In 2007, Walter was invited by the humanitarian group,United States Campaign for Burma to visit the nation. While there he toured refugee centers and hospitals.
Walter attended Grinnell College in Iowa and received his BA in psychology from UCLA.
Walter graduated from Fieldston High School in Riverdale, NY in 1954.
Among Walter's theater credits are: A Christmas Carol as Scrooge, Steambath as God and A Midsummer Night's Dream as Quince.
Walter has received two Saturn Award nominations in the Best Supporting Actor catrgory. They were for his roles in the Star Trek films: The Wrath of Khan and The Voyage Home.
Walter stood as "Best Man" for fellow Star Trek alumnus George Takei's wedding to Brad Altman in 2008. Nichelle Nichols was the Maid of Honor.
Walterwill be thelast of theStar Trek actors to recieve a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star will be presented on September 10th, 2012.
Walter Koenig's has written three books: Buck Alice and the Actor Robot, Chekov's Enterprise, and Warped Factors, his autobiography.
Walter Koenig reprised his role as Chekov in 2006 in an episode of Star Trek: New Voyages, an internet based Fan Series taking place in the 4th year of the original 5 year mission after Star Trek (the original series) had been cancelled.
Walter Koenig: I have done several dialects on television and stage. My father spoke with a Russian accent, and although he was no longer with us when I started Star Trek, his speech probably influenced the accent that I used.
Walter Koenig: (after it had been mentioned that George Takei really does speak Japanese) I too speak fluent Japanese... But seriously doubt George knows a single word in Russian!
Walter Koenig: (discussing his guest starring role alongside William Shatner in an episode of Columbo) It was purely by chance and it's questionable whether I was actually in the show. It was another one of a short list of appearances I've made that were very slight in nature.
Walter Koenig: (about his appearance on the Howard Stern Show) Oh, boy! I was anticipating it to actually be more uncomfortable than it was. I had been warned about Howard and wasn't sure how I would deal with the provocative questions that he is known to ask.
Walter Koenig: Well, Chekov was the Russian representative at a time when the Cold War was still very much an influence in world politics. To that extent, the introduction of a nationality considered hostile to our way of life was certainly a step toward developing a sense of multi-nationality, multi-ethnicity, multi-racial make-up that Star Trek has always been known for.
Walter Koenig: (when asked if he would consider writing a Star Trek novel) No. Star Trek has been so much a part of my life that when I do write, I try to investigate storylines that are a departure from the constant experience that I've had with Star Trek.
Walter Koenig: Star Trek affected my career from the first moment I said "Varp Fector Two, Sair." It has not ceased to affect my career and my life since.
Walter Koenig: I've been a member of this family {the Star Trek cast} for so long, in at least one sense, it's like being part of my own family. You don't question it... It just is.
Walter Koenig: (about the controversial topics covered in Star Trek) You know we were still very much involved with the Vietnam War and it was it was really sort of verboten to do any kind of drama at that time that that dealt with that. It was a very, very touchy subject and I think, with the exception of perhaps one episode, I think our attack and the posture that we took on social issues and vital topical issues, was, as I say, one that was very easy to support.
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