Andrew Koenig, the son of Star Trek: The Original Series actor Walter Koenig, had a forgotten role in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The son of actors Walter Koenig and Judy Levitt, Andrew Koenig was best known for playing Richard “Boner” Stabone in the 1980s sitcom Growing Pains. Koenig also guest starred in other popular 80s shows like My Two Dads and 21 Jump Street, and did voice work on the G.I. Joe animated series. Tragically, Andrew Koenig took his own life in 2010, however his legacy lives on in his TV work, including his guest appearance in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Andrew Koenig appeared in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2, episode 10, “Sanctuary”, which also featured William Schallert. Schallert had appeared alongside the Star Trek: The Original Series cast as Nilz Barris in the classic episode, “The Trouble with Tribbles”. Andrew Koenig and William Schallert established a link between DS9 and TOS that Andrew’s father, Walter Koenig continues to this day, via his work alongside Star Trek: Deep Space Nine‘s Cirroc Lofton.
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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Cast & Character Guide
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine had the biggest cast of characters of any Trek show, meaning that Captain Sisko had numerous allies in the Dominion War.
Star Trek: TOS’ Chekov Actor’s Son Was In DS9
Star Trek: DS9, Season 2, Episode 10, “Sanctuary”
Walter Koenig’s son Andrew played Tumak in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2, episode 10, “Sanctuary”. The episode was a fascinating, if flawed, exploration of xenophobia and prejudice against migrants that still feels painfully relevant in the 2020s. Andrew Koenig’s character was the son of Haneek (Deborah May), the Skreea woman chosen to be the spokesperson for her fellow refugees. After the Skreeans were barred from settling on Bajor, Tumak stole a ship and tried to land on the planet himself. Tumak is intercepted by Bajoran patrol ships, which fire upon him, igniting a radiation leak and destroying his ship.
Before Tumak’s tragic ending in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, he became the target of a cruel prank by Nog (Aron Eisenberg), who sprayed him with foul smelling vapor. Tumak was more than capable of standing up for himself and tried to hold Nog to account, until Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton) and Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois) stepped in. Andrew Koenig gave a raw performance as the angry and ostracized young man, perfectly emphasizing the mistreatment of the Skreeans, and making his rash actions at the climax of the episode all-too believable.
Walter Koenig Also Teamed Up With DS9’s Jake Sisko
Koenig recently joined Cirroc Lofton’s podcast The 7th Rule.
It’s not just the late Andrew Koenig who shared some time with Jake Sisko actor Cirroc Lofton. His father, Walter, has recently joined Cirroc’s podcast The 7th Rule. Walter Koenig joined The 7th Rule podcast earlier in 2023, and has been discussing his Star Trek: The Original Series episodes with hosts Cirroc Lofton and Ryan T. Husk. So far, Cirroc Lofton, Ryan T. Husk and Walter Koenig have covered “The Cage”, “Amok Time”, and “Who Mourns For Adonais?” and are continuing the watchthrough weekly on YouTube.
Andrew Koenig’s guest role in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Walter Koenig’s podcasts with Cirroc Lofton reflect the inter-connectedness of each arm of the Star Trek franchise. Star Trek: The Original Series began nearly 60 years ago, but the links between the adventures of Pavel Chekov and the crew of the starship Enterprise continue to converge with modern shows. It’s no exaggeration to say that Star Trek is a huge family, and in one brief moment in 1993, both generations of the Koenigs became a part of it, preserving their legacies for decades to come.
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek: The Original Series follows the exploits of the crew of the USS Enterprise. On a five-year mission to explore uncharted space, Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) must trust his crew – Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Forest DeKelley), Montgomery “Scotty” Scott (James Doohan), Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), Chekov (Walter Koenig) and Sulu (George Takei) – with his life. Facing previously undiscovered life forms and civilizations and representing humanity among the stars on behalf of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets, the Enterprise regularly comes up against impossible odds and diplomatic dilemmas.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.
