The original cast of Star Trek is now down to two living members. Word went out today that Walter Koenig passed away at 90.
I actually met him years back when a group of us who worked LibertyCon were asked to come in and be personal security/help to some of the original cast (and others) at a media con/event. Walter didn’t want security, so I told him I would stand at a discrete distance and unless something happened not get in the way. He genuinely liked and appreciated his fans, and disliked anything and anyone who got in the way of that as he saw it. With keeping my distance and helping out a small bit once or twice, we got along tolerably well.
I think he was a bit surprised when in the Green Room some of the other cast members knew me (courtesy of Mr. James Doohan) and we began chatting. The fact that I was a fan from the 60s, and known, seemed to smooth over any remaining rough edges.
He was different. Can’t pin it down more than that, but he was different. Part is that he was much quieter than, say, George or Nichelle. Then again, most people were/are less ebullient and gregarious than George or Nichelle (RIP). He struck me as a quiet man, who while friendly and talkative with fans, was just as happy not to talk. Never met him again, but got the impression he really LOVED playing Bester in Babylon 5, as it was a type of character and side of him he almost never got to play.
As for his not wanting security, found out later from something he wrote (autobiography?) that it stemmed from a con where someone had sent in multiple threats that they were going to come down there and kill him. Specifically him. The con put security on him and apparently set condition Red which messed up his time with the fans. To the point of sweeping him up and out when the person making the threats said he was nearby. Ever since then, cons gave him security despite his asking strongly (and apparently pointedly) they not do so. Hard to blame the man for being grumpy about it.
Between some personal experience and some reading, he faced tragedy more than once in his life. Despite that, he pressed on and continued to enjoy meeting his fans. I’ve said a prayer or two for his soul, and for those he leaves behind — especially his family who were by his side when he passed. Please do the same.