'Star Trek' star Anton Yelchin's many friends and fans are mourning his death, after the actor was killed in a bizarre car accident in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The 27-year-old Russian-born actor was found on the driveway to his home in San Fernadino, California, with TMZ website reporting sources claiming he had somehow been hit by his own car.
Anton's Trekkie co-star Zachary Quinto was one of the first to express his grief in this post on social media:
An LAPD spokeswoman told the Hollywood Reporter: "It appears he momentarily exited his car and it rolled backward, causing trauma that led to his death."
His publicist sadly confirmed on Sunday: "Anton Yelchin was killed in a fatal traffic collision early this morning. His family requests you respect their privacy at this time."
Police are reported to be investigating the tragic incident, but early sources indicate that there are no suspicious circumstances. The actor's body was discovered pinned between his car and a brick mail box. Friends had queried his whereabouts after he had failed to attend a rehearsal earlier on Saturday evening.
Anton's death brings to an abrupt end a screen career that had blossomed with his role of Ensign Chekov in the 'Star Trek' franchise. The third in the new series, 'Star Trek Beyond' is set for release, but the popular actor's death is bound to cast a shadow over publicity surrounding the launch of the film.
Prior to his breakout role in 'Star Trek', he had made his mark in films 'Alpha Dog', 'Charlie Bartlett', 'Terminator Salvation', 'Only Lovers Left Alive', 'Hearts in Atlantis' and haunting romance 'Like Crazy', in which he co-starred with British actress Felicity Jones.
Stars Anna Kendrick, Matt Lucas, Sam Claflin and Olivia Wilde were among the first to express their sorrow for the loss of such a popular star in the making.
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