RIP Walter Koenig, Ensign Chekov, original Star Trek

[Astronuc]

Walter Koenig has passed away at age 90.
https://apnews.com/article/walter-koenig-dies-ad6aed51fc41417a8812bffccec1393c

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actor Walter Koenig, who played Ensign Pavel Chekov, the youthful Russian navigator on the “ Star Trek ” television series and several movies, has died. He was 90.

Koenig died Monday at his home in the North Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, talent agent Zachery McGinnis said in a statement.

In “Star Trek,” Ensign Chekov was the sole Communist-bloc member of the spaceship Enterprise bridge staff. His friendly, supportive presence showed how the rival nations (in the far-off future in which the show was set) were capable of working together.

 

[Hornbein]

Koenig means "king" in German.

 

[davenn]

will never be forgotten and now there is only 2

A warrior is on his way ......

 

[renormalize]

View attachment 375031

I'm curious about the second photo. Many of the crew members depicted, including "Chekov", don't look like actual characters I remember from Star Trek TOS, leading me to guess that the image is just AI slop. Yet a couple of different free AI detectors classify it as likely a "real" photo. So what gives?

 

[PeroK]

If that's the original Star Trek cast, then I'm the Czar of all the Russias!

 

[Ibix]

Many of the crew members depicted, including "Chekov", don't look like actual characters I remember from Star Trek TOS,

The transporter pads aren't evenly spaced either.

There have been various fan-made "new episodes" on YouTube, some with some serious production values and actors who look something like the original cast. Could be the AI used photos of one of them for its source material.

 

[renormalize]

Could be the AI used photos of one of them for its source material.

But if the creation of the photo involved AI, it's a poor testament to the reliability of those free online AI image detectors that declare it be "real".

 

[bob012345]

If that's the original Star Trek cast, then I'm the Czar of all the Russias!

How many Russias are there? I always thought one was enough!

 

[AlexB23]

Walter Koenig has passed away at age 90.
https://apnews.com/article/walter-koenig-dies-ad6aed51fc41417a8812bffccec1393c

May he live long and prosper in the life next. Great actor who played a great role in Star Trek: TOS.

 

[Ibix]

He was also the creepily evil Mr Bester in Babylon 5. I think he was supposed to be a one-off character, but got promoted to a recurring role because he worked so well as a foil for most of the main cast.

 

[davenn]

I'm curious about the second photo. Many of the crew members depicted, including "Chekov", don't look like actual characters I remember from Star Trek TOS, leading me to guess that the image is just AI slop. Yet a couple of different free AI detectors classify it as likely a "real" photo. So what gives?

Yes, obviously AI recreations :)

 

[PeroK]

How many Russias are there? I always thought one was enough!

There's the United States of Russia, run by President Krasnov.