Walter Koenig

Actor
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his three-hour Archive interview, Walter Koenig talks about his start in acting and his short-lived career as a dancer. He describes his early years in television, including guest spots on Day in Court, The Untouchables, and The Great Adventure - in which he worked with Lee Marvin. He chronicles acting in the pilot episode of General Hospital, as well as appearing in Ben Casey, Gidget (on which he worked with Sally Field) and I Spy. He recounts being cast in Star Trek as "Pavel Checkov", and recalls his over twenty-year journey with the franchise. Koenig then outlines the cultural phenomenon of the Star Trek series and explains how it has affected his career. He speaks of his stint on the sci-fi series Babylon 5 as "Alfred Bester", and describes his then-current projects. Melody Chen conducted the interview on January 14, 2013 in North Hollywood, California.

"That camaraderie among 'Star Trek' fans became more extensive when they started having conventions. It wasn't only what you'd traditionally call nerds. It was people who had a sense of humanity and a sense of justice. People who had imagination and people who loved monsters. It covered a much larger canvas than was initially thought."

Interviewee(s)
Walter Koenig
Highlights
Walter Koenig on being cast as "Pavel Chekov" on Star Trek  and making the character Russian
Walter Koenig on his favorite episodes of Star Trek
Walter Koenig on his Babylon 5 character "Alfred Bester"
Walter Koenig on attending Star Trek  conventions 
Walter Koenig on writing his autobiography 
Full Interview

Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on getting into acting
On early television he watched; on what attracted him to acting; on his first acting job
On acting in Day in Court; on acting in the made-for-television movie Goodbye Raggedy Ann and The Untouchables
On acting in the series The Great Adventure; on acting on the series Mr. Novak

Chapter 2
On acting on the series Mr. Novak; on acting on the series The Lieutenant; on acting on Alfred Hitchcock Presents
On acting on Ben Casey; on acting on Gidget and I Spy; on the types of roles he played before Star Trek
On being cast as "Pavel Chekov" on Star Trek; on the development of the character of "Pavel Chekov" on Star Trek; on the personality and look of his character on the show
On coming aboard to Star Trek in it's second season; on working with the different personalities on Star Trek; on Star Trek's iconic status

Chapter 3
On working with various people on Star Trek; on his favorite Star Trek episodes
On Gene Roddenberry and Star Trek; on the financial aspects of being on Star Trek and attending Star Trek conventions; on Star Trek: The Animated Series
On the legacy of Star Trek; on his post- Star Trek career and his writing career
On guest-starring on Columbo; on playing "Alfred Bester" on Babylon 5

Chapter 4
On his Babylon 5 character "Alfred Bester"; on then-current projects; on writing his autobiography; on his advice to young actors and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows

Alfred Hitchcock Presents aka The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

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Walter Koenig on acting on Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Babylon 5

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Walter Koenig on playing "Alfred Bester" on Babylon 5
Walter Koenig on his Babylon 5 character "Alfred Bester"
Walter Koenig on the public reaction to his Babylon 5 character "Alfred Bester"

Ben Casey

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Walter Koenig on acting on Ben Casey

Columbo

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Walter Koenig on guest-starring on Columbo along with William Shatner

General Hospital

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Walter Koenig on acting in the pilot of General Hospital

Gidget

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Walter Koenig on acting on Gidget

I Spy

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Walter Koenig on acting on I Spy

Incredible Hulk, The

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Walter Koenig on his immediate post- Star Trek acting career and writing career

Lieutenant, The

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Walter Koenig on acting on the series The Lieutenant 

Mr. Novak

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Walter Koenig on acting in the series Mr. Novak
Walter Koenig on acting on the series Mr. Novak

Star Trek

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Walter Koenig on acting in Star Trek: The Motion Picture directed by Robert Wise
Walter Koenig on being cast as "Pavel Chekov" on Star Trek and making the character Russian
Walter Koenig on the development of his character "Pavel Chekov" on Star Trek
Walter Koenig on the personality of his character "Pavel Chekov" on Star Trek and his relationship with "Captain Kirk"
Walter Koenig on the look of his Star Trek character "Pavel Chekov"
Walter Koenig on the challenge of coming into Star Trek in season 2 and dealing with special effects and props
Walter Koenig on working with the different personalities on Star Trek
Walter Koenig on the filming of Star Trek
Walter Koenig on the reasons Star Trek's iconic status
Walter Koenig on working with Star Trek producer Robert Justman
Walter Koenig on working with various people on Star Trek
Walter Koenig on his favorite episodes of Star Trek
Walter Koenig on Gene Roddenberry leaving Star Trek
Walter Koenig on playing a Russian character on Star Trek
Walter Koenig on the financial aspects of being on Star Trek
Walter Koenig on attending Star Trek conventions
Walter Koenig on the legacy of Star Trek

Star Trek: "The City on the Edge of Forever"

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Walter Koenig on his favorite episodes of Star Trek

Star Trek: The Animated Series

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Walter Koenig on not being asked to participate in the voiceover for Star Trek: The Animated Series, and writing a script for the series

Untouchables, The

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Walter Koenig on acting in an episode of The Untouchables
Topics

Advice

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Walter Koenig on his advice to a young actor

Characters & Catchphrases

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Walter Koenig on his  Star Trek character "Pavel Chekov"

Classic TV series episodes

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Walter Koenig on his favorite episodes of Star Trek

Fame and Celebrity

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Walter Koenig on attending Star Trek  conventions

First Big Break

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Walter Koenig on being cast as "Pavel Chekov" on Star Trek and making the character Russian

Pivotal Career Moments

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Walter Koenig on being cast as "Pavel Chekov" on Star Trek and making the character Russian
Walter Koenig on his advice to a young actor

Pop Culture

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Walter Koenig on his  Star Trek character "Pavel Chekov"
Walter Koenig on his favorite episodes of Star Trek
Walter Koenig on attending Star Trek  conventions 
Professions

Actor

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Walter Koenig on his advice to a young actor

Performers

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Walter Koenig on his advice to a young actor
Genres

Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series

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Walter Koenig on playing "Pavel Chekov" on Star Trek
Walter Koenig on working on Star Trek
Walter Koenig on playing "Alfred Bester" on Babylon 5
Walter Koenig on playing "Alfred Bester" on Babylon 5
People

Robert Justman

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Walter Koenig on working with Star Trek producer Robert Justman

DeForest Kelley

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Walter Koenig on working with various people on  Star Trek:  DeForest Kelley

Lee Marvin

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Walter Koenig on acting in the series The Great Adventure

Nichelle Nichols

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Walter Koenig on working with various people on Star Trek:  Nichelle Nichols 

Leonard Nimoy

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Walter Koenig on working with various people on Star Trek:  Leonard Nimoy

Gene Roddenberry

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Walter Koenig on Gene Roddenberry leaving Star Trek

William Shatner

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Walter Koenig on working with the different personalities on Star Trek:  William Shatner
Walter Koenig on working with various people on Star Trek:  William Shatner

George Takei

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Walter Koenig on working with various people on Star Trek:  George Takei 

All Interviews

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