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Zachary Quinto, Adam Nimoy, And More React To The Death Of ‘Star Trek’ Star Anton Yelchin After Freak Accident

By Victoria Miller
Published on: 10:47 PST, Jun 19, 2016

Zachary Quinto is one of many Star Trek alums and fans that are mourning the shocking, sudden death of Anton Yelchin. The 27-year-old Star Trek actor died in a freak car accident in his driveway after he was found pinned between a car and a gate at a home in Studio City, California. Authorities believe that the car was improperly parked and rolled backward on a steep hill, killing the young actor in the early morning hours.

Quinto, who plays Spock in the rebooted Star Trek film series, was among the first of Yelchin’s colleagues to pay tribute to the late actor after the sad news of his death was announced.

“Our dear friend. Our comrade. Our Anton,” Zachary Quinto wrote on Instagram. “One of the most open and intellectually curious people I have ever had the pleasure to know. So enormously talented and generous of heart. Wise beyond his years. And gone before his time. All love and strength to his family at this impossible time of grief.”

Anton Yelchin played Chekov in the 2009 Star Trek movie and the 2013 sequel Star Trek Into Darkness, and he also appears as the character in the upcoming third installment Star Trek Beyond, which has already completed production and is set for release next month.

In addition to Zachary Quinto, fellow Star Trek alum John Cho, who plays Sulu, posted a remembrance on Twitter, writing that Yelchin was “a true artist.” Cho also asked fans to send their love to the late actor’s family.

Zachary Quinto and Yelchin’s Star Trek Beyond director, Justin Lin, also took to Twitter to express his shock at the young actor’s sudden passing.

In addition, Adam Nimoy, whose father, Leonard Nimoy was the original Star Trek character, Spock, wrote that Yelchin will be missed. “Heartbreaking to hear the news today about Anton,” Adam Nimoy wrote. “An incredible talent, lost much too soon. He will be missed.”

Many other stars paid their respects to the actor shortly after his shocking death was announced, including co-stars and close friends.

While all of Hollywood is in shock over the news of Anton Yelchin’s untimely death, the sad news has especially touched Zachary Quinto. Last year, shortly after Leonard Nimoy’s death, Zachary Quinto paid tribute to the TV legend, calling him a “father figure”. Zachary Quinto lost his own father at a young age and it seems much too soon to say goodbye to another Star Trek friend and co-star, especially on Father’s Day, which is already a difficult day for Quinto.

In 2011, Zachary Quinto and Anton Yelchin sat down with MTV News to discuss the iconic space-themed movie franchise.

“I think figuring out the point at which we reenter the story will be informative and define a lot about how I prepare for it,” Quinto said of a movie sequel, which would ultimately be released as Into Darkness. “There’s a transformation that takes place as we get ready to start. And actually, the physical part of it is pretty significant.”

“It’s going to be really important to basically to pick up all the work right where I left off which is interesting because I’ve never done that before,” Yelchin said of reprising his role as Chekov.

In 2014, Zachary Quinto and Anton Yelchin appeared with fellow Into Darkness cast members in a Comcast X1 Entertainment commercial titled “Bold Explorers.” Quinto assumed his role as Spock while his costar played Chekov in the ad.

Take a look at the video below to see Zachary Quinto and his late co-star in the ad that aired during the Super Bowl in 2014.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCXoHvmefhU

[Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures]

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