Star Trek actor Walter Koenig dies at 90

Walter Koenig, the actor best known for portraying Ensign Pavel Chekov in the classic 1960s science fiction television series Star Trek and its seven subsequent feature films, died at his home in Los Angeles on October 25, 2026, at the age of 90. His passing was confirmed by his talent agent and publicly acknowledged by his long-time friend and co-star George Takei.

Born in Chicago in 1936, Koenig studied psychology at UCLA before pursuing a professional career in acting and screenwriting spanning over five decades. He was selected for the role of Chekov by Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry to introduce a Russian character to the diverse crew of the USS Enterprise during the height of the Cold War. In 2012, his contributions to the entertainment industry were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Koenig was married to actress Judy Levitt from 1965 until her death in 2022. The couple had two children, Andrew, who passed away in 2010, and Danielle, a comedian and writer. Throughout his career, Koenig remained a symbolic figure of the optimistic, multicultural vision of the future promoted by the Star Trek franchise, despite often using an inauthentic Russian accent for his character.