Walter Koenig, Chekov on Original ‘Star Trek,’ Dies at 90
Walter Koenig, best known as Pavel Chekov in the original *Star Trek* series and seven films, has died at 90. His representatives said he died at home in North Hollywood, surrounded by family, after a long acting career that made him a familiar figure to generations of science-fiction fans.
Chekov was introduced partly to attract teenage viewers, and Koenig later returned to the role in films including *Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan*. He also played Alfred Bester in *Babylon 5*, wrote an episode of *Star Trek: The Animated Series* and continued acting in later life, winning a 2026 Independent Shorts Awards acting prize for the short film *Mr. Fleischmann*.
In short
- Walter Koenig has died aged 90.
- He played Chekov in *Star Trek* for decades.
- His career also included *Babylon 5* and later awards.
Explained simply
Star Trek is a science-fiction franchise about the crew of a space-faring vessel exploring the galaxy. Its original television series began in 1966, and later continued through films and other series.
Walter Koenig played Pavel Chekov, a young officer who joined the original series’ crew and appeared in seven Star Trek films. The character was introduced in part to appeal to teenage viewers, and became one of the roles for which Koenig was best known.
Koenig also acted in the science-fiction series Babylon 5 and wrote for Star Trek’s animated series. His career connected him with several generations of science-fiction audiences across television and film.