Anton Yelchin Anton Viktorovich Yelchin was a Russian - born actor from Southern California who played in , , and . He also voiced Chekov in the " " video game , and appeared as his character in an commercial . Yelchin took over the role from Walter Koenig , who portrayed the character on and in seven feature films . Yelchin was unsure exactly why he was cast in that particular role , though he figured it had to do with his young age and the fact that he was " familiar with Russian people . Very , very familiar . " ( His parents are Russian . ) During his audition , Yelchin had to try out his Russian accent , which included saying Chekov ' s famous line from , " nuclear wessel " . Yelchin was unfamiliar with " Star Trek " prior to his being cast as Chekov but planned on viewing the various DVD box sets to learn more about the franchise . Like the rest of the cast , Yelchin had signed on to do two additional " Star Trek " films when he took the role of Chekov . The first of those films , " Star Trek Into Darkness " , was released in May 2013 and the second , " Star Trek Beyond " , was released in July 2016 . In 2009 , Yelchin was part of the " Star Trek " ensemble which received a Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award nomination in the category Best Ensemble and won a Boston Society of Film Critics Award in the category Best Ensemble Cast . He shared these awards with Chris Pine , Zachary Quinto , Zoe Saldana , Karl Urban , Leonard Nimoy , Simon Pegg , John Cho , Ben Cross , Eric Bana , Clifton Collins , Jr . , Bruce Greenwood , Jennifer Morrison , Chris Hemsworth , Winona Ryder , Faran Tahir , and Tyler Perry . In 2010 , Yelchin was part of the ensemble which received a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award nomination in the category Best Acting Ensemble for " Star Trek " . The virtual collectible card battle game " " used his pictures for card # 79 " Ensign P . Chekhov " and card # 95 " Acting Engineer P . Chekhov " . On , Yelchin was killed outside of his home in Los Angeles when his car rolled down his driveway , pinning him against a security fence and brick mailbox pillar . His death was ruled an accident as the result of " blunt traumatic asphyxia . " His 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee was subject to a recall . Fiat Chrysler will be investigating the circumstances behind his death . Directors J . J . Abrams and Justin Lin , as well as fellow cast members Zachary Quinto , Zoë Saldana , John Cho and Sofia Boutella paid tribute to Yelchin on social media , while Karl Urban expressed horror at what had happened . Abrams sent " Entertainment Weekly " a note signed by the " " Star Trek " Family " , describing Yelchin as " our little brother . But only by years ; he was as wise and clever and intellectually curious as anyone we ever knew . " Veterans of other " Star Trek " shows and films also paid tribute . His character will reportedly not be recast . His parents have filed a wrongful death and product liability lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler in relation to Yelchin ' s death . On , he was among the actors honored at the 2017 Academy Award s in their " In Memoriam " segment . Personal life . Anton Yelchin was born in Leningrad ( now Saint Petersburg ) in Russia , then the second largest city of the Soviet Union . His parents were Irina Korina and Viktor Yelchin , both of whom were figure skaters known throughout the country . In September 1989 , when Anton was only six months old , he and his parents emigrated to the United States . Because of their Jewish background , they received refugee status , owing to the long - term anti - Semitic policies of the Soviet State . ( It is worth noting that Walter Koenig who created the role of Chekov , was also of Soviet Jewish parentage , although he himself was not born in the USSR , and they were from Lithuania rather than Russia proper . ) Yelchin attended the Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies in Tarzana , California , and had begun acting by the age of nine . He enrolled at the University of Southern California in 2007 to study film . In addition to acting , Yelchin enjoyed playing the guitar . At the time of his death , he lived in Studio City , Los Angeles , California . Career . 2000 - 2003 . His first television appearance came at the tender age of 11 in an episode of " ER " . His first films were the drama " A Time for Dancing " and the independent film " A Man Is Mostly Water " , both made in 2000 , with the latter co - starring guest star Chris Rydell . Yelchin and Scarlett Pomers both made featured appearances in the 2000 television movie " Geppetto " , which starred s Rene Auberjonois and s Brent Spiner . Yelchin played the title role in the comedy film " Delivering Milo " , about the spirit of a boy who must be convinced that life is worth being born for . actor Michael Welch was among Yelchin ' s co - stars in this film , as was John Cho , whom Yelchin again worked with on " Star Trek " . In addition , Yelchin had a featured role in the film " 15 Minutes " , starring Avery Brooks , Kim Cattrall , and Kelsey Grammer . He also had a supporting role in the Paramount Pictures thriller " Along Came a Spider " . All of these films were released in the 2001 . Yelchin won a Young Spirit Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film by a Leading Young Actor for his work in the 2001 - based drama " Hearts in Atlantis " . He received a second Young Artist Award nomination for his performance on the acclaimed television mini - series " Taken " ( with Matt Frewer , Gwynyth Walsh , Rob LaBelle , and Brian Markinson ) . In 2002 , Yelchin had a two - episode recurring role on the legal drama " The Practice " , with Paul Dooley and Alan Dale playing judges . Yelchin was also seen on " Judging Amy " with Chris Sarandon . In 2003 , he appeared in an episode of " Without a Trace " with Christopher McDonald . Enrique Murciano was a regular on this series . 2004 - 2007 . From 2004 through 2006 , Yelchin starred in the Showtime series " Huff " , playing the son of the title character . In addition , Yelchin earned a third Young Spirit Award nomination for his starring role in the 2004 television movie " Jack " . This latter project also featured the aforementioned Brent Spiner , as well as Erich Anderson . Yelchin ' s other television credits included guest spots on " Curb Your Enthusiasm " ( 2004 , with Patrick Kerr ) , " NYPD Blue " ( 2004 , with Gordon Clapp ) , and " " ( 2006 ) , which was developed by Rene Balcer . Yelchin also continued making a name for himself in films , receiving notices for his starring roles in 2004 ' s " House of D " ( co - starring Willie Garson and Robin Williams ) and 2006 ' s " Alpha Dog " . He also starred in the drama " Fierce People " , which played at film festivals in 2005 and was released in theaters in September 2007 . He then starred in the film " Charlie Bartlett " ( 2007 ) , in which he played the title role , a wealthy teenager who appoints himself psychiatrist of his high school . 2008 - 2013 . " Star Trek " was not the only iconic franchise that Yelchin became a part of in 2009 . Released just two weeks after " Star Trek " was the fourth " Terminator " film , " Terminator Salvation " , in which Yelchin played a teenage Kyle Reese ( the role originated by in 1984 ' s " The Terminator " ) . In 2011 , Yelchin starred in the acclaimed 2011 romantic drama " Like Crazy " , which also featured Amanda Carlin and for which he won the Spotlight Award at the Hollywood Film Festival and the Breakthrough Performer Award at the Hamptons International Film Festival . That same year , he starred in the remake of the 1985 cult horror film " Fright Night " as Charley Brewster , a teenager who believes his neighbor is a vampire . guest actor Chris Sarandon , who starred in the original " Fright Night " , made a cameo in the remake ; Michael De Luca , writer of the episode , was one of the film ' s producers . Yelchin was the voice of Clumsy Smurf in the 2011 film version of " The Smurfs " and its 2013 sequel , " The Smurfs 2 " . The first " Smurfs " film also featured the voices of John Kassir and Frank Welker . Also in 2013 , Yelchin was seen in ' s acclaimed vampire drama " Only Lovers Left Alive " and in the leading role of the thriller " Odd Thomas " . 2014 - 2016 . Yelchin acted alongside Frank Langella in the romantic comedy " 5 to 7 " ( 2014 ) and the neo - noir dramedy " The Driftless Area " ( 2015 ) and worked with his " Star Trek " co - star Winona Ryder in the biographical drama " Experimenter " ( 2015 ) , the latter of which had portraying William Shatner . Yelchin also appeared in " Rudderless " ( 2014 ) with Jennifer Savidge , " Burying the Ex " ( 2014 ) with Dick Miller , and " Broken Horses " ( 2015 ) with Eric Sharp and Steve Luna . Most recently , Yelchin starred opposite star Patrick Stewart in Jeremy Saulnier ' s critically - acclaimed horror - thriller " Green Room " ( 2016 ) . In that film , Yelchin portrays a bassist whose band is hunted down by a gang of skinheads led by Stewart ' s character . In addition to " Star Trek Beyond " , Yelchin had a number of other projects awaiting release at the time of his death , including the sci - fi drama " Rememory " and the family drama " We Don ' t Belong Here " . It was also announced just days prior to his death that he , Kelsey Grammer , and Ron Perlman were the voices of the main characters in ' s animated Netflix series " Trollhunters " , set to premiere in December 2016 .