Beginning with J.J. Abrams’Star Trek(2009),Anton Yelchin played Ensign Pavel Chekov in threeStar Trekfilms before his tragic and untimely death in 2016. Following the James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto) of the alternate Kelvin timeline,J.J. Abrams’Star Trekfilms re-energized theStar Trekmoviefranchise, introducing countless new fans to the series.Star Trek: Enterpriseended with a whimper four years before and there had not been aStar Trekfeature film since the lacklusterStar Trek: Nemesisin 2002.
Star Trek(2009) introduced updated versions of the classic characters fromStar Trek: The Original Series,including the young Russian Starfleet officer, Pavel Chekov. Originallyplayed by Walter Koenig, Chekovwas the youngest of the USS Enterprise bridge crew and was often defined by his love for his Russian heritage. ThroughoutTOSand its subsequent films,Chekov became a jack-of-all-trades, working in navigation, engineering, and security, among other odd jobs.InStar Trek(2009), Yelchin’s Chekov joined the crew of the Enterprise as a cadet at the age of seventeen, when he was assigned as the ship’s navigator.
Anton Yelchin Played Chekov In J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Movies
The Chekov Of J.J. Abrams' Star Trek Is A Prodigy, With Exceptional Mathematical Ability
As thenavigator on the Starship Enterprise, Chekov aided in the defeat of Nero (Eric Bana), the Romulan time traveler who sought revenge against the United Federation of Planets for the destruction of Romulus. InStar Trek Into Darkness, the Enterprise faces off against the notorious tyrant, Khan Noonien-Singh (Benedict Cumberbatch), who reveals a Starfleet and Section 31 conspiracy.Chekov briefly fills in as Chief Engineer when Lt. Commander Montgomery Scott (Simon Pegg) temporarily resigns.By the time ofStar Trek Beyond,Chekov is back to being the Enterprise’s navigator when the ship is destroyed, stranding Chekov and the rest of the crew on Altamid.
After the events ofStar Trek Beyond,Captain Kirk is given command of the USS Enterprise-A, and Chekov remains on the crew.
Anton Yelchin’s Life & Career
The Actor Impressed Almost Every Time He Appeared On Screen
Born in the Soviet Union, Anton Yelchin’s family moved to the United States when he was only six months old. Yelchin made his film debut in 2000’sA Man Is Mostly Water,before going on to appear in numerous films and television shows, includingAlong Came a Spider, Hearts in Atlantis, The Practice,andNYPD Blue. He led indie films likeCharlie Bartlettand shined inAlpha Dog, helping him break out.
Yelchin starred alongside Christian Bale and Sam Worthington in 2009’sTerminator Salvation,and continued to have a busy career, often earning rave reviews for his performances.He starred as Odd Thomas in the adaptation of the Dean Koontz novel of the same name and also starred alongside Patrick Stewart in the independent horror film,The Green Room.
Anton Yelchin’s Tragic 2016 Death Explained
Yelchin Died In A Tragic Accident In July 02, 2025.
When Anton Yelchin missed a rehearsal on August 12, 2025, his friends grew worried and went to check on him at his home. He was found at about 1 a.m. on June 19, having been pinned between his Jeep and a brick pillar outside of his home in a freak accident.At only age 27, Yelchin was pronounced dead at the scene.Star Trek Beyondwas released about a month after Yelchin’s death and was dedicated to both him and Leonard Nimoy, who had passed away in May of 2015.
That was not the only film to be dedicated to the actor after his passing. On top of that,Star Trek: Discoveryseason 3 featured a Federation Starship named theUSS Yelchin (NCC-4774-E), and a new ship named Yelchin was mentioned inDiscoveryseason 4.Star Trekhas found numerous ways to keep Anton Yelchin’s memory alive, and he has been and always shall be an important member of theStar Trekfamily.
Other Anton Yelchin Films Released After His Passing
His Posthumous Career Remains Impressive
Several other films and television shows featuring Anton Yelchin were released after the actor’s death and ahandful of them were actually dedicated to him. Along withStar TrekBeyond,Portowas released in the same year as Yelchin’s untimely death. The film centers on a romance set in a Portuguese city and was met with solid reception. In 2017, a trio of films featuring Yelchin arrived inThoroughbreds, where he played a drug dealer,Rememory, andWe Don’t Belong Here. All of those films were dedicated to Yelchin’s memory.
On top of those movies,the entirety of Guillermo del Toro’sTrollhunters: Tales of Arcadiawas dedicated to Yelchin. He famously voiced the role of the show’s protagonist, James Lake, for 41 episodes before Emile Hirsch, Yelchin’s co-star back inAlpha Dog, took over the part. In 2017,Smurfs: Lost Villagewas also dedicated to him, despite not featuring the actor. That’s because Yelchin voiced Clumsy Smurf in the previous installments and the filmmakers wanted to honor his memory.
Star Trek
Cast
J.J. Abrams' 2009 movie Star Trek rebooted the iconic sci-fi franchise in a totally new timeline. When a Romulan ship travels back in time and alters the past, the lives of James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto), and the future crew of the USS Enterprise are drastically changed. In this new timeline, the Romulan Nero (Eric Bana) sets out for revenge on Spock, setting off a chain of events that reshape the entire universe.
Star Trek Into Darkness
Star Trek Into Darkness follows Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise as they return home to find their organization under threat from a force within. Kirk leads a mission to apprehend a formidable adversary, navigating personal and professional challenges during this pivotal confrontation.
Star Trek Beyond
In the Kelvin timeline of Star Trek Films, Captain James Tiberius Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the U.S.S. Enterprise crew return to fight a new enemy who puts everything they and the Federation stand for to the ultimate test. This third installment of the rebooted Star Trek films marked the 50th anniversary of the classic sci-fi franchise.
