The original Star Trek ran for only three seasons (1966-1969). Koenig's character Chekov arrived in the show's second season as a nod to two demographics: the long-haired Beatle-obsessed youth, and as a Russian, since the crew of the Enterprise was multi-national.
I am a lifelong Trekkie who used to go to Star Trek conventions, so of course I saw him at one: StarCon Denver, way back in 1986. (See fuzzy photo below, taken before the age of digital cameras.)
Koenig had one of his bigger parts when Chekov was a victim of Ricardo Montalban's earworm in arguably the best Star Trek movie, The Wrath of Khan (1982). I also remember him fondly in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) asking random passers-by on the streets of San Francisco where the "nuclear wessels" were.
Coincidentally, that movie came out the same year I saw Koenig in Denver.
So yes, I liked him in Star Trek, especially the movies. But my favorite role of Koenig's was as Babylon 5's best villain, Bester the Psi Cop. Until that point, I didn't think he was that strong an actor, but he most certainly was.
I remember hearing an anecdote from somewhere (possibly that very StarCon convention) that when he joined the Babylon 5 table read for the first time, someone welcomed him with "Senior Officer on deck!" (I may be remembering that wrong. If someone remembers more about that anecdote, please post a comment.)
Walter Koenig died of natural causes at his home in California surrounded by family, which is probably what most of us would choose.
I know that none of us are getting any younger, but I am especially saddened at losing yet another one of the Star Trek family. Rest in peace.
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Billie Doux loves good television and spends way too much time writing about it.
I don't think you'd get many to argue that Wrath of Khan wasn't the best Star Trek movie, it was so good!
ReplyDeleteI saw the original Star Trek as reruns of course, but my parents and I watched it a lot when I was a kid, and have the show on DVD as well. Chekov wasn't my favorite (that was Bones for me), but he was fun, and was indeed great in the movies you mention.
When I saw him on Babylon 5, which was a brilliant show, I even had the tabletop wargame 'Babylon 5 Wars' although some got lost in a move, and he was brilliant as Bester, a character you loved to hate, and indeed showed that he definitely had acting chops.
It's sad to see the originals fade away like this, but at least he had a full life. I follow George Takei on Facebook, although I don't use the site much anymore, and he remembered him fondly. I didn't know that Koenig was the best man at George's wedding till I saw his post today!
He was great, and he will be missed.