The 1966 television show known as “Star Trek” has since become a cherished classic, generating legions of fans across numerous generations and inspiring various spin-offs. However, despite its enduring popularity, the series was unfortunately terminated after three seasons. Star Trek was a groundbreaking series that took place in the 23rd century, focusing on Captain James T. Kirk (portrayed by William Shatner) and his dedicated crew aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. One of the key members of this crew, Pavel Chekov, was played by Walter Koenig during seasons two and three of “Star Trek.
Koenig recently disclosed that he departed from the cast of “Star Trek” during its third season. However, as many people associated with the show believed it was about to be canceled (and indeed, it was), not many were concerned about his departure. According to an episode of a podcast hosted by Ryan T. Husk and , Koenig discussed his absence in the third season of “Star Trek”, stating that he chose to leave partly to uphold his “dignity.
Koenig: The Crew Had a Feeling Trek Would be Canceled
As a passionate Star Trek fan and one who was deeply involved in the series, I shared my experience during a conversation about the Season 2 episode “The Trouble with Tribbles.” I recalled, “I parted ways with the show at the onset of the third season. To be honest, given the uncertain future of the show, it seemed nobody really cared much about my departure.
Koenig shared he took a break from “Star Trek” to act in a stage play. He said, “I was away for about a month and performed in a play near Chicago with Jackie Coogan, who used to work alongside Charlie Chaplin. It was an enjoyable experience. Additionally, I didn’t miss being part of the show because at that time, it felt more like ‘Aye aye, sir.’ Moreover, I yearned to carry on acting in my preferred profession with some respect, which he referred to as ‘Dignity of participation.’
Star Trek (1966)
| Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score | IMDb Rating |
| 80% | 89% | 8.4/10 |
The Supporting Cast Was Often Left with Nothing to Do
He mentioned that in episodes similar to “The Trouble with Tribbles,” he and his fellow supporting actors such as James Doohan, Nichelle Nichols, and George Takei were given significant roles. However, it was common for Koenig and the others to be overshadowed by Leonard Nimoy’s Spock and DeForest Kelley’s Dr. McCoy in many cases.
Chekov Returned for the Movies
In the subsequent Star Trek movies that included the original cast, Koenig reprised his role as Pavel Chekov. Notably, in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, he embarked on a quest for “Nuclear Wessels” and narrowly escaped death when he located them. However, it’s worth noting that the movies primarily centered around the main three stars of the franchise.
In Star Trek: Picard’s third series, Koenig portrayed a descendant of Pavel Chekov through a voice-only performance. This character, named Anton Chekov, made an appearance in “The Last Generation.
The complete Star Trek series can be streamed on Paramount+, but it’s also accessible to watch for free on Pluto TV.
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2025-06-07 00:35