Boldly

Walter Koenig, best known as Ensign (and then later, Captain) Pavel Chekhov from the original Star Trek series and first six feature films, passed away on Sunday at the age of 90. Koenig acted off and on after the Star Trek franchise transitioned away from the original crew for good in the late 1990s, but remained an active and appreciative member of the Star Trek community. Koenig actually joined Star Trek in its second season, but was forever after considered an indispensable part of the original crew. As Chekhov, Koenig embodied a symbol of a utopian future where there was no Cold War and even a Russian could be a vital part of an international, intergalactic mission of peace. Outside of acting, Koenig participated in humanitarian ventures and forever maintained a reputation as a wonderful person to interact with and work with in the entertainment industry. With his passing, William Shatner and George Takei are the only living members of the original (core) Star Trek crew.

Three days later, Koenig's death was fully overshadowed by the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart, who died from Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia at the age of 86. Stewart was arguably an even more integral part of the Star Trek universe, becoming Jean-Luc Picard, the second major captain in the franchise, with Star Trek: The Next Generation. But that may not have even been his most famous or iconic role. As Picard, as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men film franchise, as a fixture of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre dating back to the mid-1960s and even for roles in films like Excalibur and David Lynch's Dune, Stewart was an icon many times over, to a wide array of fandoms and pop culture in general.

Stewart was as close as you can get to an actor without peer. He was one of the most respected performers of his generation, and then of every generation that followed. As Picard, he was always "my" captain, and TNG episodes like "The Inner Light," "The Best of Both Worlds," and "All Good Things ... " stuck with me immediately and forever afterward. He was truly the only person who could have played Charles Xavier (no apologies to James McAvoy), and even through his illness, he played the role one final time, in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

Patrick Stewart meant a lot to me and a lot to millions of other people, and will continue to have an influence on pop culture. The wonderful news is that he left a breathtakingly large body of work, and also left a lot of wonderful people who loved him, and will continue to love him dearly. His and Koenig's passing are devastating, but they both left a lot to celebrate.