Anton Yelchin, known for playing Chekov in the recent ‘Star Trek’ films, has been killed by his own car at his home in Los Angeles.
Police say that the car struck him after rolling backwards down the steep driveway at his home in Studio City, trapping him against a brick postbox pillar and security fence. He died soon after 1:00am (8:00am GMT) on Sunday morning.
LA police officer Jenny Hosier said the actor had just got out of the vehicle when it rolled back. She added that he had been on his way to a rehearsal but when he did not arrive, his friends from the group went to his home and found him dead.
Yelchin is set to appear in the third film of the series, ‘Star Trek Beyond’, set to release in July.
JJ Abrams, director of the first two ‘Star Trek’ films that Yelchin appeared in, paid his tributes on Twitter:
“Anton – you were brilliant. You were kind. You were funny as hell, and supremely talented. And you weren’t here nearly long enough. Missing you…”
Zachary Quinto who plays Spock, posted a picture of Yelchin on Instagram, writing,
“Our dear friend. Our comrade. Our Anton.
“One of the most open and intellectually curious people I have ever had the pleasure to know. So enormously talented and generous of heart. Wise beyond his years. And gone before his time. All love and strength to his family at this impossible time of grief.”
Jodie Foster, who directed 2011 film The Beaver which starred Yelchin, described him as “a rare and beautiful soul with his unstoppable passion for life”.