Star Trek actor Walter Koenig dies, aged 90

Walter Koenig, an American actor and screenwriter, died in Los Angeles on October 25, 2026, aged 90. Born in Chicago to Russian Jewish immigrant parents, he studied psychology at UCLA before training as an actor in New York. His early television work included a role in Gene Roddenberry’s series The Lieutenant and an appearance in an adaptation of Harlan Ellison’s Memos from Purgatory. Koenig became widely known as Pavel Chekov, the Enterprise navigator he played from Star Trek’s second season. He returned as Chekov in all six films featuring the original cast, Star Trek: Generations, and later productions. The character’s Russian accent drew partly on his father’s speech, while the role’s popularity with young viewers helped make him a regular cast member.

Koenig’s career extended well beyond Star Trek, although he sometimes felt that audiences recognized Chekov more readily than they recognized him. He played Psi Cop Alfred Bester in Babylon 5 and appeared in numerous television, film, and stage productions, including the science-fiction film Moontrap. He also wrote for television, including an episode of the animated Star Trek series, making him the first cast member to write a televised Star Trek story. His other work included screenplays, plays, books, and comic projects; he also taught acting and directing. His career spanned more than five decades, with Chekov and Bester among his best-known roles.