Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 30, 1993 TAG: 9311300036
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ian Spelling
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"Trek"-classic's beloved Cmdr. Chekov was feeling healthier than ever that day. In fact, he ran one of the fastest miles of his life.
So when he experienced some chest pain he simply dismissed it as indigestion. Days later the actor was in the Chicago area for a "Trek" convention. His appearance went off without a hitch, but hours later, while asleep in his hotel room, an otherworldly pain gripped him.
"It was 2 a.m., and it hit for real. I broke into a tremendous sweat. I was drenched in sweat from head to toe.
"Even then I was explaining it away," Koenig, 57, says by phone from his home.
Koenig was rushed to a hospital where doctors told him he had suffered a heart attack. He subsequently underwent quadruple bypass surgery and is now on the road to recovery.
"The healing process has been relatively uneventful," he says. "I'm confident I'll be 100 percent very soon."
Anyone examining Koenig's hectic schedule might think he is 100 percent already.
When he isn't at home with his wife, actress Judy Levitt, and their actor kids, Danielle and Andrew (the latter of whom guest stars on "Sanctuary," this week's "Deep Space Nine" episode), he's busy with cons, acting projects, his "Raver" comic-book series and a novel.
The Chicago-born actor seems most excited about the novel, a psychological mystery titled "The Man Who Wasn't There."
"I've done 60 pages, and I'm outlining the rest for an agent in Manhattan," says Koenig, who also wrote the 1988 fantasy novel "Buck Alice and the Actor Robot."
"If it were to work out I'd consider that a monumental achievement."
He has already had success with the "Raver" series he created and wrote for Malibu Comics.
Millennium Comics recently acquired the series and will publish a new issue in May. Eight more adventures featuring Norman Walters/Raver will come out during the year.
"Nine a year is ideal," Koenig says. "We can do two- and three-part stories. We can bring in other writers. That frees me to do other things. I'd act as an editor."
The initial artwork will be done by Canadian brothers Dan and Dave Day. "They did the first three," Koenig says. "Later we'll introduce other well-known artists, too."
Koenig recently filmed a guest-starring spot, for January airing, on the syndicated science-fiction TV series "Babylon 5." He says his character, a powerful telepath named Bester, could evolve into a recurring bad guy.
"He's not an altogether wonderful human being, which is great," Koenig says, laughing. "The way it's left, it's very possible Bester could return.
"The final line referring to me is, `I think we haven't seen the last of him.'"
On the "Trek" front, Koenig is waiting to see if and how the "Trek"-classic cast will be incorporated into the upcoming "Next Gen" movie.
The veteran actor has always been brutally honest when assessing his place in Trek's history and its place in his life.
"People are probably bored of my talking about it," he says, "but I'd be more comfortable with my place in `Trek' if I'd had more to do during my 26 years. The talents of the supporting actors were never explored.
"So I'm just along for the ride. If I was asked if I would do `Trek' again, knowing the consequences, I'd say yes. It's tough to make a living in acting and I am, but I'd like a resume with greater variety.
"But you play the cards you're dealt and I wasn't dealt a bad hand at all. I have no regrets."
Con calendar Dec. 11
Creation at the Damus Building in San Bernardino, Calif., featuring Michael Dorn. (Call 818-409-0960.)
Trek alert
If you have Trek news or trivia to share - or if you have questions relating to "Star Trek" - write to Ian Spelling, care of features department, Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491. Be sure to enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like a reply.
by CNB