Anton Yelchin biography, nationality, parents, age and cause of death

Biography of Anton Yelchin

Born in the USSR, Anton Yelchin made his mark in Hollywood. Starting his acting career as a child in 2000, he brought more than 60 characters to life. He's best known for playing Bobby Garfield in "Hearts in Atlantis" and Pavel Chekov in "Star Trek." He worked with renowned directors like Jim Jarmusch, Scott Hicks, and J.J. Abrams. His career was on fire, with incredible prospects ahead. Tragically, his life was cut short in 2016 by a freak accident.

American actor of Russian origin Anton Yelchin

Childhood and Family

Anton Yelchin was born on March 11, 1989, in Leningrad, into a sports family. His parents, Viktor Arkadyevich and Irina Grigoryevna Yelchin, were household names among Soviet figure skating fans – they competed as a pairs team. In 1972, these Leningrad Ice Ballet stars earned the right to represent their country at the Olympics, but the decision was cruelly reversed because they were Jewish.

When Anton was just six months old, the Yelchins gained refugee status and made their way to California. Viktor launched a coaching career there (including training Olympic champion Sasha Cohen), while Irina became a producer of spectacular ice shows. The family spoke only Russian at home, so Anton's first words came out in his native tongue. However, he grew up bilingual, speaking both Russian and English equally well.

Anton enjoyed the happy childhood his former athlete parents had dreamed of giving him. Anton had mixed feelings listening to his father's stories about their cramped Soviet apartment – smaller than just his bedroom in their American house. When he got fussy about sharing his treats, they'd tell him about the Siege of Leningrad, when desperate people survived on shoe leather and belts.

Anton never became a figure skater – he just couldn't master the ice. His cystic fibrosis likely played a role, since the disease affects breathing and lung function. Thankfully, Irina and Viktor never pushed him to follow their athletic path.

Back in 1989, just after moving to the U.S., Irina shared that a stranger on the street admired the baby in the stroller: 'What a cutie! He's definitely going to be an actor.'

When Anton was in fifth grade, his parents brought him to a party where a professional actor happened to be mingling. The actor took one look at young Yelchin and suggested he try acting classes. Recognizing their son's natural charisma and love of the spotlight, they began taking him to auditions around age 11.

First Roles

In 2000, the young boy landed his first role as Robbie Edelstein in the TV series "ER." His character appeared in the episode "Be Still My Heart" (Season 6, Episode 13).

That same year, Yelchin made his feature film debut with a small role in the musical "A Man Is Mostly Water." In the action thriller "15 Minutes," Anton didn't get those proverbial 15 minutes of fame, but his role as a boy trying to escape a burning building impressed audiences.

In "Along Came a Spider," Anton played Dmitry Starodubov, the Russian president's son who gets kidnapped by criminals obsessed with becoming world-class offenders.

Anton Yelchin in the movie 'Along Came a Spider'

But Anton's first truly serious role came in 2001 — the lead in Stephen King's "Hearts in Atlantis" adaptation, starring opposite the legendary Anthony Hopkins.

Anton Yelchin and Anthony Hopkins in the movie 'Hearts in Atlantis'

The veteran actor suggested the boy call him simply "Tony," but Anton was too shy to be so familiar and addressed Hopkins as "Sir" throughout filming. The project's director, Scott Hicks, claimed that "Anton is an incredibly intelligent and well-read boy." The touching story of friendship between a boy and an old man, infused with '60s atmosphere and a hint of mysticism, resonated deeply with audiences. While it was just another triumph for Hopkins, the premiere launched young Yelchin to new heights.

Teenage Years

Following "Hearts in Atlantis," Yelchin's early filmography filled out with several notable projects. He played Jack in the drama of the same name, a film about being grateful for what you have and embracing life despite its hardships. Or, young Tom in "House of D," who experiences first love and the loss of a loved one. This time, Anton's co-stars included David Duchovny and Robin Williams.

Audiences also remember his role in "Fierce People," where he played the son of divorced parents — a successful doctor and anthropologist — who are desperately vying for the teenager's attention. Critics praised his work, writing: "Among the rest, only Anton Yelchin's character comes across positively. An extraordinarily confident performance."

From 2004 to 2006, Yelchin starred in the tragicomedy series "Huff," about an unconventional psychotherapist who becomes disillusioned after a patient's suicide. Anton played the main character's son. Viewers were drawn to this curly-haired young actor's genuine innocence and his ability to convey complex emotions and his character's inner world with just a single look.

Despite his busy schedule, Anton attended school, did well academically, and his favorite subject was math. After graduating, he applied to college. "But I quickly realized I wouldn't make a good lawyer or anything like that," he later recalled. Another passion of his was music. He played guitar in his band The Hammerheads.

Career Breakthrough

Ask most viewers where they first spotted Anton Yelchin, and they'll confidently answer, "In 'Alpha Dog'!" In this drama based on real events, Anton played Zack, a teenager with the bad luck of being the younger brother of local drug dealer Jake. Jake owed big money to another dealer, Johnny, then vanished. Johnny's crew—barely older than Zack—kidnapped him and dragged him to Johnny's place. But Zack had no clue he was actually a hostage. He was having a blast hanging out with these older, cool guys and pretty girls. But business is business—Zack's fate was already sealed. Alongside the young but already established Anton, the film featured Justin Timberlake and Ben Foster.

Anton Yelchin and Justin Timberlake in 'Alpha Dog'

The film opens with snippets of home videos featuring little kids. Those are real recordings of the cast as children. Anton appears last. In 2009, Anton got his most recognizable role as Pavel Chekov, the navigator in the reboot of the 'Star Trek' franchise. The actor said he wouldn't have been interested in playing just a "simple Russian," but Chekov was different. This character had 40 years of history and was truly exceptional.

His jump from indie films to major Hollywood blockbusters happened fast. "I just got invited to audition, and here I am," Anton would modestly say.

"He's not a negative character, he's very positive. You see, it's a very good portrayal of a Russian person for the whole world, unlike, say, 'Red Dawn.'"

That same year, Anton landed a role in the fourth 'Terminator' film, building on his 'Star Trek' success. This time around, he played young Kyle Reese, a future resistance fighter against AI who becomes a father.

"Kyle Reese is very complex. He's so paranoid and angry, yet very touching and tender, very lonely."

In 2013, the actor appeared not only in the 'Star Trek' sequel but also in the vampire film 'Only Lovers Left Alive' by art-house master Jim Jarmusch, joining a fantastic cast that included Tilda Swinton, Mia Wasikowska, and John Hurt.

'Star Trek': Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov

Personal Life of Anton Yelchin

Throughout his brief life, Anton never found his soulmate. But each of his former partners remembered their time together fondly.

In 2004, Anton dated young actress Kristen Stewart when she was just 14 or 15. "He broke my heart. He had this incredible soul, and I wanted to soak up everything he was into. I wanted to be better, cooler... but I still felt like I wasn't good enough for him," the actress later recalled.

Years later, Anton reached out to Kristen first, asking if she wanted to talk things through. He said, "I understand what you went through back then. I'm so sorry..." After that, Anton kept his romantic life pretty private. He was rumored to have romances with model Alexandra Burman and actress Imogen Poots, with whom Anton starred in "Fright Night" (2011) and "Green Room" (2015). But neither relationship was ever officially confirmed.

Death

Anton Yelchin's life was cut short on June 19, 2016, in a tragic accident. The 27-year-old actor's body was found at the entrance to his Los Angeles home. He went to take a selfie on the hood of his Jeep Grand Cherokee but forgot to put the car in park. The car rolled and pinned Anton against a brick wall.

The Strange Death of Hollywood Actor Anton Yelchin

Friends discovered his body. When he didn't show up for plans and stopped answering his phone, they went to check on him – but it was too late. The official cause of Anton Yelchin's death was asphyxia.

The pain his parents endured is unimaginable. His childhood room sits frozen in time, as if he'd just stepped out and might walk back in any moment. Victor and Irina struggled to come to terms with his death. They couldn't accept that a faulty handbrake was to blame. A week after Anton's death, Fiat Chrysler sent a recall letter to his house due to issues with the transmission.

The Yelchins fought Chrysler in court for years before reaching a settlement when the case stalled. His mother began writing a book about her son, and his father started working on a documentary film. The film "Love, Antosha" was released in 2019. Since losing Anton, his parents stopped celebrating holidays altogether.

LOVE ANTOSHA TRAILER

A charity foundation named after Anton Yelchin helps children with cystic fibrosis.

Photos: Anton Yelchin