Parents ask for help in locating ‘Growing Pains’ actor Andrew Koenig, last seen in Vancouver

Parents seek help to find actor missing in Canada

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The parents of missing “Growing Pains” actor Andrew Koenig issued an emotional plea on Wednesday for their son to contact them.

Koenig, 41, was visiting friends in Vancouver when he went missing more than a week ago.

The Venice, Calif., native had a recurring role on the 1980s sitcom as Boner, a pal of star Kirk Cameron’s character, Mike.

“We just want to know you’re OK,” a distraught Walter Koenig told a news conference, wife Judith at his side.

Walter Koenig, best known for playing Pavel Chekov on the original “Star Trek” television series, said Wednesday his son stopped taking antidepressant medication about a year ago.

“We think he’s probably in a very depressed state,” he said.

Vancouver police Constable Tim Fanning said there has been no activity on Koenig’s cell phone or bank records since Feb. 16. Fanning said Vancouver’s 1,000-acre (405-hectare), thickly forested Stanley Park, which Koenig loved, has been searched thoroughly.

“There is no evidence to lead us to believe Andrew was in the park in the last few days,” Fanning said.

Fanning said the actor has no history of drinking or drug use, and everything points to him still being in Vancouver. But, he added, “there’s no fresh place for us to search unless we get more information in.”

Walter Koenig said he had been aware that his son had cleaned out his Los Angeles apartment. He did not know his son planned to move to Vancouver, which is what Andrew told friends before he disappeared.

Judith Koenig said her son’s depression has been a concern. She said Andrew’s friends said he was detached before he vanished.

“There was a certain pattern of closing out things, giving away things,” she said.

Walter said his son doesn’t feel Los Angeles is the place for him, but he praised his son for his acting, film editing and directing work. He said his son also is a busy environmental activist.