Star Trek Icons William Shatner and George Takei Honor Walter Koenig

The sci-fi community mourns the passing of franchise pillars Walter Koenig and Patrick Stewart during the series' 60th anniversary year.

Walter Koenig, renowned for portraying Lt. Pavel Chekov in Star Trek's original series, passed away at the age of 90. Compounding a difficult week for the franchise during its 60th anniversary, Captain Jean-Luc Picard actor Patrick Stewart also passed away.

Franchise luminaries William Shatner and George Takei, representing the final surviving core cast members of the U.S.S. Enterprise, took to social media to share emotional tributes and memorialize their fellow space traveler.