Walter Koenig, Star Trek Actor Who Played Chekov, Dies at 90

Walter Koenig, who played Pavel Chekov in the original Star Trek TV series, has died aged 90.

Koenig died of old age at his home in North Hollywood on Sunday night. He was surrounded by his daughter and niece when he died.

Koenig played Chekov from season two in 1967 until the series ended in 1969. He later reprised the role in the six original cast movies, which were released from 1979 through 1991.

In the mid-to-late 1990s, Koenig portrayed Alfred Bester, a telepath (a person who can read other people's thoughts) in the Psi Corps, in the series Babylon 5. He also voiced President Anton Chekov in Star Trek: Picard in 2023.

Koenig was nominated by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror for his work on The Wrath of Khan and The Voyage Home. He also wrote an episode of the animated series The Infinite Vulcan in 1973.

Earlier in 2026, Koenig received the Platinum Award for best actor at the 2026 Independent Shorts Awards for his work on Mr Fleischmann.

Koenig was born in Chicago and raised in Manhattan. He was the son of Soviet Jewish immigrants whose family had lived in Lithuania. He studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York.

Koenig married Judy Levitt in 1965, and the couple stayed together until her death in 2022. His son Andrew died in 2010, aged 41. Koenig is survived by his daughter, Danielle Koenig.

George Takei led tributes to Koenig on social media on Monday.