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Actor From ‘Star Trek’ Movies Killed in Freak Accident

Jun 20, 2016  •  Post A Comment

A young actor known for his work in the recent “Star Trek” feature films was killed by his own car in a freak accident. Anton Yelchin, who played Chekov in 2009’s “Star Trek,” 2013’s “Star Trek Into Darkness” and the upcoming “Star Trek Beyond,” died over the weekend after his car rolled down the driveway at his home in Studio City, Calif., pinning him against a brick mailbox pillar and a security fence.

The AP reports that Yelchin was on his way to meet friends for a rehearsal when the accident happened. Officials said Yelchin had gotten out of his car momentarily. “When he didn’t show up, the group came to his home and found him dead early Sunday,” the report notes.

Yelchin, who was born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg, Russia), was 27.

“The freak accident tragically cuts short the promising career of an actor whom audiences were still getting to know and who had great artistic ambition,” the AP report notes. “‘Star Trek Beyond,’ the third film in the rebooted series, comes out in July.”

Yelchin was a child actor in the early 2000s, with guest roles on TV series including “ER,” “Judging Amy,” “The Practice” and “NYPD Blue.” He played Jacob Clarke in Steven Spielberg’s 2002 miniseries “Taken,” and had a major role on the TV comedy “Huff,” which ran for two seasons on Showtime from 2004-2006.

On the big screen, Yelchin’s roles included “Terminator Salvation” in 2009 and “Fright Night” in 2011. He starred along with Felicity Jones and Jennifer Lawrence in the well-received 2011 indie film “Like Crazy.”

Here’s a trailer for “Like Crazy,” featuring Yelchin as Jacob …

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