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Andrew Koenig Found Dead: 'My Son Took His Own Life,' Says Father

By PopEater Staff Posted Feb 25th 2010 06:36PM

Unable to hold back sobs during a dramatic press conference, Walter Koenig confirmed that his son Andrew had taken his own life and had been found in Vancouver's Stanley Park on Thursday morning.

The younger Koenig was discovered during a search party consisting of friends and family.

"My son took his own life," an emotional Walter Koenig told a rapt press corp.

"The only other thing I want to say is, we've already said what a great guy he was, what a great human being," Koenig said before breaking down into tears. "He was obviously in a lot of pain."

Andrew Koenig, best known for playing "Boner" on 'Growing Pains,' had been missing since February 14. Despite many police searches in the area, he was not seen in the densely wooded marsh where he was eventually found.

Police declined to give many details of the discovery out of "respect for the family." A police spokesperson did add that foul play was not suspected.

Koenig, 41, missed his flight out of the Olympic host city last week, according to a statement from TV host Dave Holmes on MaximumFun.org.

Neighbors at the 41-year-old's Venice, Calif., apartment complex told PEOPLE he moved out several weeks ago before heading to Vancouver, B.C., to visit friends. "He cleared out his apartment," about three weeks ago, neighbor Mark Clough told PEOPLE. "It started off as a garage sale, and eventually, he put everything out in front of the apartment, like he was giving it away."

Koenig's friend Lance Miccio told RadarOnline.com that the apparent suicide mirrors the death of a character in a film Koenig helped edit. "We did that 'Living the Blues' film. And it's been like my own personal nightmare," said Miccio, who directed the film. "Knowing that we made this film and I'm watching the scenario of it play out in front of me."

"Allen Wilson, who the film was about, shared a lot of Andrew's character traits, tendencies, maybe genetic makeup," Miccio added. "So when this happened, you know the first thing I thought of was this film we did together and the situation being the same scenario ... It's devastating. I'm in shock still."

Andrew's father Walter played Chekov in the 'Star Trek' TV series and films. The elder Koenig told PEOPLE he received a note from Andrew on February 16, but it did nothing to alleviate his concerns.

"He sounded despondent," said Walter. "Nobody has seen this [note] but my wife and I."

"He went to visit some friends in Toronto and after there, he went to Vancouver," explained his father. "It's a place where he felt very comfortable. He lived there for a few years."

Later on Feb 24, Walter Koenig said during a press conference that, if anything, he just wants to know if his son is alive. "I just want to know you're okay ... If it means you just want to stay here, that's okay. You don't have to come back. Just let us know that's your intention."

While in Vancouver, Andrew was staying with burlesque artist Jenny Magenta, who took to Facebook last week to ask for help in finding Koenig. Numerous celebrity friends used social media to aid the search, including Sarah Silverman, Alyssa Milano and Felica Day. Comedian Joel McHale wrote, "No joke, here. 'Soup' family friend Andrew Koenig missing in Vancouver."

His 'Growing Pains' co-star Kirk Cameron offered help earlier this week. "I am praying for his family during this time of distress and for his safe return," Cameron said in a statement, reports PEOPLE. "Andrew, if you're reading this, please call me."

Tags: andrew koenig

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Thursday 25 February

By Stephanie

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Terrible end to a very sad story. God Bless his family and friends.

Thursday 25 February

By StarlightsWay

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The report said its "possible", it hasn't been confirmed. I am hoping and praying for the best. Kirk Cameron is a very neat man, God bless you! I hope they can find him!

Friday 26 February

By thefinalfrontier

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I agree! I've made my name that of a book from "Stanford Portables", prestigious neurologist by the name of Philip Rhinelander. This for a young Man that suffered. There but grace of God go all of us. It's a hardship to break a leg. I can not imagine a tiny part of your cell going wrong and causing terror. I HOPE all go to bed tonight with HUGE prayers in their hearts and souls for a young Man with a horrid disease and his PARENTS who tried so hard. To all those that Suffer from this DISEASE. REACH OUT......His Parents were right. There are resources or even kind strangers that will understand. We of the US of America care. It's a disease and I KNOW I'd help. Blessings to his parents and prayers to his friends.

Thursday 25 February

By Peg

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May God be with your family and friends.

Thursday 25 February

By rox2346

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I feel the same way you do. It is very sad.

Friday 26 February

By sarah

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This is an article about a man who took his own life and the grief his family is suffering. Who is the inconsiderate jerk who posts an ad for meeting a rich man? Show some decency moron!!

Friday 26 February

By Steven

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It's not a person who's posting these spam messages for supposedly meeting rich people. It's a bot that is programmed to post these messages in every forum on this site.

Friday 26 February

By franky

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god hates suicide. hes in hell

Friday 26 February

By catchme9

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But first, you have to go on the premise that; there is a god, and that, heaven and hell exisit.

Friday 26 February

By Jim

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I don't think God hates, franky; but I think he is not crazy about folks who speak for him.

Thursday 25 February

By mari

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I'm so sorry this story possibly has this ending. I was so hoping that he may have just needed some time alone to think things out. I feel for his parents who seemed to love him so much. God Bles them.

Thursday 25 February

By Veronique

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My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. I am sure they were hoping for a happy ending to their search for their son.

So many people on this planet are grappling with depression and searching for answers. I hope this is not a case where he decided to end it all.

May he find the peace in death he could not find in life.

Thursday 25 February

By cyndi

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It's such a tragedy when someone feels that death is the only way out from their misery. I've been battling depression since I was a child, and let me tell you, it's nothing to make light of. Seeing it in someone else, you realize how serious it is. In yourself, you don't realize. I force myself to look at all the good things I have in my life...my children, my grandchildren...and that helps me out of my blackness. Hugs to his family, and remember...it's not your fault. Depression is a sickness. Hopefully he'll have found peace.

Thursday 25 February

By GUYRINE

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YES,ANDY WILL FIND PEACE ON THE OTHER SIDE.GOD IS A FORGIVING AND MERCIFUL GOD

Friday 26 February

By JDM

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I HAVE THE UTMOST SYMPATHY FOR HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS, BUT WHAT HE EAS DONE IS THE UNPARDNIBAL SIN....YOU CANT TAKE AWAY SOMETHING THAT WAS GIVEN TO YOU BY GOD...IM SO SORRY HE WAS SO MUCH IN MENTAL DISTRESS.

Saturday 27 February

By San_Lee

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I agree with Poot, unpardonable is not using your spell checker before you post! Judge not, lest ye be judged. You do not know what Andrew's pain was.

Thursday 25 February

By Barbara

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My condolences and prayers go out to the family at this terrible time.

Tuesday 02 March

By akamlr

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I am truly sorry for your loss. There are no words to express. He is gone. His journey on earth has ended! God Bless!

Thursday 25 February

By Wilde Childe

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This latest on disappearance does not make some of those rude and crude posts we have seen the past couple of days seem so funny, or at least I hope that they don't to those that thought that they were. A family has lost their son. It is not important if you liked him in his role or the program he was in...he was another human being and his parents are very very hurt by his disappearance and his possible death. I hope that people figure that out and think before they post their supposed humor on such a sad subject.

Thursday 25 February

By Debbie

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You hit the nail on the head...he was a human with real feelings as is his family...God Bless them all :)

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