William Shatner paid tribute to Walter Koenig, the actor best known for playing Pavel Chekov on the original Star Trek series. Koenig died on Sunday at the age of 90.
Shatner, who portrayed Captain James T. Kirk on the show, remembered Koenig’s dedication
to the Star Trek franchise and fans. “I am deeply saddened to learn of Walter Koenig’s passing. Although we did not know each other well away from the set, we shared the later seasons of the original Star Trek series and the six films that followed,” Shatner wrote in a social media post. “What I observed, and what so many fans have expressed over the years, was a man who genuinely loved the Star Trek community.”
Shatner said that when attending conventions, Koenig was “rarely content” interacting with fans from behind a signing table. “He preferred to be among the people who had kept Star Trek alive for so many decades,” he said. “That kind of genuine connection is rare, and it will be remembered by everyone who came into contact with him. My condolences to his family, his friends, and the countless fans whose lives he touched.”
After landing his first TV roles in the early Sixties, including the pilot episode of the hit soap General Hospital, Koenig was cast as Chekov ahead of Star Trek’s second season. He remained a series regular through its third and final season, and would regularly reprise the role of Chekov, featuring in 1979’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture and the next seven films in the franchise, concluding with 1994’s Star Trek Generations.
His longtime friend George Takei, who played Lt. Hikaru Sulu on the original Star Trek series, also remembered Koenig in a tribute post. “Walter and I met on the bridge of the Enterprise in the 1960s, and we stayed friends for nearly six decades,” said Takei. Beyond his role as Chekov, Takei celebrated Koenig as “a writer, a teacher, a thoughtful man, and a loyal friend,” adding, “To the fans who loved him for so many years, thank you. He loved you too.”
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