Walter Koenig, Original ‘Star Trek’ Actor Who Played Chekov, Dies at 90
publishers 30articles 32first reported 26 Oct, 16:53 UTCdeveloping since 26 Oct · 7 editionstop 25 #11
Walter Koenig, the actor best known for playing navigator Pavel Chekov in the original “Star Trek” television series and seven films, has died at 90.
Koenig died at his home in North Hollywood, surrounded by his daughter and niece, according to talent representative Zachery McGinnis. His death was attributed to old age. News outlets differed on whether he died Sunday night or Monday.
Born in Chicago and raised in Manhattan by Lithuanian immigrant parents, Koenig began acting in the early 1960s. He joined “Star Trek” at the start of its second season and appeared in 36 episodes from 1967 to 1969. He later reprised Chekov in seven Paramount films released between 1979 and 1991, the online series “Renegades,” and a 2023 animated episode associated with “Star Trek: Picard.”
Koenig also appeared in the 1990s science-fiction series “Babylon 5” and worked as a writer, with credits including “Land of the Lost,” “Family” and “The Incredible Hulk.” He wrote the 1980 book “Chekov’s Enterprise” and wrote, produced and starred in the 2010 film “InAlienable.”
His longtime co-star George Takei called Koenig “a writer, a teacher, a thoughtful man, and a loyal friend.” The two remained friends for six decades, and Koenig served as best man at Takei’s 2008 wedding.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 3 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written within the hour the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 30
- Source articles
- 32
- Given to the writer
- 8, 3 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- within the hour the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →