Anton Yelchin

Anton Yelchin
Yelchin at the Deauville American Film Festival in September 2011
Native name Антон Викторович Ельчин
Born Anton Viktorovich Yelchin
(1989-03-11)March 11, 1989
Leningrad, Soviet Union
(now Saint Petersburg, Russia)
Died June 19, 2016(2016-06-19) (aged 27)
Studio City, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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.com

Anton Viktorovich Yelchin[lower-alpha 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 and his 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 helped further his career.[1] Yelchin also starred in Huff and the posthumously released Trollhunters.

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][13]

Yelchin attended the Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies in Tarzana, California[9] and enrolled at the University of Southern California in the fall of 2007 to study film.[14]

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 who knows 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 real-life murder victim Nicholas Markowitz.[9] USA Today's review described Yelchin's performance as "heartbreakingly endearing".[15] After the film's premiere, Markowitz's mother praised his portrayal of her son.[16] 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.[17] 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),[18] and co-starred with Susan Sarandon and Justin Chatwin in Middle of Nowhere.

Yelchin played supporting roles in two blockbuster films released in May 2009: Star Trek, in which he portrayed teenage navigator Pavel Chekov, and Terminator Salvation, in which he portrayed a young Kyle Reese.[19][20]

In 2011, Yelchin played Charley Brewster in Craig Gillespie's remake film Fright Night,[21] starred in the romantic drama Like Crazy, and voiced Clumsy Smurf in the film adaptation of The Smurfs and its sequel.[22][23] 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).[24][25] Yelchin voiced Shun in Studio Ghibli's From Up on Poppy Hill.

Yelchin again played the role of Chekov in the 2013 film Star Trek Into Darkness. He also played the lead in the thriller Odd Thomas (2013)[26] 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 completed filming several independent films which were released posthumously.[27] Yelchin also recorded the voice role of Jim in Guillermo del Toro's Trollhunters.[28][29]

Personal life and interests

Yelchin enjoyed playing the guitar, saying that it gave him "a lot of fulfillment," and was a fan of acoustic blues music. Yelchin once played for a punk band called the Hammerheads.[6][30]

Yelchin was also interested in photography. In January 2018, an exhibit of Yelchin's photography entitled Anton Yelchin: Provocative Beauty was displayed at New York City’s De Buck Gallery.[31]

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".[32] After Yelchin exited his car, the vehicle rolled back down his driveway (which is on a steep incline) and trapped him against the pillar and a security fence.[33] He was pronounced dead later that day.[34] 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".[35]

Tributes

Yelchin's grave at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on 26 March 2017

Following Yelchin's death, the producers of Star Trek stated that the role of Chekov would not be recast and that the character would be written out of any subsequent Star Trek films. Star Trek Beyond was dedicated to Yelchin and Leonard Nimoy, who had also died between the release of Star Trek Into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond.

Smurfs: The Lost Village was dedicated to Yelchin, as he had provided the voice of Clumsy Smurf in the live-action Smurfs films. Additionally, We Don't Belong Here, Rememory, Porto, Newness, Thoroughbreds, the first two episodes of Trollhunters and Mary Poppins Returns are dedicated to him, with the entirety of the series being dedicated to him upon its conclusion in May 2018. Yelchin 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]

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 his death, FCA accelerated the recall campaign and took steps to get the affected Jeeps repaired more quickly than originally planned.[39]

On 1 August 2016, the attorney for Yelchin's parents announced that they were planning to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler.[40] 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.[41]

On 22 March 2018, it was announced that Yelchin's family and Fiat Chrysler had confidentially settled the lawsuit.[42]

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[43] 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

  1. ↑ Russian: Анто́н Ви́кторович Е́льчин, IPA: [ɐnˈton ˈjelʲtɕɪn]

References

  1. 1 2 Staff (1996–2012). "Anton Yelchin". AskMen - Become A Better Man. IGN Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  2. ↑ Gilbey, Ryan (20 June 2016). "Anton Yelchin obituary". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  3. ↑ 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. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Slate, Libby (22 December 1989). "Former Soviet Skate Stars Top Bill at Knott's". Los Angeles Times. p. 1. 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. 1 2 3 Longsdorf, Amy (10 May 2009). "A bold step for young actor". The Mercury. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
  6. 1 2 LaGambina, Gregg (2009). "The Wanderlust of Anton Yelchin". Flaunt. Retrieved 6 April 2010. The Star of David has been in my family for a long time, and obviously I'm Jewish.
  7. 1 2 Pfefferman, Naomi (2 April 2015). "Anton Yelchin explores extramarital love's time slot in '5 to 7'". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  8. ↑ Stern, Marlow (19 August 2011). "Hollywood's New 'It' Geek". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  9. 1 2 3 "Dog star a veteran at 17". Pasadena Star News. 6 January 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 7 January 2007.
  10. ↑ Itier, Emmanuel (30 January 2008). "On Top of the Teenage World as 'Charlie Bartlett' & as Pavel Chekov in 'Star Trek' Reboot". Buzzine. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  11. ↑ Germain, David (26 October 2011). "Trek' co-star Yelchin finds love in 'Like Crazy'". The Boston Globe.
  12. ↑ "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.
  13. ↑ Levy, Genelle (23 March 2018). "Anton Yelchin's parents just settled a major lawsuit over his death, and we hope this helps bring them closure". Yahoo.com. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  14. ↑ "Anton Yelchin Biography". M&C. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
  15. ↑ Puig, Claudia (11 January 2007). "Alpha Dog: Razor-sharp reality". USA Today. Retrieved 26 January 2007.
  16. ↑ "Teenage Actor Uncomfortable With Pool Sex Scene". Contact Music. 18 December 2006. Retrieved 18 December 2006.
  17. ↑ "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.
  18. ↑ Dawtrey, Adam (6 June 2007). "Mischa Barton to star in Joffe's t.A.T.u.". Variety. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  19. ↑ Goldstein, Gregg (19 March 2008). "Yelchin finds Salvation". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 19 April 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
  20. ↑ Siegel, Tatiana (8 August 2007). "Yelchin sets course for Trek". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 31 August 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  21. ↑ "Fright Night Redo Finds Its Paranoid Neighbor". Bloody Disgusting. 6 April 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  22. ↑ 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.
  23. ↑ Yelchin, Anton (30 January 2012). "Crazy In Love — Anton Yelchin Interview". SteveCummins.com (Interview). Interviewed by Steve Cummins. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  24. ↑ Simpson, Rob (2012). "The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists (Review)". Vulture Hound Magazine. Vulture Hound Magazine. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  25. ↑ "The Pirates! Band of Misfits: Cast & Crew". MovieWeb.com. 1995–2012. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  26. ↑ Hill, Logan (23 October 2011). "Anton Yelchin on His Role in 'Like Crazy'". New York Magazine. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  27. ↑ "Anton Yelchin: 4 Unreleased Movies Featuring the Late Actor". 25 July 2016.
  28. ↑ 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.
  29. ↑ "'Trollhunter' Trailer: First Look at Guillermo del Toro's New Series". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  30. ↑ Kirk, Jeremy (21 March 2011). "SXSW Video Interview: Anton Yelchin for Mel Gibson's 'The Beaver'". Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  31. ↑ Romano, Nick (6 January 2018). "Anton Yelchin's secret photography passion now on display". EW.com. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  32. ↑ Times, Los Angeles. "'Star Trek' actor Anton Yelchin's SUV was recalled in April over rollaway risk". latimes.com. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  33. ↑ "'Star Trek' actor Anton Yelchin dies in freak car accident". CNN. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  34. ↑ "Actor who played Chekov in Star Trek reboot dead after being pinned by own car". CBC News. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  35. ↑ 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.
  36. ↑ 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.
  37. ↑ "Jennifer Lawrence, J.J. Abrams, and More Stars Gather to Pay Respects to Anton Yelchin". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  38. ↑ "Anton Yelchin Honored By Family, 'Star Trek' Co-Stars at Statue Unveiling". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  39. ↑ FCA accelerates recall of confusing gear lever that may have contributed to Anton Yelchin's death
  40. ↑ "Anton Yelchin's parents will sue car company". USA Today. 1 August 2016.
  41. ↑ "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.
  42. ↑ "Actor Anton Yelchin's parents reach settlement over his death caused by SUV". USA Today. 22 March 2018.
  43. ↑ McNary, Dave (22 April 2015). "Documentary 'Unity' Set for Aug. 12 Release with 100 Star Narrators". Variety. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
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