Walter Koenig, the original actor behind Star Trek's Pavel Chekov, has died aged 90. His representative said he died of old age. Born in Chicago in 1936, Koenig built a career that included television acting, films and writing.
He joined Star Trek's second season in 1967, as the programme tried to attract younger viewers. Chekov also represented its vision of people from different backgrounds working together. During the Cold War, presenting a Russian character as a hero was an unusual choice for American television.
Koenig continued playing Chekov in films featuring the original crew. He later appeared as President Anton Chekov, Pavel's descendant, in the final season of Star Trek: Picard. His television writing included an episode of the animated Star Trek series.
Another important role was Alfred Bester in Babylon 5, who appeared in 12 episodes across its five seasons. Bester was a telepath, someone who could read minds, and often opposed the main characters, although he sometimes helped them. Koenig found the role particularly satisfying because Bester had personal beliefs and conflicts that developed through the stories. Unlike Chekov, who often described a situation, Bester regularly helped drive the action.
