Anton Yelchin, the Russian-born actor best known for major roles in the Star Trek movie franchise, has died in what appeared to be a car accident.
A Los Angeles police spokeswoman said the 27-year-old actor apparently stepped out of his car in the steep driveway at his home early June 19 and the car then rolled backward.
Spokeswoman Jenny Houser said the car pinned him against a wall and a security fence, causing trauma that led to his death.
She said no foul play was suspected, but police were still investigating.
Yelchin was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, to professional figure skaters who moved to the United States when he was a baby.
He had small film and television roles, before gaining attention in the 2007 crime thriller Alpha Dog.
But he catapulted into wide fame playing the role of Pavel Chekov, a Russian-accented character who was variously a navigator or engineer on the fictional starship Enterprise, in the newest Star Trek movies.
The next installment of those films is set to be released next month.
