The solid of “Star Trek” wasn’t full till the addition of Ensign Pavel Chekov originally of the present’s second season. Ensign Chekov was not solely a youthful counterpoint to the stuffy Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and the stuffier Commander Spock (Leonard Nimoy), however he additionally rounded out the collection’ multicultural bridge crew. Notably, Chekov was Russian and pleased with his Russian heritage. The unique “Star Trek” was being produced within the late Sixties, on the top of the Chilly Battle, so together with a Russian character was a daring transfer. Actor Walter Koenig performed Chekov with aplomb, becoming a member of the ensemble with ease. Certainly, it felt like he had at all times been there.
Koenig has at all times been pragmatic and life like about his profession. He has spoken brazenly that he was employed in an effort to attraction to a youthful viewers, and lots of followers have famous his resemblance to Davy Jones, star of the then-contemporaneous collection “The Monkees.” In interviews, Koenig has mentioned he loved his time engaged on “Star Trek” (even when Shatner acquired on his nerves), however he additionally understood that it was only a gig and that it may dry up at any time. He is been completely satisfied to return to the franchise through the years, however he would’ve been simply as pleased with every other performing work.
Working example, Koenig even left the collection for a spell to work on one other venture in the course of the third season of “Star Trek” in 1968. It isn’t that Koenig did not take “Star Trek” critically, however he took it simply as critically as every other common performing job. That’s: He would play the function in entrance of him to the utmost of his talents, however he would additionally transfer on to a greater venture if it offered itself. Showing on the “seventh Rule” podcast to speak concerning the traditional “Star Trek” episode “The Hassle with Tribbles,” Koenig affirmed that he did, in reality, depart “Star Trek” for a number of weeks in order that he may seem in a play with Jackie Coogan.
Walter Koenig was completely satisfied to take a quick break from Star Trek in 1968
Paramount
The “seventh Rule” podcast, by the way in which, is a “Star Trek” assessment collection hosted by Cirroc Lofton, who performed Jake Sisko on “Star Trek: Deep Area 9,” in addition to “Star Trek Into Darkness” additional and fan filmmaker Ryan T. Husk. They repeatedly delve into particular person “Star Trek” episodes and have secured visitor appearances from plenty of actors who’ve labored on the “Star Trek” franchise. Therefore, when it got here time to debate an episode as well-known as “The Hassle with Tribbles,” it was virtually a necessity for them to talk with one of many surviving members of the unique “Star Trek” solid. Fortunately, Koenig was recreation.
He talked concerning the episode, however he additionally mentioned the place his profession was within the late Sixties and the way he was nonetheless desperate to tackle a number of jobs, ought to they current themselves. Seeing as “Star Trek” wasn’t terribly common when it initially aired, the actor, on the time, did not really feel it was all that unwise to go away it for a bit. Somewhat, when offered with a stage job reverse an performing legend, Koenig jumped on the probability. As he put it:
“I left ‘Star Trek’ within the third season. I left the present. No one thought it was going to be picked up anyway, so no person actually cared. I left for a month and I did a play outdoors of Chicago with Jackie Coogan, Charlie Chaplin’s previous sidekick, and that was nice enjoyable. And I did not miss being on the present as a result of, at that time, it was actually, ‘Aye aye, sir,’ ? And I nonetheless wished to carry out in my chosen occupation with some dignity. Dignity of participation.”
Being on stage with the star of Chaplin’s “The Child” was higher than being a supporting participant on a failing sci-fi collection, so Koenig took the job. The play was titled “Make a Million,” and one can discover previous applications on-line. Koenig ultimately got here again and completed the collection, however performing on stage, it appears, was the extra gratifying profession path on the time.
