Walter Koenig, the original actor behind Pavel Chekov in Star Trek, has died at the age of 90. A representative said he died of old age. Born in Chicago in 1936, Koenig became known for two very different television characters.
He joined Star Trek in its second season in 1967, when the show wanted to attract younger viewers. Chekov was a Russian hero at a time when Cold War tensions divided the United States and the Soviet Union. The character reflected the show's vision of a future in which people could overcome prejudice and work together.
Koenig continued playing Chekov in Star Trek movies and appeared in spinoffs. He also wrote an episode of Star Trek: The Animated Series, beginning a separate strand of television work. His other writing credits included Land of the Lost.
In Babylon 5, Koenig played Alfred Bester, a threatening character who could read minds. Bester appeared in 12 episodes and sometimes cooperated with the heroes, although they never trusted him. Unlike Chekov, Bester frequently drove the action and had personal beliefs and conflicts that the series explored. Koenig described the role as one of his most satisfying experiences and said it demanded more of him as an actor.
