‘Star Trek’ Actor Anton Yelchin Dies in Crash

Sad news out of Hollywood as actor Anton Yelchin was killed in a car crash early this morning. He was a rising actor best known for playing Chekov in the new "Star Trek" films.

The 27-year-old Yelchin was struck by his own car as it rolled backward down his driveway in Studio City, according to Los Angeles police officer Jenny Hosier. The car pinned Yelchin against a brick mailbox pillar and a security fence.

He got out of the vehicle momentarily, but police didn't say why he was behind it while it start rolling. He was on his way to meet friends for a rehearsal, Hosier said. When he didn't show up, the group came to his home and found him dead.

Yelchin began his acting career as a child in small roles in independent films and various television shows. He would break out in movies such as "Alpha Dog" and the teen comedy "Charlie Bartlett".

But his biggest role to date has been as navigator Pavel Chekov in the rebooted "Star Trek" films. The third installment, "Star Trek Beyond", is set to come out in July.

Yelchin, an only child, was born in Russia. His parents were professional figure skaters who moved the family to the United States when Yelchin was a baby.