I loved Anton Yelchin so much. He was a true artist – curious, beautiful, courageous. He was a great pal and a great son. I’m in ruins.
— John Cho (@JohnTheCho) June 19, 2016
We were all stunned and saddened to hear that Anton Yelchin had passed away yesterday, at the age of 27, in a tragic accident. The Russian-born actor played many parts in the SFF realm, from Terminator Salvation to Odd Thomas to the remake of Fright Night to a wonderful supporting role in Only Lovers Left Alive, to the recent Green Room. But he was perhaps most beloved for playing the part of Ensign Pavel Chekov in the current rebooted Star Trek film series. The buoyancy and charm that Yelchin brought to the role was noted and adored by fans the world over.
Yelchin was a bright light in the lives of many. Below, his Star Trek cast-mates, crew, and other creatives remember their time with the young actor.
Green Room director Jeremy Saulnier spoke to Indiewire about working with the actor:
Anton was a dream. He was kind and sharp and as sincere as anyone I’ve ever known…. I put a lot on his shoulders when I asked him to play my lead, but he carried the cinematic weight like a goddamn champion. Not only did he bring a delicate balance of tragic vulnerability and intense physicality to his character on screen, he offered his unending generosity and patience off-screen. In an industry governed by Excel sheets and foreign sales estimates, Anton reminded me that there’s nothing more valuable than good people. He put me back in the comfort zone I knew growing up, making backyard films with best friends, and created a protective bubble where creativity could thrive.
You can read the rest of Saulnier’s touching tribute here.
Yelchin’s Only Lovers Left Alive costar, Tom Hiddleston, posted thoughts on Twitter:
Absolutely devastated to hear about Anton Yelchin. He was such a gifted, natural actor & a deeply kind man. My thoughts are with his family.
— Tom Hiddleston (@twhiddleston) June 19, 2016
Guillermo del Toro, who worked with Yelchin on the upcoming Netflix series Trollhunters, said:
Anton was a sweetheart. Absolutely a great creative partner and artist.
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) June 19, 2016
And various members of the Star Trek family flooded social media with tributes.
George Takei posted to his Facebook page, saying “Our Star Trek family has lost one of its own. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.”
Heartbreaking to hear the news today about Anton. An incredible talent, lost much too soon. He will be missed.??
— Adam Nimoy (@adam_nimoy) June 19, 2016
Sad news for such a talented young man. Condolences to the family of Anton Yelchin.
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) June 20, 2016
Devastated by our friend’s loss. We are mourning his passing and celebrating the beautiful spirit that he was. #RIPAnton
— Zoe Saldana (@zoesaldana) June 20, 2016
Still in shock. Rest in peace, Anton. Your passion and enthusiasm will live on with everyone that had the pleasure of knowing you.
— Justin Lin (@trailingjohnson) June 19, 2016
Simon Pegg posted this wonderful picture:
— Bad Robot (@bad_robot) June 19, 2016
J.J. Abrams also sent a note to EW on behalf of Yelchin’s “Star Trek family”:
Anton was our little brother. But only by years; he was as wise and clever and intellectually curious as anyone we ever knew. His laugh was preposterous – you couldn’t hear it and not laugh yourself. He was funny, edgy, wild and talented beyond measure. His focus and dedication was admirable, as was his love of family, friends, literature and music.
We loved Anton, at work or at play. We are all shocked and numb and devastated by the world’s loss of an extraordinary young man.
To his family, we send you our love during this impossible time.
We will miss Anton forever.
His Star Trek family
Perhaps the very best summation of Anton Yelchin was shared on Reddit. For our own part, we would simply encourage you to go watch his films. He made a wonderfully positive contribution to the SFF world in his too-short career, and he will be hugely missed.
I’m surprised at how hard this loss has hit me, given that I’ve only seen Yelchin in four things: His first two Trek films, Terminator: Salvation, and a Law and Order: Criminal Intent episode. And he was underutilized as Chekov, though he was by far the best thing about Salvation (as Kyle Reese, he conveyed the charisma, strength, and leadership that Christian Bale totally failed to convey as John Connor). But even in those few glimpses, he proved himself an unforgettable actor who, by all rights, should’ve had a great career ahead of him. That this should happen so early in his life, and so randomly, hits hard. The Trek community has lost cast members before, but usually decades after their tenure on the series, never so soon.
Besides, he was Chekov. I’ve been a Star Trek fan since I was five years old and a professional Star Trek author for a dozen years, so losing a Trek lead is like losing a member of the family. And then there’s the fact that I wrote for his character. I was one of the authors hired by Pocket Books to write tie-ins to the Abrams continuity, and even though those books were cancelled, we still completed our manuscripts before that happened, using the new actors’ performances and personas as our guides. Maybe that’s part of why it feels like I’ve lost someone close.
Tragic.
Yes, Anton Yelchin was a gifted actor. It was his portrayal of Kyle Reese when his talent first caught my attention. He had Michael Biehn’s mannerisms down and not in a cartoonish way; it was a subtle performance. From there on I could see him becoming a big star someday on the level of a Christian Bale. So much promise.
RIP
Such a sad loss.
I fell in love with Anton in 2001, when I saw him in “Hearts in Atlantis.” I have no idea of the number of times I’ve watched it since. Boy, could that kid cry! I was devastated when “Huff” was canceled. He was a perfect Chekov. An adorable Chekov. I think that the notice of his death marks the first time that I’ve ever cried while reading my Facebook page.
Anton, it’s been a delight to watch you grow over the years.
Have a happy, inquisitive time in Heaven. Their gain is our dreadful loss.
So sad :( He was definitely one of my favorite parts of the new Star Trek movies; loved his enthusiasm. Which is not to say it’s only sad because he’s famous or what have you. I feel so horrible for his family and parents. A lot of potential cut short :(
This line kind in the linked article kind of got to me, as I also enjoy Dostoevsky…but I didn’t read him until I was in my late 20s/early 30s! “Jim was like, ‘Watch out. Anton read Dostoyevsky when he was like 11 years old!'” Klinger said.”
I still remember watching him in his first role. ER, season 6, episode 13: Be Still my Heart (AKA the one where Carter and Lucy are stabbed). A downright brutal episode (one of that show’s finest hours, in fact). He played a 10 year old who, alongside his little sister, survived a car accident that killed both his parents. There’s a two minute sequence in that episode where the doctors allow him to look closer at his dead parents. Not a word is said throughout the scene. His eyes convey all the necessary emotion before he breaks down in tears.
That was 16 years ago. Back then, I knew he had enormous potential for a lifelong career. I was proven right.
And he nailed the role of Chekov, accent and all, while bringing an innocence to the character that the Koenig version didn’t have, and still managed to bring the funny with him. He left this world way too soon.
I love that duck photo.
Sigh. Dying at the age of 27 is terrible.
This morning I left my house, and my book shelves are next to the door. There was a Chekov toy from McDonald’s from the first JJ movie, and Anton was staring at me as I left…
RIP Anton. You are already being missed and continued to be missed in the days to come.
I sometimes question the wisdom of God when a person as gifted as Anton Yelchin obviously was could be taken so soon and people on the world stage like Kim Jung-un are still alive.