The Wig Question

With	Without

Most websites have pages that answer frequently asked questions for the convenience of visitors.  The "Mr. Chekov Page" doesn't have a FAQ page because, frankly, people rarely ask us any questions at all.  However, visitor Judy Gordon recently wrote to inquire about the wig Walter Koenig wore during his first few appearances as Chekov.  She wanted to know why they made him put on the silly thing.

Helpful creatures that we are, we gave  her a variety of answers:

Possible

1.  Tribble recycling.

2.  So William Shatner wouldn't feel lonely.

3.  Yet another manifestation of Gene Roddenberry's vision of an enlightened 23rd century evolved beyond sexual hang-ups and gender-based stereotyping -- An era when women in the military can be comfortable coming to work every day in uniforms that look like they were designed by hookers and grown men feel free to wear poofy mamaw wigs.

Official

The production staff of Star Trek hoped the actor they cast in the role of Chekov would become a ratings-boosting teen heartthrob.  They had Koenig wear the wig to make him look more hip, mod, groovy, and generally Davy Jones-like.

Probable

Because he was small, had big eyes, and a relatively high voice, Walter Koenig enjoyed a career of playing teenagers that lasted until he himself was in his late twenties.  In one television guest star role, he portrayed a troubled young man on Gene Roddenberry's police series "The Lieutenant."  A few years later when Roddenberry needed to cast the part of another young man about the same age, he (and his casting director) remembered Koenig.  In the meantime, however, Koenig had carelessly allowed himself to get several years older.  His once thick dark hair was beginning to thin on top.  Since few teen idols have ever been able to successfully pull off sporting a bald spot, it was decided that hair augmentation was called for.   The wigs were done away with when one of the show's  hairdressers came up with a clever "comb over" style for Koenig -- which he wears to this day... as the part in the back of his hair sinks steadily  ever closer to the base of his neck.