Walter Koenig, Chekov in the original Star Trek, dies aged 90

Walter Koenig, the actor known for playing Pavel Chekov in the Star Trek franchise, has died aged 90, his representative confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter, The Guardian reported on Monday 26 October.

Koenig died at his home in North Hollywood with his daughter and niece at his side, according to a Facebook post by Zachery McGinnis, founder of the appearance agency Galactic Productions, which represented him. His death was attributed to “old age”, with no other details given, The Guardian reported.

Born in Chicago and raised in Manhattan by Lithuanian immigrant parents, Koenig joined Star Trek at the start of its second season and appeared in 36 of the 50 episodes broadcast between 1967 and 1969. He played Chekov in the first seven Star Trek feature films, released between 1979 and 1991, and voiced the character again in a 2023 episode of Star Trek: Picard. He also appeared in the science fiction series Babylon 5 and wrote episodes of several television series, including Land of the Lost and The Incredible Hulk.

His Star Trek co-star George Takei wrote on Facebook: “Walter was more than Chekov. He was a writer, a teacher, a thoughtful man, and a loyal friend.”

Koenig’s wife, actor Judy Levitt, died in 2022, and their son Andrew died in 2010. He is survived by his daughter, actor and screenwriter Danielle Koenig.