On 8 September, the Star Trek franchise celebrated its 60th anniversary based on the date it premiered on television in 1966.
On 25 October 2026, Walter Koenig, the actor who originally played Ensign Pavel Chekov on the original series of Star Trek, died. He was 90 years old. Incidentally, Anton Yelchin, who portrayed Chekov in the 2009 reboot movie, has also passed, all the way back on 19 June 2016. He was 27 years old.
On 28 October 2026, Sir Patrick Stewart, the actor who originally played Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation, died. He was 86 years old.
On 13 November 2026, the Magic: The Gathering Star Trek set will be released. There are at least two cards in the set that represent Chekov using the likeness of Walter Koenig. There are at least six cards that depict Picard using the likeness of Sir Patrick Stewart, plus one signed variant.
As a Trekkie, this year has been an unusual mix of happy celebrations and mournful goodbyes. A fandom with a 60-year legacy will inevitably "lose" people to the passage of time, and we fans are not strangers to the deaths of notable members of the crews of the different iterations of Trek. I've written my share of Trek-related eulogies, and I've stood by the virtual memorials dedicated to various characters within the virtual galaxy of Star Trek Online.
But all of these actors and those who have already gone to the undiscovered country have changed countless lives with their contributions through Star Trek and beyond. Their lives are meant to be celebrated and even emulated, or at least used as a basis for inspiration.
Like many others on social media, it seems best end this with a quote by the the character Captain Picard from the movie Star Trek: Generations:
"Someone once told me that time was a predator that stalked us all our lives. But I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey, and reminds us to cherish every moment, because they'll never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we've lived. After all, Number One, we're only mortal."
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