Robert Walker, Jr. from Star Trek’s “Charlie X” has died

Robert Walker, Jr. as Charlie in the Star Trek episode “Charlie X”

Robert Walker, Jr., the actor who portrayed Charlie Evans in the Star Trek episode “Charlie X”, died last Thursday, December 5th. He was 79.

StarTrek.com reported the actor’s death, which was confirmed by his family. “Charlie X” was the second episode of Star Trek to air, and was the first of several episodes written by influential Star Trek writer Dorothy Fontana, who passed away last week. In the episode, Walker played the title character, a boy rescued by Kirk and crew on the Enterprise, who turns out to have dangerous supernatural powers. In 2013, D.C. Fontana told StarTrek.com, “I loved the work Robert Walker Jr. did...the ending I had written was retained - with Charlie being taken away where he could do no harm, but where he would never be with anyone he could ever really touch.”

Walker was a prolific actor, with credits spanning seven decades, starting in 1957 all the way to his most recent credit in 2018. His TV credits include Bonanza (1967), Charlie’s Angels (1979), and Murder She Wrote (1987 and 1990); he also appeared in the film Easy Rider (1969).

StarTrek.com reports that Walker is survived by his three children. Please join me in sending condolences to his family.