Star Trek’s Anton Yelchin: from oppression in Russia to Hollywood

Jewish actor Anton Yelchin, best known for appearing in the new Star Trek films, was killed on Sunday when accidentally hit by his own car at his home in Los Angeles, police have said.

The 27-year-old, who played the Russian starship navigator Pavel Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek franchise, was crushed by his car after it rolled backwards down his steep drive, pinning him against a brick wall and a security fence.

He had been due at a rehearsal; when he failed to arrive, friends came to his house to find him dead at the scene.

The actor was born in St Petersburg to two Jewish figure skaters. His family were granted political refugee status and emigrated to the United States when he was still an infant, after being subject to religious and political oppression in Russia.