Like his predecessor in the role of Russian Starfleet officer "Pavel Chekov," Walter Koenig, Anton Yelchin was also the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants (Koenig's parents were from Lithuania; Yelchin's from Leningrad/Saint Petersburg). The 2009 STAR TREK reboot was directed by J.J. Abrams. Michael Giacchino's score was released by Varese Sarabande.
2009's TERMINATOR SALVATION is set in 2018, when "John Connor" (Christian Bale) is not yet the worldwide head of the human resistance. His superiors, led by the uncompromising "General Ashdown" (Michael Ironside), believe they have created a weapon that can shut down the machines if it's brought to bear at a close enough range. Connor volunteers to test it. While doing this, he has a secondary objective: locate a younger version of his father, "Kyle Reese" (Anton Yelchin), who has been targeted by the machines for termination.
To prepare for the role of Kyle, Yelchin studied Michael Biehn's performance in the first movie a few times to get the character's mannerisms and characteristics. The film was directed by McG (aka Joseph McGinty Nichol). Danny Elfman's score was released by Warner Bros./Reprise.
In Jodie Foster's oddball drama THE BEAVER, a troubled husband and executive (Mel Gibson) adopts a beaver hand-puppet as his sole means of communicating. This has repercussions for his family--his much-suffering wife "Meredith" (Foster) and his resentful son "Porter" (Anton Yelchin). Foster directed the 2011 film. The score by Marcelo Zarvos was made available as a CD-R, through Amazon, by eOne Music.
Yelchin reprised his role of Chekov in 2013's STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS. J.J. Abrams again directed. Michael Giacchino's score was released in a Deluxe Edition by Varese Sarabande in 2014.
Yelchin had a supporting role in the 2015 drama CYMBELINE, a modern take on the play by Shakespeare. This version was a gritty story of a take-no-prisoners war between dirty cops and an outlaw biker gang. In it, a drug kingpin is driven to desperate measures. Cymbeline (Ed Harris) is the king of the Briton Motorcycle Club, keeping his Queen (Milla Jovovich) close while he deals with his children, Imogen (Dakota Johnson) and Cloten (Anton Yelchin). The film was directed by Michael Almereyda, who had turned his 2000 version of HAMLET into a commentary on corporate and consumerist culture. David Ludwig's score has not had a release.
Sad to hear of this horrible accident. The kid was doing well in the industry. 27 years old. Such a Tragedy. Condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. Rest in Peace.
I second riotengine's praise for Fright Night, liked him best in that one. The Star Trek movies are ok and I was actually looking forward to the new one so I hope it will serve as a fitting tribute. RIP.
This is such sad news! I've liked him in everything I've seen him in, from Hearts In Atlantis and Fright Night (which I also think is a great redo) and the new Star Trek films (even if I didn't like Into Darkness that much, he nailed Chekov as well as Karl Urban's McCoy). Utter tragedy!
I guess the question now is whether or not Yelchin was even aware of the recall. But I can't see how this particular question can be answered with any certainty--unless he himself may have mentioned it to friends or family, with perhaps expressing an intention of taking the Jeep into the dealership sometime soon.
Be that as it may, this young fellow died a nightmarish death that we can scarcely imagine and I join the rest of you in saying RIP.
Oh man I read the NY Times obit today and had something of a flashback. Like poor Mr. Yelchin I too was pinned by a rolling vehicle that put me in intensive care and still carry some internal and external souvenirs some 12+ years later. His outcome was obviously much worse. Too bad he didn't have my good fortune of a passerby within minutes.
Yeesh.
For me he will first and foremost be the kid in the Anthony Hopkins movie. I came across it some years back by accident, stayed with it and was impressed. Very convincing sensitive and moving performance for a youngster.
