Anton Yelchin's Real Name: Anton Yelchin

Quick answer: Anton Yelchin's professional and public name was Anton Yelchin. He was born in Russia in 1989 and moved to the United States as a baby. A longer form of the name appears in some catalog notes, but the Associated Press and the Library of Congress heading use Anton Yelchin. He was best known as Chekov in the later Star Trek films. He died in a vehicle accident at his Los Angeles home on June 19, 2016, at 27 (AP).

Real name and early life

The Associated Press said Yelchin, an only child, was born in Russia. His parents were professional figure skaters who moved the family to the United States when he was a baby. He tried skating lessons before turning to acting class. A Library of Congress name-authority note gives his birth as March 11, 1989, in Leningrad, then in the U.S.S.R., and records a longer form of the name that is not used in the title here because it is not independently confirmed in the news account.

In a 2011 AP interview, promoting the film Like Crazy, he said he loved the improvisation in acting and that, although his father wanted him to apply to college, "this is what I wanted."

Career highlights

He began acting as a child, with small roles in independent films and on television series including ER, The Practice, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. His breakout film role came opposite Anthony Hopkins in Hearts in Atlantis (2001). Later credits included Alpha Dog, Charlie Bartlett, and a young Kyle Reese in Terminator Salvation (2009). He starred with Felicity Jones in Like Crazy (2011).

J.J. Abrams cast him as the navigator Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek films, the part for which he was best known. He drew on his Russian background for the role. Star Trek Beyond, the third film in that series, was scheduled for release in July 2016. Other work ranged from vocal parts in The Smurfs to Only Lovers Left Alive and Green Room.

Death

Yelchin died on June 19, 2016, in a vehicle accident at his Los Angeles home. He was 27 and had been on his way to a rehearsal; friends found him after he did not arrive. Abrams called him brilliant, kind, and talented. This page does not describe the mechanics of the accident.

Name notes for searchers

Anton Yelchin is the name used in credits, news reports, and the Library of Congress heading. Searchers may also see a longer East Slavic form in databases; this page treats Anton Yelchin as the documented public name.