Anton Yelchin
Anton Yelchin | |
---|---|
Антон Викторович Ельчин | |
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 |
Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) |
Parent(s) | Irina Korina Viktor Yelchin |
Relatives | Eugene Yelchin (uncle) |
Website | anton-yelchin |
Anton Viktorovich Yelchin[a] (March 11, 1989 – June 19, 2016) was an American television and film actor. He was best known as Pavel Chekov in three Star Trek films: the 2009 reboot film of the same name; the first sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness (2013); and the posthumously released Star Trek Beyond (2016). He was also known for his work in independent cinema.
Born to a Russian Jewish family in Leningrad, Yelchin relocated to the United States, where he began performing in the late 1990s, appearing in several television and film roles, and receiving recognition for Hearts in Atlantis (2001). His role as Jacob Clarke in Steven Spielberg's miniseries Taken was significant in furthering his career as a child actor.[1] He starred in multiple television series, including Huff and the posthumously released Trollhunters.
Early life
Yelchin was born March 11, 1989, in Leningrad, Soviet Union (now Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation).[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 moved to the United States in September 1989, when Anton was six months old, after receiving 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]
Career
After his film debut 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. His biggest film recognition came for the role of Bobby Garfield in Hearts in Atlantis (2001), in which he won Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actor at the 2002 Young Artist Awards.
In Showtime's television series Huff, he 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 the death of Nicholas Markowitz.[9] USA Today's review described the performance as "heartbreakingly endearing".[12] After the premiere, Markowitz's mother praised his portrayal of her son.[13] Yelchin subsequently headlined Fierce People, which received a limited release on September 7, 2007. In 2008, he played the title role in Charlie Bartlett, a film about a wealthy teenager in a public high school.[14] 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),[15] and co-starred with Susan Sarandon and Justin Chatwin in Middle of Nowhere. He starred in two films released in May 2009, including the eleventh Star Trek film as teenage navigator Pavel Chekov and Kyle Reese in Terminator Salvation.[16][17]
In 2011, Yelchin played Charley Brewster in Craig Gillespie's remake film Fright Night,[18] starred in the romantic drama Like Crazy, and voiced Clumsy Smurf in the film adaptation of The Smurfs and its sequel.[19][20] 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).[21][22] Yelchin voiced Shun in Studio Ghibli's From Up on Poppy Hill.
He reprised his role for Chekov in Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) and played the lead in the thriller Odd Thomas (2013)[23] and the horror comedy Burying the Ex (2014). In 2015, he 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 had reprised his role as Chekov in Star Trek Beyond, which was released on July 22, 2016. He also completed filming several independent films which released posthumously.[24] He recorded the voice role of Jim in Guillermo del Toro's Trollhunters.[25][26]
Personal life
Yelchin once played for the disbanded punk band the Hammerheads.[6][27] He enjoyed playing the guitar, saying that it gave him "a lot of fulfillment," and was a fan of acoustic blues music.
He 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.[28]
Death
On June 19, 2016, at about 1 AM, friends found Yelchin's body pinned between his Jeep Grand Cherokee and a brick pillar outside his home in Studio City, California, in what was described as a "freak accident".[29] 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.[30] He was pronounced dead later that day.[31] The Jeep crushed his lungs, and he is believed to have died within a minute of impact.[32]
The possible cause for this kind of accident happening, is that the transmission gear selector shift stick used by Fiat-Chrysler in this model, has a new and different design that unlike the traditional one, does not provide the tactile feedback that the older and much more common selector provided; unless the driver of the vehicle takes de time and extra step of carefully looking into the mechanism indication lights to ensure that the transmission is effectively put into "Park" position. As it was designed, the new selector has only two actions to send the "up" and "down" commands to the transmission, therefore the driver has to check how many "steps" the electrical mechanism has advanced and it is not possible to assure by feel only, in which gear or position the transmission is in a given moment. The Actor stepped down from his vehicle without knowing that the transmission was not in the proper "Park" position, which allowed the vehicle to roll in a free manner and pinned him against a pillar, producing his death.
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".[33]
Tributes
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.
Smurfs: The Lost Village was dedicated to him, as he had provided the voice of Clumsy Smurf in the live-action Smurfs films.[34] Additionally, We Don't Belong Here, Rememory, Porto, Newness and the first two episodes of Trollhunters are dedicated to him.
He was also featured in the "In Memoriam" section during the 89th Academy Awards.[35]
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."[36][37][38]
Lawsuit
The vehicle involved was among some Fiat Chrysler models under a recall notice for transmission errors leading to unintended rolling and while the initial recall had begun before Yelchin's death, no affected vehicles had yet been repaired.[citation needed]
On August 1, 2016, the attorney of Yelchin's parents announced that they were planning to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler.[39] The dealership 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.[40]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | A Man Is Mostly Water | Augie | |
2001 | Delivering Milo | Milo | |
2001 | 15 Minutes | Boy in Burning Building | |
2001 | Along Came a Spider | Dimitri Starodubov | |
2001 | Hearts in Atlantis | Bobby Garfield | |
2002 | A Time for Dancing | Jackson | |
2002 | 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 | |
2008 | New York, I Love You | Boy in the Park | Segment: "Brett Ratner" |
2009 | Star Trek | Pavel Chekov | |
2009 | Terminator Salvation | Kyle Reese | |
2010 | Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac | Ace Zuckerman | |
2011 | Like Crazy | Jacob Helm | |
2011 | You and I | Edvard Nikitin | |
2011 | The Beaver | Porter Black | |
2012 | From Up on Poppy Hill | Shun Kazama (voice) | English version |
2011 | The Smurfs | Clumsy Smurf (voice) | |
2011 | The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol | Clumsy Smurf (voice) | Short film |
2011 | Fright Night | Charley Brewster | |
2012 | The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists | Albino pirate (voice) | American dub |
2013 | Movie 43 | Necrophiliac worker at morgue | (scene deleted) |
2013 | Odd Thomas | Odd Thomas | |
2013 | Star Trek Into Darkness | Pavel Chekov | |
2013 | Only Lovers Left Alive | Ian | |
2013 | The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow | Clumsy Smurf (voice) | Short film |
2013 | The Smurfs 2 | Clumsy Smurf | Voice |
2014 | Rudderless | Quentin | |
2014 | 5 to 7 | Brian Bloom | |
2014 | The Apprentice | Wayne | Short film |
2014 | Cymbeline | Cloten | |
2014 | Burying the Ex | Max | |
2014 | Dying of the Light | Milton Schultz | |
2015 | Court of Conscience | Father James | Short film |
2015 | Experimenter | Rensaleer | |
2015 | Kiss Kiss Fingerbang | Dr. Jack Stewart | Short film |
2015 | Broken Horses | Jacob Heckum | |
2015 | The Driftless Area | Pierre | |
2015 | Green Room | Pat | |
2015 | Unity[41] | Narrator | Documentary |
2016 | Rise | Basil | Short film |
2016 | Star Trek Beyond | Pavel Chekov | Posthumous release |
2016 | Porto | Jake Kleeman | Posthumous release |
2017 | Rememory | Todd | Posthumous release |
2018 | Thoroughbreds | Tim | Posthumous release |
2017 | We Don't Belong Here | Maxwell Green | Posthumous release |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | ER | Robbie Edelstein | Episode: "Be Still My Heart" |
2000 | Geppetto | Featured | Television film |
2002 | Judging Amy | Davis Bishop | Episode: "The Justice League of America" |
2002 | Taken | Jacob Clarke – Child | 2 episodes |
2002 | The Practice | Justin Langer | 2 episodes |
2003 | Without a Trace | Johnny Atkins | Episode: "The Bus" |
2004 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Stewart | Episode: "The Blind Date" |
2004 | NYPD Blue | Evan Grabber | Episode: "Take My Wife, Please" |
2004 | Jack | Jack | Television film |
2004–2006 | Huff | Byrd Huffstodt | 25 episodes |
2006 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Keith Tyler | Episode: "Tru Love" |
2006 | 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 |
2016–2017 | Trollhunters | Jim (voice) | 39 episodes; posthumous release |
Video games
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2013 | Star Trek | Pavel Chekov (voice) |
2013 | 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
- ^ Russian: Анто́н Ви́кторович Е́льчин, IPA: [ɐnˈton ˈjelʲtɕɪn]
References
- ^ a b Staff (1996–2012). "Anton Yelchin". AskMen - Become A Better Man. IGN Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
- ^ Gilbey, Ryan (June 20, 2016). "Anton Yelchin obituary". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
- ^ Bentley, Rick (February 22, 2008). "A beaming Yelchin is getting beamed up/Young actor, starring as teenager in Charlie Bartlett, sets his sights on the stars". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f Slate, Libby (December 22, 1989). "Former Soviet Skate Stars Top Bill at Knott's". Los Angeles Times. p. 1. Retrieved February 16, 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.
- ^ a b c Longsdorf, Amy (May 10, 2009). "A bold step for young actor". The Mercury. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
- ^ a b LaGambina, Gregg (2009). "The Wanderlust of Anton Yelchin". Flaunt. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
The Star of David has been in my family for a long time, and obviously I'm Jewish.
- ^ a b Pfefferman, Naomi (April 2, 2015). "Anton Yelchin explores extramarital love's time slot in '5 to 7'". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
- ^ Stern, Marlow (August 19, 2011). "Hollywood's New 'It' Geek". The Daily Beast. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Dog star a veteran at 17". Pasadena Star News. January 6, 2007. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved January 7, 2007.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Itier, Emmanuel (January 30, 2008). "On Top of the Teenage World as 'Charlie Bartlett' & as Pavel Chekov in 'Star Trek' Reboot". Buzzine. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
- ^ Germain, David (October 26, 2011). "Trek' co-star Yelchin finds love in 'Like Crazy'". The Boston Globe.
- ^ Puig, Claudia (January 11, 2007). "Alpha Dog: Razor-sharp reality". USA Today. Retrieved January 26, 2007.
- ^ "Teenage Actor Uncomfortable With Pool Sex Scene". Contact Music. December 18, 2006. Retrieved December 18, 2006.
- ^ "Anton Yelchin, Robert Downey Jr., Hope Davis, Kat Dennings, And Tyler Hilton Go Dark For Charlie Bartlett". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on June 19, 2006. Retrieved June 12, 2006.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Dawtrey, Adam (June 6, 2007). "Mischa Barton to star in Joffe's t.A.T.u.". Variety. Retrieved August 27, 2007.
- ^ Goldstein, Gregg (March 19, 2008). "Yelchin finds Salvation". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 19, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2008.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Siegel, Tatiana (August 8, 2007). "Yelchin sets course for Trek". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 31, 2007. Retrieved August 27, 2007.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Fright Night Redo Finds Its Paranoid Neighbor". Bloody Disgusting. April 6, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ Sciretta, Peter (April 5, 2010). "Anton Yelchin and Fred Armisen Join The Smurfs". Archived from the original on July 14, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ Yelchin, Anton (January 30, 2012). "Crazy In Love — Anton Yelchin Interview". SteveCummins.com (Interview). Interviewed by Steve Cummins. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
- ^ Simpson, Rob (2012). "The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists (Review)". Vulture Hound Magazine. Vulture Hound Magazine. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
- ^ "The Pirates! Band of Misfits: Cast & Crew". MovieWeb.com. 1995–2012. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
- ^ Hill, Logan (October 23, 2011). "Anton Yelchin on His Role in 'Like Crazy'". New York Magazine. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
- ^ "Anton Yelchin: 4 Unreleased Movies Featuring the Late Actor". July 25, 2016.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 15, 2016). "'Trollhunters': Anton Yelchin, Kelsey Grammer & Ron Perlman To Lead Cast Of Guillermo del Toro Netflix Animated Series". Retrieved June 20, 2016.
- ^ "'Trollhunter' Trailer: First Look at Guillermo del Toro's New Series". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
- ^ Kirk, Jeremy (March 21, 2011). "SXSW Video Interview: Anton Yelchin for Mel Gibson's 'The Beaver'". Retrieved March 25, 2011.
- ^ "Anton Yelchin Biography". M&C. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
- ^ Times, Los Angeles. "'Star Trek' actor Anton Yelchin's SUV was recalled in April over rollaway risk". latimes.com. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
- ^ "'Star Trek' actor Anton Yelchin dies in freak car accident". CNN. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
- ^ "Actor who played Chekov in Star Trek reboot dead after being pinned by own car". CBC News. Retrieved June 20, 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 October 14, 2016.
- ^ Mather, Kate (June 19, 2016). "Anton Yelchin, actor in 'Star Trek' films, dies in freak car accident at age 27". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
- ^ "Cast of The Smurfs (2011)".
- ^ Dove, Steve (February 26, 2017). "Sarah Bareilles Performs "In Memoriam" Tribute at 2017 Oscars". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
- ^ "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 October 28, 2017.
- ^ "Jennifer Lawrence, J.J. Abrams, and More Stars Gather to Pay Respects to Anton Yelchin". Vanity Fair. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- ^ "Anton Yelchin Honored By Family, 'Star Trek' Co-Stars at Statue Unveiling". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- ^ "Anton Yelchin's parents will sue car company". USA Today. August 1, 2016.
- ^ "Chrysler dealership claims Anton Yelchin's death resulted from his own 'misuse, misapplication, or damage' of Jeep". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- ^ McNary, Dave (April 22, 2015). "Documentary 'Unity' Set for Aug. 12 Release with 100 Star Narrators". Variety. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
External links
- 1989 births
- 2016 deaths
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- Accidental deaths in California
- American male child actors
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American male video game actors
- American male voice actors
- American people of Russian-Jewish descent
- Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
- Jewish American male actors
- Male actors from Saint Petersburg
- People from Studio City, Los Angeles
- Road incident deaths in California
- Russian emigrants to the United States
- University of Southern California alumni