Walter Koenig, Ensign Chekov on original Star Trek series, dies at 90 Actor Walter Koenig, best known as Ensign Pavel Chekov on the original Star Trek series and seven films, died Monday at his North Hollywood home at age 90, his talent agent said. LOS ANGELES - Actor Walter Koenig, who played Ensign Pavel Chekov, the youthful Russian navigator on the Star Trek television series and several movies, has died. He was 90. Koenig died Monday at his home in the North Hollywood neighbourhood of Los Angeles, talent agent Zachery McGinnis said in a statement. McGinnis said Koenig died surrounded by his daughter and niece. In Star Trek, Ensign Chekov was the sole Communist-bloc member of the spaceship Enterprise bridge staff.His friendly, supportive presence showed how the rival nations, in the far-off future in which the show was set, were capable of working together. Speaking heavily Russian-accented English, Chekov embodied stereotypical Russian personality traits, including fierce pride, love of poetry and blind loyalty. Star Trek ran on NBC from 1966 to 1969 and has had an almost unprecedented afterlife as fans, or Trekkies, kept interest in the show alive.Tributes Highlight Koenig Beyond ChekovThe TV show has also inspired two spinoff TV series with new casts, and conventions that draw thousands of fans. My heart is heavy, Koenig's castmate, George Takei, said in a post on social media. Walter was more than Chekov. He was a writer, a teacher, a thoughtful man, and a loyal friend.Walter's legacy extends far beyond the screen, McGinnis said. Through countless convention appearances and interactions with fans, he shared his kindness, wit, and appreciation with everyone fortunate enough to meet him. He understood what Star Trek meant to people and embraced the community that grew around it. Thank you, Walter, for the memories, the inspiration, and for boldly going where few have gone before, McGinnis said.Koenig's Star Trek Movie CareerKoenig played Chekov in seven Star Trek movies starting in 1979, as well as innumerable other spinoffs, including writing a Star Trek book, Chekov's Enterprise, in 1980. He returned to the science fiction genre with occasional appearances in the syndicated 1990s TV series Babylon 5. Koenig appeared at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sept. 8, 2018, a photo by Richard Shotwell of Invision and AP, File, showed.A 1988 AP photo by Bob Galbraith, File, showed members of the Star Trek crew, from left, James Doohan, DeForest Kelley, Walter Koenig, William Shatner, George Takei, Leonard Nimoy and Nichelle Nichols, toasting the newest Star Trek film during a news conference at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles on Dec. 28, 1988.