Anton Yelchin | |
---|---|
Антон Викторович Ельчин | |
![]() Yelchin at the Deauville American Film Festival in September 2011 | |
Born | Anton Viktorovich Yelchin March 11, 1989 |
Died | June 19, 2016 Studio City, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 27)
Cause of death | Blunt traumatic asphyxia |
Resting place | Hollywood Forever Cemetery |
Citizenship | United States |
Education | Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 2000–2016 |
Known for | Pavel Chekov in the Star Trek film series Eponymous lead in the film Charlie Bartlett |
Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) |
Parent(s) | Irina Korina Viktor Yelchin |
Relatives | Eugene Yelchin (uncle) |
Website | anton-yelchin |
Anton Viktorovich Yelchin[n 1] (11 March 1989 – 19 June 2016) was an American actor. He played Pavel Chekov in three Star Trek films: Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), and the posthumously released Star Trek Beyond (2016).
Born to a Russian Jewish family in Leningrad, Yelchin's family moved to the United States during his infancy. In the late 1990s, Yelchin began appearing in television and film roles. His role in Steven Spielberg's miniseries Taken was significant in furthering his career.[1] He also starred in Huff and the posthumously-released Trollhunters.
Yelchin died in a vehicle-related incident at the age of 27.
Early life[]

Yelchin at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival
Yelchin was born 11 March 1989, in Leningrad, Soviet Union (now Saint Petersburg, Russia).[2][3] His parents, Irina Korina and Viktor Yelchin, were pair figure skaters, who were celebrities and stars of the Leningrad Ice Ballet for fifteen years.[4][5] His family is Jewish; in the USSR, they were subjected to religious and political oppression.[4][6][7] Yelchin had said: "my grandparents suffered in ways I can't even begin to understand under Stalin."[7] Nationally, Yelchin's parents were the third-ranked pair team; they thus qualified for the 1972 Winter Olympics, but were not permitted to participate by the Soviet authorities.[4][5] Yelchin had said the reason was unclear: "I don't exactly know what that was – because they were Jewish or because the KGB didn't want them to travel."[8]
Yelchin's family fled to the United States in September 1989, when Anton was six months old, and was thereafter granted refugee status from the United States Department of State.[4][5] Yelchin's mother worked as a figure skating choreographer and his father as a figure skating coach, having been Sasha Cohen's first trainer.[9][10] Yelchin's uncle is the children's author and painter Eugene Yelchin.[4]
In an article published in the Los Angeles Times in December 1989, Yelchin's mother stated "A woman came up, saw Anton, and said, 'He's beautiful. He will be actor.'"[4] Yelchin had stated that he "wasn't very good" at figure skating, his parents' profession.[11]
Yelchin was born with the genetic condition cystic fibrosis. Details of Yelchin's medical condition were only revealed following his death by a foundation established in his name.[12]
Yelchin attended the Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies in Tarzana, California,[9] and enrolled at the University of Southern California in fall 2007 to study film.[13]
Career[]

Yelchin at the Deauville American Film Festival in September 2011
After his film debut in A Man Is Mostly Water, Yelchin's early roles in both film and television included A Time for Dancing,[1] Delivering Milo, House of D and Taken. He guest-starred in the season four episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, as Stewart, Cheryl David's cousin and a self-described magician, knowing a card trick. Yelchin played Bobby Garfield in Hearts in Atlantis (2001), which is based on Stephen King's novel; he won a 2002 Young Artist Award (Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actor) for this performance.
In Showtime's television series Huff, Yelchin played Byrd Huffstodt, the 14-year-old son of the eponymous character (Hank Azaria). In 2006, he guest-starred in the Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode "Tru Love", as a boy who falls in love with his teacher. He also appeared in the Criminal Minds episode "Sex, Birth & Death" as Nathan Harris, a boy who has murderous urges towards prostitutes and approaches Dr. Spencer Reid to help him before he actually does kill.
In Alpha Dog, Yelchin played Zack Mazursky, a character based on Nicholas Markowitz's death.[9] USA Today's review described the performance as "heartbreakingly endearing".[14] After the premiere, Markowitz's mother praised his portrayal of her son.[15] Yelchin subsequently headlined Fierce People, which received a limited release on 7 September 2007. In 2008, he played the title role in Charlie Bartlett, a film about a wealthy teenager in a public high school.[16] He also appeared alongside the Russian duo t.A.T.u. in the film You and I (which was filmed in Moscow during the summer of 2007),[17] and co-starred with Susan Sarandon and Justin Chatwin in Middle of Nowhere. Yelchin starred in two films released in May 2009: Star Trek, in which he portrayed teenage navigator Pavel Chekov, Terminator Salvation, in which he portrayed a young Kyle Reese.[18][19]
In 2011, Yelchin played Charley Brewster in Craig Gillespie's remake film Fright Night,[20] starred in the romantic drama Like Crazy, and voiced Clumsy Smurf in the film adaptation of The Smurfs and its sequel.[21][22] He replaced Russell Tovey for the voice role of Albino Pirate in the American version of the animated film The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! (also known as The Pirates! Band of Misfits) (2012).[23][24] Yelchin voiced Shun in Studio Ghibli's From Up on Poppy Hill.
Yelchin again played the role Chekov in the 2013 film Star Trek Into Darkness. He also played the lead in the thriller Odd Thomas (2013)[25] and the horror comedy Burying the Ex (2014). In 2015, Yelchin starred in the independent horror film Green Room which premiered at the Cannes film festival that year and received limited theatrical release in May 2016.
Shortly before his death, Yelchin reprised his role as Chekov in Star Trek Beyond, which was released on 22 July 2016. He also completed filming several independent films which released posthumously.[26] He recorded the voice role of Jim in Guillermo del Toro's Trollhunters.[27][28]
Personal life[]
Yelchin once played for the disbanded punk band the Hammerheads.[6][29] He enjoyed playing the guitar, saying that it gave him "a lot of fulfillment," and was a fan of acoustic blues music.
Death[]

A 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, similar to the one Yelchin drove
On 19 June 2016, Yelchin was discovered between his Jeep Grand Cherokee and a brick pillar outside his home in Studio City, California, in what was described as a "freak accident".[30] Yelchin exited his car while in his driveway, which is on a steep incline, when it rolled back and trapped him against the pillar and a security fence.[31] He was pronounced dead later that day.[32] The Jeep crushed his lungs, and he is believed to have died within a minute of impact.[33]
The Los Angeles County coroner's office identified the cause of death as "blunt traumatic asphyxia" and stated that there were "no obvious suspicious circumstances involved".[34]
Tributes[]

Yelchin's grave at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on 26 March 2017
The producers of Star Trek said the role of Chekov would not be recast and the character would be written out of any subsequent films. Star Trek Beyond was dedicated to Yelchin and to Leonard Nimoy who had died between the release of Star Trek Into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond.
Smurfs: The Lost Village was dedicated to him, as he had provided the voice of Clumsy Smurf in the live-action Smurfs films.[35] Additionally, We Don't Belong Here, Rememory, Porto, Newness, Thoroughbreds, and the first two episodes of Trollhunters are dedicated to him, with the entirety of the series being dedicated to him upon its conclusion in May 2018. The upcoming Untitled Terminator film will be also dedicated to his and Bill Paxton's memories.[citation needed]
He was also featured in the "In Memoriam" section during the 89th Academy Awards.[36]
In October 2017, a bronze statue of Yelchin was erected at his grave in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Celebrities present at the unveiling ceremony included Jennifer Lawrence, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, J. J. Abrams, Emile Hirsch, Demi Moore, Jon Voight, Drake Doremus and Jeremy Saulnier. Saldana spoke at the ceremony, paying tribute to Yelchin: "It is a bittersweet moment, because we’re here for Anton, and he’s not here with us. But, it alleviates my heart knowing that we’ll keep him alive. We’re going to keep remembering him in the hopes that by practicing all the things he believed in and remembering all the love that he gave us, and all the joy he gave us, we’re able to just keep him here with us."[37][38][39]
Lawsuit[]
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the manufacturer of the Grand Cherokee, was aware of 2014 and 2015 models having a high rate of rollaway incidents due to a gearshift design which could make it difficult for the driver to determine whether the vehicle was in Park or still in gear. FCA had already recalled all 2014-15 Grand Cherokees for this concern in April 2016, but the software patch to repair the vehicles did not reach dealers until the week of Yelchin's death. Following Yelchin's death, FCA accelerated the recall campaign and took steps to get the affected Jeeps repaired more quickly than originally planned.[40]
On 1 August 2016, the attorney of Yelchin's parents announced that they were planning to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler.[41] The dealership that Yelchin purchased the vehicle from claimed he was responsible for his own death, because he had "misused" and "modified" the vehicle. The dealer also asked to be removed from the lawsuit.[42]
On 22 March 2018, it was announced that Yelchin's family and Fiat Chrysler had confidentially settled the lawsuit.[43]
Filmography[]
Film[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | A Man Is Mostly Water | Augie | |
2001 | Delivering Milo | Milo | |
15 Minutes | Boy in Burning Building | ||
Along Came a Spider | Dimitri Starodubov | ||
Hearts in Atlantis | Bobby Garfield | ||
2002 | A Time for Dancing | Jackson | |
Rooftop Kisses | Charlie | ||
2004 | House of D | Tommy Warshaw | |
2005 | Fierce People | Finn Earl | |
2006 | Alpha Dog | Zack Mazursky | |
2007 | Charlie Bartlett | Charlie Bartlett | |
2008 | Middle of Nowhere | Dorian Spitz | |
New York, I Love You | Boy in the Park | Segment: "Brett Ratner" | |
2009 | Star Trek | Pavel Chekov | |
Terminator Salvation | Kyle Reese | ||
2010 | Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac | Ace Zuckerman | |
2011 | Like Crazy | Jacob Helm | |
You and I | Edvard Nikitin | ||
The Beaver | Porter Black | ||
From Up on Poppy Hill | Shun Kazama (voice) | English dub | |
The Smurfs | Clumsy Smurf (voice) | ||
The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol | Short film | ||
Fright Night | Charley Brewster | ||
2012 | The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists | Albino pirate (voice) | American dub |
2013 | Movie 43 | Necrophiliac worker at morgue | Deleted scene |
Odd Thomas | Odd Thomas | ||
Star Trek Into Darkness | Pavel Chekov | ||
Only Lovers Left Alive | Ian | ||
The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow | Clumsy Smurf (voice) | Short film | |
The Smurfs 2 | |||
2014 | Rudderless | Quentin | |
5 to 7 | Brian Bloom | ||
The Apprentice | Wayne | Short film | |
Cymbeline | Cloten | ||
Burying the Ex | Max | ||
Dying of the Light | Milton Schultz | ||
2015 | Court of Conscience | Father James | Short film |
Experimenter | Rensaleer | ||
Kiss Kiss Fingerbang | Dr. Jack Stewart | Short film | |
Broken Horses | Jacob Heckum | ||
The Driftless Area | Pierre | ||
Green Room | Pat | ||
Unity[44] | Narrator | Documentary | |
2016 | Rise | Basil | Short film |
Star Trek Beyond | Pavel Chekov | Posthumous release | |
Porto | Jake Kleeman | ||
2017 | Rememory | Todd | |
Thoroughbreds | Tim | ||
We Don't Belong Here | Maxwell Green |
Television[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | ER | Robbie Edelstein | Episode: "Be Still My Heart" |
Geppetto | Featured | Television film | |
2002 | Judging Amy | Davis Bishop | Episode: "The Justice League of America" |
Taken | Jacob Clarke – Child | 2 episodes | |
The Practice | Justin Langer | 2 episodes | |
2003 | Without a Trace | Johnny Atkins | Episode: "The Bus" |
2004 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Stewart | Episode: "The Blind Date" |
NYPD Blue | Evan Grabber | Episode: "Take My Wife, Please" | |
Jack | Jack | Television film | |
2004–2006 | Huff | Byrd Huffstodt | 25 episodes |
2006 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Keith Tyler | Episode: "Tru Love" |
Criminal Minds | Nathan Harris | Episode: "Sex, Birth, Death" | |
2011 | The Life & Times of Tim | Trent (voice) | Episode: "The Caddy's Shack/The Sausage Salesman" |
2015–2016 | SuperMansion | Dudley (voice) | 2 episodes |
2016–2018 | Trollhunters | Jim (voice) | 39 episodes; posthumous release |
Video games[]
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2013 | Star Trek | Pavel Chekov (voice) |
The Smurfs 2 | Clumsy Smurf (voice) |
Accolades[]
Year | Award | Category | Title of work | Medium | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Phoenix Film Critics Award | Best Youth Performance | Hearts in Atlantis | Film | Nominated |
2002 | Young Artist Award | Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actor | Hearts in Atlantis | Film | Won |
2003 | Young Artist Award | Best Performance in a TV Movie, Mini-Series or Special – Supporting Young Actor | Taken | Television | Nominated |
2005 | Young Artist Award | Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special – Leading Young Actor | Jack | Television | Nominated |
2009 | Boston Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Ensemble Cast | Star Trek | Film | Won |
2009 | Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards | Best Ensemble | Star Trek | Film | Nominated |
2010 | Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | Best Acting Ensemble | Star Trek | Film | Nominated |
Notes[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Staff (1996–2012). "Anton Yelchin". AskMen - Become A Better Man. IGN Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ Gilbey, Ryan (20 June 2016). "Anton Yelchin obituary". The Guardian (UK). https://www.theguardian.com/global/2016/jun/20/anton-yelchin-obituary-film-actor. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ↑ Bentley, Rick (22 February 2008). "A beaming Yelchin is getting beamed up/Young actor, starring as teenager in Charlie Bartlett, sets his sights on the stars". Houston Chronicle. http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/2008_4518258/film-feature-a-beaming-yelchin-is-getting-beamed-u.html. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Slate, Libby (22 December 1989). "Former Soviet Skate Stars Top Bill at Knott's". Los Angeles Times: p. 1. http://articles.latimes.com/1989-12-22/entertainment/ca-920_1_guest-stars. Retrieved 16 February 2007. "Then too there was religious and political oppression. In 1972, as the nationally third-ranked pair team, they qualified for the Olympics but were not permitted to go because of their religion."
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Longsdorf, Amy (10 May 2009). "A bold step for young actor". The Mercury. http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/MP/20090510/ENTERTAINMENT01/305109960. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 LaGambina, Gregg (2009). "The Wanderlust of Anton Yelchin". Flaunt. http://trendmag2.trendoffset.com/display_article.php?id=221103. Retrieved 6 April 2010. "The Star of David has been in my family for a long time, and obviously I'm Jewish."
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Pfefferman, Naomi (2 April 2015). "Anton Yelchin explores extramarital love's time slot in '5 to 7'". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. http://www.jewishjournal.com/the_ticket/item/anton_yelchin_explores_extramarital_loves_time_slot_in_5_to_7. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- ↑ Stern, Marlow (19 August 2011). "Hollywood's New 'It' Geek". The Daily Beast. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/08/19/anton-yelchin-is-new-hollywood-it-geek.html. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Dog star a veteran at 17". Pasadena Star News. 6 January 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070928093738/http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/entertainment/ci_4963201. Retrieved 7 January 2007.
- ↑ Itier, Emmanuel (30 January 2008). "On Top of the Teenage World as 'Charlie Bartlett' & as Pavel Chekov in 'Star Trek' Reboot". Buzzine. http://www.buzzinefilm.com/interviews/film-interview-anton-yelchin-charlie-bartlett-star-trek-01302008. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ↑ Germain, David (26 October 2011). "Trek' co-star Yelchin finds love in 'Like Crazy'". The Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2011/10/26/trek_co_star_yelchin_finds_love_in_like_crazy/?page=full.
- ↑ "About Anton Yelchin". Anton Yelchin Foundation. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
Anton did not share details about his medical challenges with the public, but he suffered from Cystic Fibrosis from an early age.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ "Anton Yelchin Biography". M&C. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/archive/peoplearchive.php/Anton_Yelchin/biography. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
- ↑ Puig, Claudia (11 January 2007). "Alpha Dog: Razor-sharp reality". USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2007-01-11-alpha-dog_x.htm. Retrieved 26 January 2007.
- ↑ "Teenage Actor Uncomfortable With Pool Sex Scene". 18 December 2006. http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/teenage%20actor%20uncomfortable%20with%20pool%20sex%20scene_1016857. Retrieved 18 December 2006.
- ↑ "Anton Yelchin, Robert Downey Jr., Hope Davis, Kat Dennings, And Tyler Hilton Go Dark For Charlie Bartlett". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on 19 June 2006. Retrieved 12 June 2006.
{{cite web}}
: ; deadurl - ↑ Dawtrey, Adam (6 June 2007). "Mischa Barton to star in Joffe's t.A.T.u.". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117966342.html?categoryId=19&cs=1. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
- ↑ Goldstein, Gregg (19 March 2008). "Yelchin finds Salvation". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 19 April 2008. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3ifff588c2bae9eaff4982de057e9344ff. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
- ↑ Siegel, Tatiana (8 August 2007). "Yelchin sets course for Trek". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 31 August 2007. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i4d705b8469ab9fb8943c401da6415f43. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
- ↑ "Fright Night Redo Finds Its Paranoid Neighbor". Bloody Disgusting. 6 April 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ Sciretta, Peter (5 April 2010). "Anton Yelchin and Fred Armisen Join The Smurfs". Archived from the original on 14 July 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
{{cite web}}
: ; deadurl - ↑ Yelchin, Anton (30 January 2012). "Crazy In Love — Anton Yelchin Interview". SteveCummins.com (Interview). Interviewed by Steve Cummins. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
{{cite interview}}
: - ↑ Simpson, Rob (2012). "The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists (Review)". Vulture Hound Magazine. Vulture Hound Magazine. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ "The Pirates! Band of Misfits: Cast & Crew". MovieWeb.com. 1995–2012. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ Hill, Logan (23 October 2011). "Anton Yelchin on His Role in 'Like Crazy'". New York Magazine. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ "Anton Yelchin: 4 Unreleased Movies Featuring the Late Actor". 25 July 2016.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (15 June 2016). "'Trollhunters': Anton Yelchin, Kelsey Grammer & Ron Perlman To Lead Cast Of Guillermo del Toro Netflix Animated Series". Retrieved 20 June 2016.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ "'Trollhunter' Trailer: First Look at Guillermo del Toro's New Series". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ Kirk, Jeremy (21 March 2011). "SXSW Video Interview: Anton Yelchin for Mel Gibson's 'The Beaver'". http://www.firstshowing.net/2011/sxsw-video-interview-anton-yelchin-from-mel-gibsons-the-beaver. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
- ↑ Times, Los Angeles. "'Star Trek' actor Anton Yelchin's SUV was recalled in April over rollaway risk". latimes.com. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ "'Star Trek' actor Anton Yelchin dies in freak car accident". CNN. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ "Actor who played Chekov in Star Trek reboot dead after being pinned by own car". CBC News. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ Rahman, Khaleda (21 June 2016). "Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin died of his injuries in less than a minute after his Jeep crushed him as coroner officially rules it an accident". Daily Mail. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ Mather, Kate (19 June 2016). "Anton Yelchin, actor in 'Star Trek' films, dies in freak car accident at age 27". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ "Cast of The Smurfs (2011)".
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ Dove, Steve (26 February 2017). "Sarah Bareilles Performs "In Memoriam" Tribute at 2017 Oscars". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ "Zoe Saldana, Jennifer Lawrence and slew of stars pay tribute as bronze statue of late Anton Yelchin is placed over his grave". Daily Mail. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ "Jennifer Lawrence, J.J. Abrams, and More Stars Gather to Pay Respects to Anton Yelchin". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ "Anton Yelchin Honored By Family, 'Star Trek' Co-Stars at Statue Unveiling". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ FCA accelerates recall of confusing gear lever that may have contributed to Anton Yelchin's death
- ↑ "Anton Yelchin's parents will sue car company". USA Today. 1 August 2016.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ "Chrysler dealership claims Anton Yelchin's death resulted from his own 'misuse, misapplication, or damage' of Jeep". New York Daily News. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ "Actor Anton Yelchin's parents reach settlement over his death caused by SUV". USA Today. 22 March 2018.
{{cite web}}
: - ↑ McNary, Dave (22 April 2015). "Documentary 'Unity' Set for Aug. 12 Release with 100 Star Narrators". Variety. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
{{cite web}}
:
External links[]
- Anton Yelchin at the Internet Movie Database
- Anton Yelchin at the TCM Movie Database
- Anton Yelchin at AllMovie
- Anton Yelchin at Find a Grave
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