Walter Koenig, Star Trek icon, dies at 90

Walter Koenig, the legendary Pavel Chekov of Star Trek, died at 90. He passed away on Sunday October 25 2026 of natural causes at his home in North Hollywood, Los Angeles. The actor, born in Chicago in 1936 to Lithuanian immigrant parents, had first studied psychology before being discovered for the second season of the original series in 1967. His Russian accent and humor made Chekov an indispensable character alongside Kirk, Spock and Sulu. After the series ended in 1969, he reprised the role in the first seven feature films of the franchise. “We mourn the passing of Walter Koenig,” his agents said in a statement, according to AlloCine.