'Star Trek' Actor Anton Yelchin Killed in Car Accident

Anton Yelchin, the actor best known for his role in the new "Star Trek" films, died in an accident early Sunday morning at the age of 27, his publicist Jennifer Allen said in an emailed statement to Patch.

He was killed after he became pinned between his car, a brick mailbox pillar and a security fence at his home in Studio City, California, around 1 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. He had momentarily exited his car in the driveway when it rolled backwards.

Police said there were no signs of foul play.

Yelchin's parents Irina Korina and Viktor Yelchin were pair figure skaters who moved to the United States from the Soviet Union in 1989 when their son was 6 months old. The two had qualified for the 1972 Winter Olympic but had been barred from participating by the Soviet government.

Yelchin's parents enrolled him in acting classes at the age of 9, because as Yelchin himself admitted to the Daily Beast, he was no good at ice-skating.

He started acting at the same age with a role in the independent film "A Man in Mostly Water." Other notable films he acted in include "Alpha Dog," "New York, I Love You," "Like Crazy" and as Chekov in the new "Star Trek" series.

In an interview in 2011, "Like Crazy" director Drake Doremus said Yelchin was like a chameleon because he could do bigger movies or smaller, more intimate ones.

"There are a lot of people who can't, who can only do one or the other. And he's only 22 years old. That's what blows my mind," Doremus said at the time.

Yelchin's family has requested privacy at this time.

Hollywood stars paid tribute to the actor on Twitter, remembering him as kind and talented.

Refresh this page for updates on this breaking news story.

Image via Wikimedia Commons