Walter Koenig

Actor

View Full Interview

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About

About this interview

In his three-hour 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 -- on which he worked with Lee Marvin. He chronicles acting on the pilot episode of General Hospital, as well as appearing on 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, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"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."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

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

07:24

Walter Koenig on his favorite episodes of Star Trek

05:54

Walter Koenig on his Babylon 5 character "Alfred Bester"

03:37

Walter Koenig on attending Star Trek conventions

02:38

Walter Koenig on writing his autobiography

03:15

Full Interview

Play 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

Walter Koenig on acting on Alfred Hitchcock Presents

04:39

Babylon 5

Walter Koenig on playing "Alfred Bester" on Babylon 5

07:45

Walter Koenig on his Babylon 5 character "Alfred Bester"

03:37

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

03:28

Ben Casey

Walter Koenig on acting on Ben Casey

01:35

Columbo

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

03:56

General Hospital

Walter Koenig on acting in the pilot of General Hospital

01:29

Gidget

Walter Koenig on acting on Gidget

02:34

I Spy

Walter Koenig on acting on I Spy

01:42

Incredible Hulk, The

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

09:57

Lieutenant, The

Walter Koenig on acting on the series The Lieutenant

02:20

Mr. Novak

Walter Koenig on acting in the series Mr. Novak

03:55

Walter Koenig on acting on the series Mr. Novak

10:08

Star Trek

Walter Koenig on acting in Star Trek: The Motion Picture directed by Robert Wise

02:50

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

07:24

Walter Koenig on the development of his character "Pavel Chekov" on Star Trek

04:33

Walter Koenig on the personality of his character "Pavel Chekov" on Star Trek and his relationship with "Captain Kirk"

01:49

Walter Koenig on the look of his Star Trek character "Pavel Chekov"

01:17

Walter Koenig on the challenge of coming into Star Trek in season 2 and dealing with special effects and props

05:22

Walter Koenig on working with the different personalities on Star Trek

04:36

Walter Koenig on the filming of Star Trek

01:21

Walter Koenig on the reasons Star Trek's iconic status

05:48

Walter Koenig on working with Star Trek producer Robert Justman

00:52

Walter Koenig on working with various people on Star Trek

08:46

Walter Koenig on his favorite episodes of Star Trek

05:54

Walter Koenig on Gene Roddenberry leaving Star Trek

01:47

Walter Koenig on playing a Russian character on Star Trek

01:39

Walter Koenig on the financial aspects of being on Star Trek

04:35

Walter Koenig on attending Star Trek conventions

02:38

Walter Koenig on the legacy of Star Trek

04:21

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

Walter Koenig on his favorite episodes of Star Trek

05:54

Star Trek: The Animated Series

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

06:47

Untouchables, The

Walter Koenig on acting in an episode of The Untouchables

01:04

Topics

Advice

Walter Koenig on his advice to a young actor

04:31

Characters & Catchphrases

Walter Koenig on his Star Trek character "Pavel Chekov"

15:03

Classic TV series episodes

Walter Koenig on his favorite episodes of Star Trek

05:54

Fame and Celebrity

Walter Koenig on attending Star Trek conventions

02:38

First Big Break

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

07:24

Pivotal Career Moments

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

07:24

Walter Koenig on his advice to a young actor

04:31

Pop Culture

Walter Koenig on his Star Trek character "Pavel Chekov"

15:03

Walter Koenig on his favorite episodes of Star Trek

05:54

Walter Koenig on attending Star Trek conventions

02:38

Professions

Actor

View Profession

Walter Koenig on his advice to a young actor

04:31

Performers

View Profession

Walter Koenig on his advice to a young actor

04:31

Genres

Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series

Walter Koenig on playing "Pavel Chekov" on Star Trek

33:02

Walter Koenig on working on Star Trek

36:32

Walter Koenig on playing "Alfred Bester" on Babylon 5

07:45

Walter Koenig on playing "Alfred Bester" on Babylon 5

07:05

People

DeForest Kelley

View Person Page

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

08:47

Gene Roddenberry

View Person Page

Walter Koenig on Gene Roddenberry leaving Star Trek

01:47

George Takei

View Interview Page

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

08:47

Lee Marvin

View Person Page

Walter Koenig on acting in the series The Great Adventure

06:40

Leonard Nimoy

View Interview Page

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

08:47

Nichelle Nichols

View Interview Page

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

08:47

Robert Justman

View Interview Page

Walter Koenig on working with Star Trek producer Robert Justman

00:52

William Shatner

View Interview Page

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

04:36

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

08:47