Walter Koenig, who played navigator Pavel Chekov on the original "Star Trek" series and in seven films, died at his Los Angeles home at age 90, his representative said.
Walter Koenig, the actor who played Pavel Chekov on the original "Star Trek" television series, has died, NBC News reported. His representative confirmed the death on Monday. The network's headline gave his age as 90.
Talent agent Zachery McGinnis said in a statement that Koenig died at his home in the North Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles. According to NBC News, Koenig played the Enterprise's trusty navigator on the science fiction show.
Koenig's death leaves just two surviving marquee cast members from the original series, NBC News reported. Leonard Nimoy died in 2015, DeForest Kelley in 1999, James Doohan in 2005 and Nichelle Nichols in 2022.
The two primary cast members still living are William Shatner, who played Capt. James T. Kirk and is 95, and George Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu and is 89, according to the report.
Takei posted a statement on Instagram remembering Koenig. "Walter and I met on the bridge of the Enterprise in the 1960s, and we stayed friends for nearly six decades," he said.
NBC News reported that Koenig was the best man at Takei's wedding. Koenig's birthday, Sept. 14, 1936, fell on the same date as Takei's wedding anniversary in 2008. "I will always treasure that he and I shared that date," Takei said.
Takei also spoke about Koenig beyond his best-known role. "Walter was more than Chekov. He was a writer, a teacher, a thoughtful man, and a loyal friend," he said. He added a message to fans: "To the fans who loved him for so many years, thank you. He loved you too. Rest well, my dear friend. Keep navigating a steady course."
The original "Star Trek" ran for 79 episodes over three seasons on NBC from 1966 to 1969, according to NBC News. Chekov joined the crew in the second season. The show aired during the Cold War and aimed to depict characters of multiple races and nationalities coexisting peacefully. That vision was set in the 23rd century, aboard a spaceship, in the fictional world created by Gene Roddenberry. Chekov was a Russian crew member.
Koenig later reprised the role on the big screen in seven "Star Trek" films. They were "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" in 1979, "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" in 1982, "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" in 1984, "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" in 1986, "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" in 1989, "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" in 1991 and "Star Trek Generations" in 1994.
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