“What we leave behind is not as important as how we lived.” Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek Generations
It has been a truly devastating week for Star Trek fans witht the sad news that Star Trek legends, Patrick Stewart and Walter Koenig passed away.
The Star Trek world and fans were shocked by the news on October 27, 2026 that Koenig died at the age of 90 on October 25 because he was one of the last remaining OG Star Trek actors, which just leaves William Shatner and George Takei as still being with us. But everyone was emotionally shattered with yesterday’s announcement from Stewart’s family that he passed away on October 28, 2026 after a brief battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy body dementia.
Both men contributed heavily to Star Trek and the sci-fi genre thanks to their iconic performances. In Stat Trek, Koenig portrayed the young Starfleet ensign Pavel Chekov who was the Enterprise’s navigator, and quickly gained a fan following with his Beatles wig (in an attempt by the show’s producer to lure in young viewers to the show). Meanwhile, Stewart elevated the world of Star Trek with his majestic performance as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, which redefined what Star Trek was capable of.
One thing to keep inn mind is that although both actors were very influential on the Star Trek franchise, they made significant contributions to other popular sci-fi properties, as well. Koenig’s best known non-Trek role was as the authoritative psi-cop, Alfred Bester, in Babylon 5. As most Marvel Comics fans know, Stewart appeared as Charles Xavier/Professor X in the X-Men films, with him reprising the role for the final time in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
The two Star Trek actors deserve the accolades they received as their work each distinctly left an impact with popular culture. There will be a post following this one that more closely examines Stewart and his impressive body of work. For now, let’s look at Walter Koenig and his work.
Walter Koenig came to the attention of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry when he guest starred in Roddenberry’s previous show before Star Trek, The Lieutenant. He joined Star Trek in its second season as the eager Russian Ensign Chekov which demonstrated how Earth’s cultures and nations became unified in the future. Being that Roddenberry wanted a young actor, he was partly chosen because of his resemblance to then-popular pop star Davy Jones of the Monkees. Right at the start, Chekov stood out from the many nameless extras who adorned the Enterprise bridge thanks to his thick Russian accent and comical banter with the crew, often attributing every Earth cultural development to Russia. Chekov became a fan favorite and a prominent member of the cast as he formed an easy comradery with his crewmate Lt. Sulu (played by Takei) and often joined Capt. Kirk and Mr. Spock in their adventures.
After Star Trek ended, Koenig wrote several scripts for several TV shows, including Star Trek: The Animated Series, Land of the Lost, The Powers of Matthew Star, and more. Oddly enough, even though he wrote an episode for the Star Trek animated TV show, his character did not appear in it due to budgetary reasons. He also penned a few novels including Chekov’s Enterprise, a behind-the-scenes look at his time filming Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
Naturally, Koenig returned to the role of Chekov for the first few Star Trek films, which reunited the cast of the original TV show. By this time, his character was a commander and his most prominent role as Chekov was in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, though his comical appearance in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home was also outstanding. His last film appearance as Pavel Chekov was in Star Trek Generations which introduced the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation to the big screens. Koenig also appeared as Chekov in several Star Trek video games and Star Trek fan-made productions, with his best appearance being in Star Trek: The New Voyages episode “To Serve All My Days” and Star Trek: Of Gods and Men. He last made an appearance as a Chekov in the third season of Star Trek: Picard. This time as United Federation of Planets President Anton Chekov, the son of Pavel Chekov. Even though it was a brief voiceover work (warning people not to approach the Earth as it was under a Borg invasion), Koenig was able to stand out and delight fans.
Koenig appeared in several genre-related TV shows and films. He guest starred in the Canadian sci-fi series The Starlost, The Questor Tapes, and Babylon 5. He also had a main role in the sci-fi films Moontrap and Diminuendo; his last film appearance was in the 2024 film Raging Midlife.
Walter Koenig’s most prominent non-Star Trek role was as Alfred Bester because it was completely different than the amiable Chekov. Bester was a coldly villainous telepathic Earth agent who ruthlessly pursued other telepaths and often clashed with the main characters.
Even though Koenig was typecast due to his Trek role, he was able to stay engaged in Hollywood and turned to writing, directing and teaching throughout his life. He was also actively engaged with Star Trek fans and made numerous appearances at conventions and other venues, and he also engaged in humanitarian work in Burma. He died of natural causes in his home.
With Koenig and Stewart passing away, we are reminded of how legendary figures are only here for a finite amount of time and should be treasured. Even though we are saddened by their deaths, we should celebrate their lives and contributions to modern culture and the live-action sci-fi drama. Koenig and Stewart left their mark and their work will always continue to delight and inspire many fans long after they are gone. It is a legacy to be proud of as the two men take their place among the stars, which feel a little dimmer today without them being here with us.
José Soto
