Walter Koenig

An iconic figure in television science fiction thanks to his role as Pavel Chekov on the original "Star Trek" series (NBC, 1966-69), Walter Koenig was an actor and occasional writer who parlayed his supporting role on the program into a four decade-long career in films, television and other media. A guest shot on an early TV series by "Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry translated into his turn as the enthusiastic - and accident-prone - Chekov in the show's second and third seasons. Koenig reprised the character in six of the theatrical "Trek" films, earning a bit more screen time with each subsequent film; in later years, he parlayed his "Trek" fame into a string of guest shots and indie features that often traded on the character's enduring popularity. Koenig also enjoyed a second career as a TV scribe for a variety of series, while accepting his "Trek" immortality with particular good humor and cheer.