Anton Yelchin Dead: 'Star Trek' Star Killed In Freak Car Accident, Aged 27

Anton Yelchin will appear in the next 'Star Trek Beyond' film, out next month.
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'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. 

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Anton Yelchin, left, with Chris Pine and his other Trekkie co-stars
Paramount

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. 

 

Tap the first picture below to open the slideshow:

RIP: The Celebrities We've Lost In 2016
JANUARY(01 of53)
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David Bowie, Music Legend (b: 1947) (credit:Andrew H. Walker via Getty Images)
JANUARY(02 of53)
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Terry Wogan, Broadcasting Legend (b. 1938) (credit:Nicky J Sims via Getty Images)
JANUARY(03 of53)
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Alan Rickman, Actor (b. 1946) (credit:Dominique Charriau via Getty Images)
JANUARY(04 of53)
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Colin Vearncombe (aka Black), Singer (b. 1962) (credit:Roberto Ricciuti via Getty Images)
JANUARY(05 of53)
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René Angelil, Music Producer and Celine Dion's husband (b. 1942) (credit:Andreas Rentz via Getty Images)
JANUARY(06 of53)
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Abe Vigoda, Actor (b. 1921) (credit:Dennis Van Tine/ABACA USA)
JANUARY(07 of53)
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Frank Finlay, Actor (b. 1926) (credit:PA/PA Archive)
JANUARY(08 of53)
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Ed 'Stewpot' Stewart, DJ and TV Presenter (b. 1941) (credit:William Conran/PA Wire)
JANUARY(09 of53)
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Dan Haggerty, Actor (b. 1941) (credit:Imeh Akpanudosen via Getty Images)
JANUARY(10 of53)
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Glenn Frey, Musician (b. 1948) (credit:Craig Barritt via Getty Images)
FEBRUARY(11 of53)
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Frank Kelly, Actor (b. 1938) (credit:Niall Carson/PA Wire)
FEBRUARY(12 of53)
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Harper Lee, 'To Kill A Mockingbird' novelist (b. 1926) (credit:Rob Carr/AP)
FEBRUARY(13 of53)
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Vanity (aka. Denise Matthews), Singer (b. 1959) (credit:Ron Wolfson/Everett/REX Shutterstock)
FEBRUARY(14 of53)
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Angela 'Big Ang' Raiola, 'Mob Wives' reality star (b. 1960) (credit:Jason LaVeris via Getty Images)
FEBRUARY(15 of53)
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Louise Rennison, Author and Comedian (b. 1951) (credit:David Levenson via Getty Images)
FEBRUARY(16 of53)
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Maurice White, Earth, Wind and Fire founder and musician (b. 1941) (credit:John Phillips/EMPICS Entertainment)
FEBRUARY(17 of53)
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George Kennedy, Actor (b. 1925) (credit:Ron Galella via Getty Images)
MARCH(18 of53)
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Paul Daniels, Magician (b. 1938) (credit:Suzanne Hubbard/PA Wire)
MARCH(19 of53)
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Ronnie Corbett, Actor and Comedian (b. 1930) (credit:Stuart C. Wilson via Getty Images)
MARCH(20 of53)
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Sir George Martin, Beatles Producer (b. 1926) (credit:Jae. C. Hong/AP)
MARCH(21 of53)
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Tony Warren, 'Coronation Street' creator (b. 1936) (credit:Max Mumby/Indigo via Getty Images)
MARCH(22 of53)
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Denise Robertson, 'This Morning' Agony Aunt (b. 1932) (credit:Chris Jackson via Getty Images)
MARCH(23 of53)
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Garry Shandling, Comedian and Actor (b. 1949) (credit:Tibrina Hobson via Getty Images)
MARCH(24 of53)
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Patty Duke, Actress (b. 1946) (credit:Bobby Bank via Getty Images)
MARCH(25 of53)
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Keith Emerson, Musician (b. 1944) (credit:Paul A. Hebert/AP)
MARCH(26 of53)
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Frank Sinatra Jr, Singer (b. 1944) (credit:Bill Kostroun/AP)
APRIL(27 of53)
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Prince, Music Legend (b. 1958) (credit:AP)
APRIL(28 of53)
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Victoria Wood, Actress and Comedian (b. 1953) (credit:Steve Meddle/REX/Shutterstock)
APRIL(29 of53)
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David Gest, Producer and 'CBB' Star (b. 1953) (credit:Ian West/PA Wire)
APRIL(30 of53)
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Doris Roberts, Actress (b. 1925) (credit:Steve Granitz via Getty Images)
MAY(31 of53)
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Carla Lane, TV Writer (b. 1928) (credit:Photoshot via Getty Images)
JUNE(32 of53)
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Anton Yelchin, Actor (b. 1989) (credit:Arthur Mola/AP)
JUNE(33 of53)
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Muhammad Ali, Boxing Legend (b. 1942) (credit:AP/AP)
JULY(34 of53)
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Caroline Aherne, Actress and Comedian (b. 1963) (credit:rune hellestad via Getty Images)
AUGUST(35 of53)
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Gene Wilder, Actor (b. 1933) (credit:STEVEN SENNE/AP)
SEPTEMBER(36 of53)
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Alexis Arquette, Actor and Trans Activist (b. 1969) (credit:Donna Ward/ABACA USA)
OCTOBER(37 of53)
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Jean Alexander, 'Coronation Street' Actress (b. 1926) (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
OCTOBER(38 of53)
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Pete Burns, Dead or Alive singer (b. 1959) (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
OCTOBER(39 of53)
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Bobby Vee, Singer (b. 1943) (credit:Jeff Baenen/AP)
NOVEMBER(40 of53)
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Robert Vaughn, Actor (b. 1932) (credit:Chris Young/PA Archive)
NOVEMBER(41 of53)
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Keo Woolford, 'Hawaii Five-0' star (b. 1967) (credit:Tibrina Hobson via Getty Images)
NOVEMBER(42 of53)
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Leonard Cohen, Singer and Poet (b. 1934) (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)
NOVEMBER(43 of53)
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Florence Henderson, 'Brady Bunch' actress (b. 1934) (credit:Richard Shotwell/AP)
DECEMBER(44 of53)
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Andrew Sachs, 'Fawlty Towers' star (b. 1930) (credit:PA)
DECEMBER(45 of53)
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Peter Vaughan, Actor (b. 1923) (credit:PA/PA Wire)
DECEMBER(46 of53)
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Greg Lake, Musician (b. 1947) (credit:Jim Steinfeldt via Getty Images)
DECEMBER(47 of53)
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Ian McCaskill, BBC Weatherman (b. 1938) (credit:Michael Stephens/PA Wire)
DECEMBER(48 of53)
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Zsa Zsa Gabor, Actress (b. 1917) (credit:AP)
DECEMBER(49 of53)
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Rick Parfitt, Status Quo guitarist (b. 1948) (credit:Ian West/PA Wire)
DECEMBER(50 of53)
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George Michael, Singer (b. 1963) (credit:Francois Mori/AP)
DECEMBER(51 of53)
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Liz Smith, Actress (b. 1921) (credit:Doug Peters/Doug Peters)
DECEMBER(52 of53)
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Carrie Fisher, actress (b. 1956) (credit:Paul Hackett / Reuters)
DECEMBER(53 of53)
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Debbie Reynolds, actress and singer (b. 1932) (credit:FilmMagic)