Jewish actor Anton Yelchin, best known for appearing in the new Star Trek films, was killed on Sunday when accidentally hit by his own car at his home in Los Angeles, police have said.

The 27-year-old, who played the Russian starship navigator Pavel Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek franchise, was crushed by his car after it rolled backwards down his steep drive, pinning him against a brick wall and a security fence.

He had been due at a rehearsal; when he failed to arrive, friends came to his house to find him dead at the scene.

The actor was born in St Petersburg to two Jewish figure skaters. His family were granted political refugee status and emigrated to the United States when he was still an infant, after being subject to religious and political oppression in Russia.

In an interview, Mr Yelchin said: "My grandparents suffered in ways I can’t even begin to understand under Stalin."

He added: “My idea of being a Jew – at least a Russian Jew – isn’t in the traditions, which my family just didn’t know. Rather, it’s in the alignment of the history of the Jews in Russia, which is the history of being entirely oppressed. Inevitably, it’s a mindset.”

Mr Yelchin had found success in Hollywood in recent years. As well as winning the role of Chekov in Star Trek, he appeared in films including Terminator Salvation, Charlie Bartlett, Fright Night, Like Crazy and Only Lovers Left Alive.