William Shatner mourns 'Star Trek' co-star Walter Koenig after his death at 90: ‘Deeply saddened’

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: William Shatner is remembering his ‘Star Trek’ co-star Walter Koenig, who died at the age of 90. Koenig portrayed Russian crewman Pavel Chekov alongside Shatner’s Captain James T Kirk in the original series and reprised the role in seven films.

Shatner expressed sadness over Koenig’s passing, recalling his connection with the show’s fans and the legacy he leaves behind.

William Shatner pays tribute to 'Star Trek' co-star Walter Koenig

“I am deeply saddened to learn of Walter Koenig’s passing,” Shatner said in a statement shared with Entertainment Weekly.

Although the two did not know each other well away from the set, they worked together during the later seasons of the original ‘Star Trek’ series and appeared in the six films that followed.

Shatner said Koenig genuinely loved the ‘Star Trek’ community, a sentiment echoed by fans over the years.

He recalled how Koenig rarely remained behind a signing table at conventions, preferring to spend time among the people who had kept the franchise alive for decades.

Shatner described that genuine connection as rare and said it would be remembered by everyone who came into contact with the actor.

“My condolences to his family, his friends, and the countless fans whose lives he touched,” Shatner concluded. Koenig’s representative confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Monday, October 26, that the actor had died of natural causes.

Koenig joined ‘Star Trek’ for its second season in 1967, appearing in 36 episodes between 1967 and 1969. He later reprised his role as Pavel Chekov in the first seven Paramount ‘Star Trek’ films released between 1979 and 1991.

Koenig also appeared in television productions, including ‘Mr Novak’, ‘The Alfred Hitchcock Hour’, ‘Babylon 5’ and ‘The Lieutenant’. The latter connected him to ‘Star Trek’ creator Gene Roddenberry.

Reflecting on the franchise’s fans, Koenig once told The New York Times that they were people with “a sense of humanity and a sense of justice and a sort of political bent”.

He added that they had imagination and loved monsters.

George Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu alongside Koenig, also paid tribute to his late co-star on Instagram.

“My heart is heavy. Walter Koenig, our Ensign Pavel Chekov, passed away early today,” Takei wrote. Koenig served as the best man at Takei’s wedding in 2008.

“Walter was more than Chekov. He was a writer, a teacher, a thoughtful man, and a loyal friend,” Takei added. He thanked the fans who had loved Koenig for years and noted that the actor loved them, too.

William Shatner reflects on 'Star Trek’s' 60-year legacy

In an October conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Shatner reflected on the franchise’s enduring popularity as it marked its 60th anniversary.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” he said, recalling that the show lasted three seasons before being cancelled because not enough people watched it.

Shatner explained that the series found a new audience when it began airing in syndication at an earlier hour, allowing younger viewers to watch.

Previously broadcast at 10 pm on Friday evenings, when people were out partying, the show became popular with younger audiences and subsequently gained a new lease on life.

“I don’t think that’s ever happened before, for it to have all the iterations that it begets and to be very popular 60 years later,” Shatner said.

He added that the franchise was undergoing another transformation, noting that Paramount was doing something with ‘Star Trek’, although he was unsure what.

“Star Trek marches on,” he said, describing its continued popularity as “a phenomenon that in our lifetime can’t be repeated”.

Shatner observed that a show would need to last 60 years to achieve something similar, adding that he would not be around to witness it.

When asked about the secret behind the franchise’s success, Shatner jokingly suggested that he might be responsible before playfully questioning whether that was really the case.

He described ‘Star Trek’ as unique in the history of show business.