Actor Andrew 'Boner' Koenig Missing Since Valentine's Day Found Dead

The 41-year old actor was best known for his role in the hit 1980’s TV series “Growing Pains,” playing Mike Seaver's (Kirk Cameron) sidekick, Richard “Boner” Stabone.

(VANCOUVER, British Columbia) - Andrew Koenig, actor, director, writer, producer, editor, activist, passed away this month in Vancouver, British Columbia after a long battle with depression.

Andrew Koenig is the son of Walter Koenig, also an actor, best known as Pavel Chekov on the original “Star Trek”. His father said Andrew suffered from depression, and had stopped taking medication about a year ago. Andrew's parents received a “despondent” letter from him postmarked February 15th.

His father’s website, now a memorial site, said “Andrew was an activist his entire life and was best known to those who knew and loved him as a compassionate, ethical man who lived according to his conscience.”

Andrew played "Boner" on the TV sitcom, "Growing Pains" from 1985-89. He was the video producer for the comedy podcast "Never Not Funny", performed at The Improv in Los Angeles, and has had roles in the movies "NonSeNse", "InAlienable", "The Theory of Everything", "Batman: Dead End", and on television in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", "G.I. Joe", "My Two Dads", "21 Jump Street", "My Sister Sam", and "Adam-12".

On February 23rd, the Daily News reported that before he vanished, Andrew’s friends saw warning signs, but didn’t realize that’s what they were. It seemed odd to filmmaker Lance Miccio that his friend returned personal items and turned down two editing jobs before leaving for Canada.

Andrew Koenig being arrested, 2008

"He was a really talented guy, but he may have just said enough is enough and gone off into the wild. He was a nature boy. I keep hoping for a happy ending," Miccio said last week.

Andrew Koenig was a vegan, active in environmental causes, and in animal and human rights and was quick to take an active role to help on a grass roots level. Most recently, he had been working on behalf of the people of Burma, and was arrested during the 2008 Rose Bowl parade for protesting American involvement in China's Olympics due to China's support of the Burma military regime.

As Boner, on Growing Pains

Lance Miccio had said that Andrew "left his apartment in Venice, and maybe he just wanted to return everything and start over. He lived in Vancouver before and talked about moving back. But I think he would tell his parents. I'm at a loss," Miccio said before receiving the news. "He has a lot to live for. He was doing vital stuff and is loved by a lot of people."

The last time Andrew called his parents was February 9th, and the last time he was seen was February 14th, at a bakery in Vancouver’s Stanley Park neighborhood. He was supposed to board his flight back to the states two days later, but never showed at the airport.

There was record that his cell phone received a text message February 16th, but the phone was turned off soon thereafter, according to Walter Koenig’s website.

The Vancouver Police Missing Persons Unit said there were a “substantial” number of tips, and as of Monday February 22nd, at least one official believed Andrew to be alive giving hope to friends and fans around the world.

"Electronic information leads us to believe that Andrew is still in the Vancouver area," Constable Tim Fanning told RadarOnline.com. "We think Andrew is just lying low."

Andrew Koenig & father Walter interviewed on The Young Turks

Unfortunately, that was not to be the case. His body was found Thursday, February 25th.

Andrew’s disappearance caused a worldwide campaign of support and search efforts by his friends and by those whose lives he touched.

Kirk Cameron, who played Mike Seaver on Growing Pains, made a public plea for his TV best friend to return his call, and many other celebrities including Sarah Silverman, Alyssa Milano and Kevin Smith joined his attempts to reach out to Koenig, to no avail.

A beautiful human being,” Walter Koenig wrote, “Andrew died in his favorite city, filled with friends, in a park he loved.”

“My son took his own life,” he continued. “If you're one of those people who feel they can’t handle it any more, if you can learn anything from this: it’s that there are people out there who really care. You might not think so…but there are people who really, really care. And before you take that final decision, check it out again... talk to somebody.

"And for those families who have members who they fear are susceptible to this kind of behavior, don’t ignore it, don’t rationalize it. Extend a hand.”

His mother added, “I ask you all to familiarize yourselves with signs you may rationalize away. Don’t rationalize away anything. Connect with each other if there is something bothering you. There is love out there.”