Walter Koenig, Star Trek's Pavel Chekov, Dies at 90

Walter Koenig, the actor who played Pavel Chekov in the original Star Trek series, died on Sunday at the age of 90. According to CNET, The New York Times reported his death.

Koenig was born in Chicago. His parents were Russian Jewish immigrants from Lithuania. He was 30 years old when he was cast in Star Trek, and he was five years younger than William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy.

Koenig played Chekov for the show's second and third seasons. He later reprised the role in six Star Trek movies featuring the original cast. He also voiced Chekov in numerous video games.

Koenig was not only an actor. He worked as a screenwriter on shows including Land of the Lost and Family. He also wrote several books.

He played telepath [a person who can communicate by thought] Alfred Bester on Babylon 5. In 2012, Koenig received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Koenig and his wife, Judy Levitt Koenig, had two children. Judy died in 2022.

In 2008, Koenig was best man at George Takei's wedding to Brad Altman. Nichelle Nichols also stood up for Takei and Altman at the wedding. Takei later remembered Koenig with a post on Instagram.