Truly shocking and terrible news today.Anton Yelchin, best known for playing Chekov in theStar Trekfilms, has died in a car accident at the age of 27.
Yelchin first gained critical attention for his work as Zack Mazursky inAlpha Dogand the title role inCharlie Bartlettbefore going on to major studio production likeStar Trek,Terminator Salvationand the underratedFright Nightremake. Throughout his career he continued to pick exciting roles and work with repected veteran filmmakers likeJim JarmushonOnly Lover Left AliveandJoe DanteonBurying the Ex, as well as exciting upcoming voices likeDrake DoremusonLike CrazyandJeremy Saulnieron this year’s critically acclaimedGreen Room.
Yelchin’s yet-to-be-released films includeRememory,We Don’t Belong Hereand the latestStar Trekinstallment,Star Trek Beyond, which is set to arrive in theaters this July. He was also cast in the upcoming Stephen King adaptation,Mr. Mercedes.
UPDATE: The LAPD has confirmed the details of the accident.
“A fatal traffic collision happened in Studio City. On Sunday, June 19 at 1:10 in the morning, a fatal traffic collision occurred. It was the result of the victim’s own car rolling backwards down his steep driveway, pinning him against a brick mailbox pillar and security fence,” said LAPD spokesperson Jenny Hauser. “The victim was on his way to meet his friends for rehearsal. And when he didn’t show up, his friends went to his house, where they found him deceased by his car. It appeared he had momentarily exited his car leaving it in the driveway.”
Paramount Pictures, the studio behindStar Trek, has also released an official statement on Yelchin’s passing.
All of us at Paramount join the world in morning the untimely passing of Antony Yelchin. As a member of the Star Trek family, he was beloved by so many and he will missed by all. We share our deepest condolences with his mother, father and family.
Our deepest condolences go out to his friends and family.
