Walter Koenig says he never felt left behind while filming Star Trek: The Original Series

As a lifelong Star Trek fan who grew up watching the original series, I can’t help but appreciate the contributions of Walter Koenig as Ensign Chekov. Though he may have been a supporting character, his impact on the series was undeniably significant.

Walter Koenig initially joined Star Trek: The Original Series in the second season’s episode “Amok Time.” Across the subsequent two seasons, he featured in thirty-six episodes in total. Although Chekov, his character, wasn’t often spotlighted, there were a few episodes where more attention was given to him. And Koenig himself was content with this arrangement.

In an interview with IGN, Koenig shared that he figured out how the show’s system functioned during filming in the 1960s, when the series was being produced. The main cast consisted of William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and DeForest Kelley, while he, James Doohan, Nichelle Nichols, and George Takei formed the supporting characters.

As a humble background actor during the filming of the series, I was just glad to receive a steady paycheck each week. I didn’t anticipate anything beyond what my role required, so I didn’t feel slighted when the spotlight fell on Shatner, Nimoy, or Kelley instead.

“[They] got most of the screen time, got most of the attention, and we accepted it,” he continued. “That’s the way things went. And I think Bill [Shatner] had grown up with that sense, and his popularity was so immense, and he was an extremely talented fellow. And so he, I think, just unconsciously accepted the way things were. […] So there was less recognition for us. During the years we were shooting, I never felt left behind because I never anticipated more than that. I felt very lucky that I had been cast in a situation where I would get a check every week. It was quite amazing to me.

Following the conclusion of the show, Koenig reappeared in subsequent films and has since found himself quite busy on the convention scene. He’s come to realize that the fans are just as thrilled to encounter him as they are with any other cast members from the series.

Though the show primarily spotlighted its main characters, we viewed the supporting cast as integral to “The Original Series.” It seemed inconceivable for the series to retain its essence without any one of them. Koenig, who knew his place in the series, was content as a supporting player. To us, however, he embodied Chekov, a crucial figure aboard the Enterprise. This is likely why he continues to resonate with fans today.

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2024-09-18 04:22