Biography for
Walter Koenig (I)

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Walter Koenig has had a recurring role of the quintessential bad guy "Bester" on the television series "Babylon 5" (1994). He has been the "Special Guest Star" in twelve episodes and, at the end of the third season, the production company applied for an Emmy nomination on his behalf. He once again plays Bester in the spin-off show "Crusade" (1999). He has also appeared on dozens of other television series and as the character, Chekov, in the "Star Trek" (1966) TV programs. Mr. Koenig recreated the character of the Russian navigator for the first seven Star Trek films and 1988 took the leading role in the video feature, Moontrap (1989). In an interactive state-of-the-art video game from Digital Pictures called Maximum Surge (1996) (VG), Walter Koenig stars as Drexel, another bad guy. Walter completed worked in the low budget feature film Drawing Down the Moon (1997) from Chaos Productions. And has star billing as a German psychologist in the martial arts picture, _Sworn to Justice (1996)_. A one character piece that Mr. Koenig wrote and performed entitled You're Never Alone when You're a Schizophrenic was a finalist in the 1996 New York Film Festival awards. Koenig filmed a guest appearance as himself on the CBS situation comedy "Almost Perfect" (1995), did sketch comedy on the Comedy Central series _"Viva Variety" (1996)_ and performed on an ESPN sports commercial that aired in the Spring of '98. The Viacom CD-Rom, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (1997) (VG) in which Walter reprised the character of Chekov continues to sell impressively. Walter also hosted a cult movie marathon for Comedy Central. It played once a week for the course of a month. Walter Koenig's autobiography, Warped Factors - A Neurotic's Guide to the Universe was released through Taylor Publishing on April 1, 1998. The audio tape reading of the book by the author has been released through Dove Video in January 1999. Mr. Koenig performed as the "Shadow Guy" in an episode of "Diagnosis Murder" (1993) and went to New York to perform in a new radio broadcast version of War of the Worlds in tribute to both H.G. Wells and Orson Welles. From the Girls of Summer to The Boys in Autumn, Walter Koenig's stage career spans thirty years and includes stops in New York with A Midsummer Night's Dream (Quince) and Six Characters in Search of an Author (Oldest Son). In Chicago he guested in Make a Million (Johnny) opposite Jackie Coogan and on the road -- from Arizon to Philadelphia -- Mark Lenard (Sarek: Spock's father) and he performed in the short plays Box and Cox (Box) and Actors (Dave). They also toured in a two character play, The Boys in Autumn, the comedy-drama about the reunion of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn forty years later. By himself, Koenig also starred as "Larry the Liquidator" in Other People's Money in Reno, Nevada. His Los Angeles productions include Steambath (God), The White House Murder Case (Capt. Weems), Night Must Fall (Danny), La Ronde (Gentleman), The Typist and the Tiger (Paul), and The Deputy (Jacobson) among almost two dozen others (Blood Wedding, The Collection, et al.). Directorial credits include Hotel Paradiso for Company of Angles, Beckett for Theatre 40, America Hurrah! at the Oxford Theater, Twelve Angry Men at the Rita Hayworth Theatre, Matrix at the Gascon Theatre Institute and Three by Ten at Actor's Alley. Walter has performed in the television movies _Antony and Cleopatra (1983) (V)_ (Pompey) opposite Timothy Dalton and Lynn Redgrave as well as the MOW's Goodbye, Raggedy Ann (1971) (TV) and The Questor Tapes (1974) (TV). Walter has written for the television series _"Family" (1976/III)_, "The Powers of Matthew Star" (1982), Class of '65, "Land of the Lost" (1974), and the "Star Trek" (1973) animated show. This actor-writer has seen publication with the non-fiction Checkov's Enterprise and the satiric fantasy novel Buck Alice and the Actor-Robot. He also created the three issues of the comic book story Raver published by Malibu Comics. Walter Koenig has taught classes in acting and directing privately and at UCLA, The Sherwood Oaks Experimental Film College and at the California School of Professional Psychology. Most recently he has been an instructor at the Actor's Alley Repertory Company in Los Angeles.

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Trivia

Father of Andrew Koenig and Danielle Koenig.

Had bypass surgery in 1993.

Koenig and Judy Levitt appear together in the "Babylon 5" (1994) episode "A Race Through Dark Places" which aired in 1995.

Has written episodes for "The Class of '65", _"Family" (1976/III)_, "Land of the Lost" (1974), "The Powers of Matthew Star" (1982), and "Star Trek" (1973) (Animated).

Walter Koenig is of Russian and Jewish descent, which made him a perfect candidate for Chekov on "Star Trek" (1966). His family had emigrated from Lithuania, USSR and changed their original surname (Koenigsberg).

Attended Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, with a major in pre-med. Transferred to UCLA where he received a BA in psychology.

Last name is pronounced "Kaynig"

Only original generation "Star Trek" (1966) actor not to provide voices for the animated version of the series, although he did write an episode for it.

Was scheduled to reprise his role as the villainous Bester in an episode of the "Babylon 5" (1994) spin-off series "Crusade" (1999) entitled "Value Judgements". Unfortunately the series was cancelled weeks before the episode was to be filmed. Koenig was terribly disappointed by this, as he has stated publicly that he considers it his favorite "Bester" script.

Because his hair was too short, had to wear a wig in his first appearance on "Star Trek" (1966).

Was cast as Chekov on "Star Trek" (1966) due to his resemblance to Davy Jones. The producers were hoping to attract a younger audience, including girls.

As of 31 August 2006, he is the only original "Star Trek" (1966) cast member who has not received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Has appeared in episodes of three different series with George Takei: "Star Trek" (1966), "Diagnosis Murder" (1993) and "Futurama" (1999).

Often complained about the character, Pavel Andrievich Chekov, he portrayed over the years as having no levity on Star Trek. As well as getting hurt through the motion pictures and series.

Author of "Raver" comics in 1994.

Father of actress Danielle Koenig.

Personal Quotes

"I didn't watch "Star Trek" the first year it was on, before I was on the show. I took one look at the styrofoam rocks and said: 'There's no way I'm going to watch this!'"

" 'Star Trek' has given me a considerable amount of satisfaction and a certain amount of respect in the industry community and among people who watch TV and movies. I enjoy that. I enjoy feeling good about myself. God knows it's easy enough for me to feel bad about myself -- I need all the support I can get. 'Star Trek' deserves the respect it has received. If I'm going to be aligned with something, it might as well be something that makes a worthwhile statement most of the time. No, I don't have any regrets about my involvement with 'Star Trek' ."

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