With the recent passing of Walter Koenig, the remaining living actors from the main cast of Star Trek are William Shatner and George Takei, and the two have paid tribute to their crewmate and friend.
William Shatner & George Takei on Walter Koenig
“I am deeply saddened to learn of Walter Koenig’s passing,” Shatner said in a statement shared with Entertainment Weekly. “Although we did not know each other well away from the set, we shared the later seasons of the original Star Trek series and the six films that followed.“
He continued, “What I observed, and what so many fans have expressed over the years, was a man who genuinely loved the Star Trek community. At conventions, Walter was rarely content to remain behind a signing table. He preferred to be among the people who had kept Star Trek alive for so many decades. That kind of genuine connection is rare, and it will be remembered by everyone who came into contact with him. My condolences to his family, his friends, and the countless fans whose lives he touched.“
Takei’s tribute was far more personal, as the pair were genuine friends, with Koenig even serving as best man at Takei’s wedding.
“My heart is heavy. Walter Koenig, our Ensign Pavel Chekov, passed away early today,” Takei wrote on Instagram. “Walter and I met on the bridge of the Enterprise in the 1960s, and we stayed friends for nearly six decades. When Brad and I married in 2008, Walter stood beside us as our best man. Just last month, on Sept. 14, he turned 90, on the same day Brad and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary. I will always treasure that he and I shared that date.“
He added, “Walter was more than Chekov. He was a writer, a teacher, a thoughtful man, and a loyal friend. To the fans who loved him for so many years, thank you. He loved you too. Rest well, my dear friend. Keep navigating a steady course.“
As Long As We Remember Him…
I’ve been a Star Trek fan for nearly as long as I can remember. These characters, and by extension, the actors who played them, have felt like friends and family despite having never met them. And just like friends and family, it’s tough to see these actors grow old and pass on one by one. But, as Dr. McCoy once said, “He’s really not dead, as long as we remember him.”
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