Hollywood is in mourning at the moment.
Early Sunday afternoon, in a stunning and sad accident involving his car and a gate at his home, Anton Yelchin was killed at the young age of 27.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed that Yelchin’s body was discovered on the actor’s property, pinned between his vehicle and a gate at his residence in Studio City, California.
The coroner must complete the autopsy before an official cause of death can be declared, but preliminary results are that he passed away from head and chest injuries.
Yelchin was found by a group of friends after they went over to his house to check on the star because he failed to show up for a schedule rehearsal.
The medical examiner’s office says the car did not appear to have been properly parked before Yelchin walked toward the back of it.
It therefore rolled down the driveway and pinned him between the car and gate.
He was pronounced dead at 1:10 a.m. on Sunday.
Yelchin had starring roles in the movies Alpha Dog and Charlie Barlett, but really broke out as Chekov in the new Star Wars franchise.
In response to the tragic news, Paramount Pictures has released the following statement:
“All of us at Paramount join 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.”
J.J. Abrams, the director behind the first two Star Wars movies in this rebooted franchise, also penned a note to Yelchin and shared it online.
“Anton, you were brilliant,” it reads. “You were kind. You were funny as hell, and supremely talented. And you weren’t here nearly long enough. Missing you…”
Finally, Justin Lin, who directed Star Was: Beyond, which opens next month, Tweeted the following after learning of Yelchin’s passing:
Still in shock. Rest in peace, Anton. Your passion and enthusiasm will live on with everyone that had the pleasure of knowing you.
