character to the crew. At the height of the Cold War, putting a Russian officer on the bridge of the Enterprise, shoulder to shoulder with a crew of many nations, was a bold choice for its time. Koenig played Chekov in 36 episodes, and then returned to the role in seven films between 1979 and 1994. Fans still remember his put-on Russian accent and his mop-top haircut.

A life beyond Chekov
Alongside acting, Koenig wrote — he was the first of the original cast to publish a memoir of his Star Trek years. He later appeared in the science-fiction series Babylon 5. His castmate George Takei wrote on social media that his heart was heavy, and that Koenig was more than Chekov: a writer, a teacher, a thoughtful man and a loyal friend. Koenig’s wife Judy died in 2022, and his son Andrew in 2010. Of the original series cast, only William Shatner and George Takei now survive.