Anton Yelchin, 1989 – 2016

Anton Yelchin, famous for his portrayal of Pavel Chekov in JJ Abrams Star Trek (2009), has died.

Yelchin was killed early Sunday morning after being pinned by his own car. After missing a pre-arranged rehearsal, Yelchin’s friends became concerned. When they were unable to contact the actor, they went to his San Fernando Valley home and discovered his body.

Jennifer Allen, Yelchin’s publicist, has confirmed the actor’s death and said his family had requested privacy.

He was born in the city of Leningrad, in the former Soviet Union, to Irina Korina and Viktor Yelchin on March 11th, 1989. Figure skaters, they were leading figures in the Leningrad Ice Ballet for 15 years. They received refugee status from the United States Department of State in 1989, when Yelchin was six months old. Although never a natural figure skater himself, he nevertheless pursued artistic interests. For a time, he played guitar in the Punk Rock band The Hammerheads. His first role came when he was just 9, in independent film A Man is Mostly Water.

As well as Star Trek, Yelchin appeared in its sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), Alpha Dog (2007), Terminator Salvation (2009) and Green Room (2015) with fellow Star Trek alumnus Sir Patrick Stewart. Although primarily a film actor, many of Yelchin’s earliest roles were in television, such as ER (2000). He also appeared in Steven Spielberg‘s Taken (2002) alongside Dakota Fanning. Yelchin’s next film, Star Trek Beyond, is expected to be released in the UK July 22, 2016.

News of Yelchin’s death was greeted with a wave of grief. John Cho, who plays helmsmen Hikaru Sulu in the rebooted series, tweeted: “I loved Anton Yelchin so much. He was a true artist – curious, beautiful, courageous. He was a great pal and a great son. I’m in ruins.”

Anton Viktorovich Yelchin

March 11th, 1989 – June 19th, 2016