Walter Koenig, actor who played Chekov on "Star Trek," dies at 90

Walter Koenig played Pavel Chekov in the original “Star Trek” television series and several movies.

Walter Koenig, the actor who played Pavel Chekov in the original "Star Trek" television series and several movies, has died, his rep confirmed to CBS News. He was 90.Koenig died Sunday night at his home in the North Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, talent rep Zachery McGinnis said in a statement. He died surrounded by his daughter and niece, McGinnis said.In "Star Trek," Ensign Chekov was the sole member of the spaceship Enterprise bridge staff from what was the Communist bloc. His friendly, supportive presence showed how the rival nations (in the far-off future in which the show was set) were capable of working together.Speaking heavily Russian-accented English, Chekov embodied stereotypical Russian personality traits, including fierce pride, love of poetry and blind loyalty."Star Trek" ran on NBC from 1966 to 1969 and has had an almost unprecedented afterlife as fans, or Trekkies, kept interest in the show alive.Koenig was born Sept.

14, 1936, in Chicago, the son of a businessman. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1958, then studied acting at New York's The Neighborhood Playhouse for two years. He began getting television roles in the early 1960s, appearing on "Mr. Novak" and "Ben Casey.""My heart is heavy," Koenig's castmate, George Takei, said on social media. "Walter was more than Chekov. He was a writer, a