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Actor Anton Yelchin, best known for his role as Chekov in Star Trek, was killed by his own car early Sunday morning. Yelchin was 27. His publicist confirmed the sad news to Variety, and issued a statement asking for the public to respect the Yelchin family's wishes for privacy.TMZ, who first reported the news of Yelchin's death, write that friends of the young actor became alarmed after he didn't arrive for a scheduled rehearsal, and arrived at his home in Studio City just after 1 a.m., where they "found him pinned between his car and a brick mailbox, which was attached to a security gate." Police say the car was still running and the car was in neutral, and they believe the car rolled down the driveway backwards. Selena Barros, an investigator with the coroner's office, told the L.A. Times there were "no obvious suspicious circumstances involved."
Yelchin was born in Russia and moved to the U.S. as a baby. He began performing in the late 1990s, and had two separate breakout roles in 2001, with the release of Along Came a Spider and Hearts in Atlantis. Earlier year, he starred in the horror film Green Room, and Star Trek Beyond is slated for release in July.
Yelchin's friends, collaborators and admirers expressed their sorrow:
Anton Yelchin was one of my best friends. Can't say anything that conveys what this feels like
— Kat Dennings (@OfficialKat) June 19, 2016
This is unreal. Anton Yelchin is such a talent. Such a huge loss.
— Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) June 19, 2016
Anton was a sweetheart. Absolutely a great creative partner and artist.
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) June 19, 2016
Fuck. I was lucky enough to call Anton Yelchin my friend for the better part of the last decade. This is so fucking awful.
— Jay Baruchel (@BaruchelNDG) June 19, 2016
I can't believe it , I m fckn hurting bad !
— Karl Urban (@KarlUrban) June 19, 2016
I am so saddened by the death of Anton Yelchin. He was an amazing person. He always made me feel at home on the set. :(
— Chris Doohan (@ChrisDoohan) June 19, 2016
Heartbreaking to hear the news today about Anton. An incredible talent, lost much too soon. He will be missed.🖖🏻
— Adam Nimoy (@adam_nimoy) June 19, 2016
I was hoping this wasn't true. Such a talented young actor taken way too soon. Very sad. https://t.co/uaRRTJIq2w
— Michael Dorn (@akaWorf) June 19, 2016
We're saddened to report the passing of Anton Yelchin, best known as Chekov @StarTrekMovie https://t.co/dgpY0gSuem pic.twitter.com/EXMCAJsKgx
— Star Trek (@StarTrek) June 19, 2016
