hile studying at UCLA, he was encouraged by a professor to kickstart his career in acting, which ultimately led him to New York's Neighborhood Playhouse.

10  Walter's legacy extends far beyond the screen,  his agency wrote in a statement. (Seen here: Koenig in 2016.) Getty Images

10  Through countless convention appearances and interactions with fans, he shared his kindness, wit, and appreciation with everyone fortunate enough to meet him,  the statement continued. (Seen here: Koenig in 2016.) Getty Images

One of Koenig's first roles was an appearance in the TV series  Combat!  in 1962, followed by an episode of  The Untouchables  in 1963.

He also appeared on two episodes of  General Hospital  as Charlie Turner in 1963 before ultimately landing his iconic role as Chekov in the  Star Trek  TV series in 1967.

During a 2013 interview with the TV Academy Foundation, Koenig candidly admitted that he had never seen  Star Trek  until he joined the cast for Season 2.

Koenig learned he landed the role shortly after his audition when he spent a few hours alone in a room until a wardrobe assistant came to get him.

10 His agency wrote,  He understood what  Star Trek' meant to people and embraced the community that grew around it.  (Seen here: Koenig in 2016.) Getty Images

10 Koenig was best known for his role in  Star Trek.  (Seen here: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, Majel Barrett, DeForest Kelley and James Doohan in the series.)  Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

Want more celebrity and pop culture news? Start your day with Page Six Daily. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Want celebrity news as it breaks? Check out more newsletters

 He drops on his knees in front of me,  Koenig recalled.  [He] takes my crotch in his hand, and I'm saying,  What are you doing?!' I didn't see the tape-measuring ruler in his other hand, and he was measuring from my crotch to my cuff to decide how long my pants should be. He says,  You do have to have a costume, don't you?' 

 And that's the auspicious way I learned I was on  Star Trek  and it was going to change my life,  Koenig continued.

Koenig starred in the show through Season 3 in 1968. He shared the screen alongside William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock.

10 He landed the role of Chekov in 1967. (Seen here: Koenig in 2006.) Getty Images

10 Koenig (seen here in 2006) played the role in several movies throughout the years. Getty Images

Koenig reprised his role in  Star Trek: The Motion Picture  in 1979, followed by  Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan  in 1982 and  Star Trek III: The Search for Spock  in 1984.

He also appeared in the following movies from 1986 to 1994, and in other sequels for the franchise.

Koenig's last movie credit was the 2025 film  Raging Midlife.  He also starred as himself in the 2025 30-minute short  Lost Voyages: Phase II and the Rebirth of Star Trek. 

He married Judy Levitt, who also starred in the  Star Trek  movies, in 1965. They shared Danielle and their late son, Andrew, who died by suicide in 2010, and were together until Levitt passed away in 2022 at the age of 83.