Anton Yelchin, a bright young star best known for his role as Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek movies, died at the age of 27. His spokeswoman, Jennifer Allen, confirmed that he died in an automobile accident early Sunday morning.

“Actor Anton Yelchin was killed in a fatal traffic collision early this morning. His family requests you respect their privacy at this time,” Allen said in a statement.

He died shortly after 01:00 (08:00 GMT).

According to a police spokesperson, the actor was standing behind his parked car in his driveway when the vehicle rolled backwards, pinning him against a security fence. He was on his way to meet friends for a rehearsal, and when he failed to appear, they rushed to his house and discovered his body.

TV crews gathered at Yelchin’s house to report on the driveway to his home
AP

Jennifer Houser told CNN, “It appears that he momentarily left his car, leaving it in the driveway. He was behind the vehicle when it rolled backward and pinned him to the brick pillar causing the trauma that led to his death.”

Although no foul play was suspected, she stated that the accident was still being investigated.

Yelchin was known for his sweetness and even naiveté; his career began in minor films and TV shows when he was young, before breaking out in 2006 with the crime thriller Alpha Dog and the following year in Charlie Bartlett as Robert Downey Jr’s troubled student. In 2011, he co-starred in Like Crazy with Felicity Jones, a transatlantic romance that received both audience and jury honors at the Sundance Film Festival, and he also played Mel Gibson’s son in Jodie Foster’s The Beaver.

The Russian-born actor was most recognized for his role as Chekov in the Star Trek reboot films, including Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness, which he starred in in 2009 and 2013. Yelchin had finished filming his part in Star Trek Beyond, which will be released in theaters on July 22.

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When Yelchin was a baby, his parents, who were professional figure skaters, moved the family to the United States.

He also tried skating lessons for a while before realizing he wasn’t very good on the ice. As a reaction, he enrolled in an acting class.

A number of actors and others who worked with Yelchin paid tribute to him on social media and expressed their sadness.

J.J. Abrams, whose Bad Robot Productions produced recent “Star Trek” films, expressed his sadness over Yelchin’s death on Twitter, writing: “Anton, you were brilliant. You were kind. You were funny as hell, and supremely talented. And you weren’t here nearly long enough. Missing you…”

“Still in shock. Rest in peace, Anton,” Justin Lin, who directed Yelchin in his third “Star Trek” movie, wrote on Twitter. “Your passion and enthusiasm will live on with everyone that had the pleasure of knowing you.”

“Our dear friend. Our comrade. Our Anton,” wrote Zachary Quinto, who plays Spock in the franchise, 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.”

The studio behind the franchise, Paramount Pictures, stated it joined “the world in mourning the untimely passing of Antony Yelchin. As a member of the Star Trek family, he was beloved by so many and he will missed by all. We share our deepest condolences with his mother, father and family.”

“Devastated to hear about the brilliant Anton Yelchin. He was thoughtful, kind, and gifted. My thoughts and prayers are with his family,” actor Chris Evans wrote on Twitter.

“I loved Anton Yelchin so much. He was a true artist – curious, beautiful, courageous. He was a great pal and a great son. I’m in ruins,” John Cho, who portrays Sulu on Star Trek, tweeted.

Between 2007 and 2013, Yelchin acted in the Steven Spielberg miniseries “Taken,” as well as the films “Terminator Salvation,” “Charlie Bartlett,” “Fright Night,” “Like Crazy,” and “Only Lovers Left Alive.”