Walter Koenig, Chekov on the original 'Star Trek,' remembered at 90

Walter Koenig, who played Chekov on the original "Star Trek" and in seven of its films, has died at age 90, Variety confirmed. His representatives told the BBC that he died of old age at home in North Hollywood, with his daughter and niece at his side.

For decades, Koenig was the young navigator on the bridge of the Enterprise, a role that made him familiar to generations of fans. His death means that William Shatner, 95, and George Takei are now the two surviving marquee cast members of the original series, according to NBC News.

Key facts

• Koenig died at 90 of old age at his North Hollywood home, his representatives said.
• He played Chekov in the original series and in seven feature films.
• He joined the show in its second season and was in 36 episodes.
• He later played the telepath Alfred Bester on "Babylon 5".
• Shatner and Takei are the last two marquee stars of the original cast.

How the news came out

The news first appeared in a Facebook post by Zachery McGinnis, who founded the appearance agency Galactic Productions and listed Koenig as a client. That post gave no details beyond old age as the cause.

Jesse Thorn, who hosts the NPR show "Bullseye," confirmed the news on Bluesky, citing Koenig's daughter, Danielle. McGinnis also shared a short tribute to the actor, reported by NBC News: "He understood what Star Trek meant to people".

Background

Koenig was born in Chicago on September 14, 1936, to Isadore and Sarah Koenig, according to StarTrek.com. He first studied as a pre-med student at Grinnell College in Iowa and later earned a psychology degree from UCLA, Variety reported.

He trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York, where his classmates included James Caan, Christopher Lloyd and Dabney Coleman. His first screen work was an uncredited part as a sentry in "Combat!" in 1962.

The Chekov years

NBC aired the original "Star Trek" across three seasons, from 1966 to 1969, for a total of 79 episodes. Koenig arrived as the second season began. Of the 50 episodes shown from 1967 to 1969, he was in 36.

The character was meant to draw younger fans. Variety reported that Chekov was added to appeal to teenage viewers, and his mop of hair was styled after the Monkees' Davy Jones.

When the crew moved to the big screen, Koenig came along. He played Chekov in seven films, starting with "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" in 1979 and "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" in 1982, and ending with "Star Trek Generations" in 1994.

Chekov did not appear in the cartoon version of the show. Variety said the character was cut from "Star Trek: The Animated Series" because of its small budget, but Koenig wrote one of its episodes, "The Infinite Vulcan."

Decades later, he returned to the franchise in a new way. In a 2023 episode of "Star Trek: Picard," Koenig voiced Anton Chekov, the son of his original character.

A career beyond the Enterprise

Koenig found a second well-known role in science fiction. From the mid-to-late 1990s, he played Alfred Bester, a ruthless Psi Corps telepath, on "Babylon 5". Variety counted 12 episodes of the series from 1994 to 1998.

He also worked as a writer. Koenig wrote episodes of "The Powers of Matthew Star," "Family," "Land of the Lost" and "The Incredible Hulk". He published two memoirs: "Chekov's Enterprise" in 1980 and "Warped Factors - A Neurotic's Guide to the Universe" in 1998.

He kept acting into his last year. In 2026, he won the Platinum Award for Best Actor at the Independent Shorts Awards for the short film "Mr. Fleischmann", according to Variety. He received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 10, 2012, StarTrek.com says.

Family and friends

Koenig was with his wife, actor Judy Levitt, from 1965 until she died in December 2022 at age 83. Their son, Andrew, who appeared on the ABC sitcom "Growing Pains," died in 2010 at age 41. His surviving family includes his daughter Danielle Koenig, an actor and screenwriter.

His longtime castmate George Takei shared a personal memory. Takei wrote on Bluesky that Koenig served as his best man when he and Brad married in 2008. Takei, 89, described Koenig as a thoughtful man and a loyal friend, NBC News reported. In another tribute, Takei wrote, "Walter was more than Chekov."

What happens next

None of the reports cited here mentioned plans for a funeral or memorial. No cause of death beyond old age has been given.

FAQ

StarTrek.com lists his birth date as September 14, 1936.

Who from the original "Star Trek" main cast is still alive? NBC News says William Shatner, 95, and George Takei are the two surviving marquee cast members.

How did he die? His representatives said he died of old age at home in North Hollywood.

When did he get his Hollywood Walk of Fame star? StarTrek.com says he received the star on September 10, 2012.

Did he write for "Star Trek"? Yes. Variety says he wrote "The Infinite Vulcan," an episode of the animated series, even though Chekov was not in that show.

What other roles was he known for? He played Alfred Bester on "Babylon 5" and voiced Anton Chekov on "Star Trek: Picard" in 2023.