LOS ANGELES -- Anton Yelchin, a promising and prolific young actor beloved by his peers who recently caught a break playing Chekov in the new Star Trekfilms, was killed early Sunday in a freakish mishap with his own vehicle. He was 27.

Publicist Jennifer Allen confirmed to Mashablethat Yelchin had been killed in a collision. TMZlater reported that Yelchin was pinned between his Jeep and a brick pillar and a wrought-iron gate in front of his San Fernando Valley home. 

It appeared as though Yelchin had gotten out of his car -- but what exactly happened was not immediately clear. His friends became concerned when he didn't show up for an 11 p.m. rehearsal, and he was found around 1 a.m., the car still running, TMZsaid.

Anton Yelchin in 2009's Star Trek.Credit: Paramount pictures

The Russian-born Yelchin was an only child born to professional figure skaters who moved to the U.S. when he was an infant. Despite his young age and modest fame, he had an impressively long list of credits to his name that stretched all the way back to a 2000 episode of ER.

Through the years he took dozens of roles in TV and independent films -- episodes of The Practice, NYPD Blue, Criminal Mindsand many more -- but it was the 2009 reboot of Star Trek that truly put him in another orbit. 

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Yelchin had experience playing to his Russian heritage, a fact that wasn't lost on director JJ Abrams, who cast him as Pavel Chekov, the resourceful tactical officer originally played by Walter Koenig.

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— Bad Robot (@bad_robot) June 19, 2016

Word of Yelchin's death on Sunday brought a flood of sentiment from his former colleagues, friends and people whose paths he had crossed, painting a picture of a committed professional and rising talent who never let success go to his head.

Devastated to hear about the brilliant Anton Yelchin. He was thoughtful, kind, and gifted. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) June 19, 2016

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Yelchin appeared in the 2013 sequel Star Trek Into Darkness, and will be seen again as Chekov in Star Trek Beyond, which is complete and slated for July 22. Three other films, Rememory, Portoand Thoroughbred-- his last appearance -- are scheduled between now and 2017.

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TopicsStar Trek