Anton Yelchin: Star Trek's Zoe Saldana honors costar

Zoe Saldana joined her Star Trek family in honoring their “little brother” Anton Yelchin shortly after his passing, but she has since posted a heartfelt remembrance to the actor on Instagram.

“Your sudden and unexpected departure has left us all broken hearted,” she wrote. “I woke up today feeling absolute gratitude that I had you as a friend and colleague. Your life has been cut short, but I will always tell everyone about you.”

Recalling her time working with him, she continued, “You were kind, present, old souled, curious, brilliant, funny, humble, honest, and undeniably talent. Good bye, Anton, it was an honor to have crossed paths with you.”

J.J. Abrams, a producer on Star Trek Beyond, released an earlier statement from the film’s cast and crew paying tribute to Yelchin. “Anton was our little brother. But only by years; he was as wise and clever and intellectually curious as anyone we ever knew,” it read in part. “His laugh was preposterous – you couldn’t hear it and not laugh yourself. He was funny, edgy, wild and talented beyond measure. His focus and dedication was admirable, as was his love of family, friends, literature and music.”

Saldana portrayed Uhura in the Enterprise crew, which also included Yelchin’s Chekhov. Zachary Quinto (Spock) called him “wise beyond his years” in an Instagram post, while other cast members wrote similar tributes. Saldana, too, tweeted at the time, “Devastated by our friend’s loss. We are mourning his passing and celebrating the beautiful spirit that he was.”