Report: Andrew Koenig Hanged Himself in Vancouver Park
Credit: Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Growing Pains star Andrew Koenig committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in Vancouver's Stanley Park, a source "close to the investigation" tells E! News.
As previously reported, the 41-year-old actor's body was found late Thursday "in a densely wooded area...unseen from the path" by a search party made up of "family and friends." His father, Walter Koenig conceded in a press conference that "my son took his own life."
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The insider tells E! News that Koenig's body was found hanging from a tree in the secluded area. "Andrew didn't want to be found," the source notes.
Plans for a funeral or memorial service have not yet been announced.
"No parent should have to deal with anytime like this," Walter Koenig told Us in an interview earlier this week. The actor had been missing since Feb. 16.
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Walter Koenig described his son as "a good human being who has "an awful lot left to contribute in this world."
In a press conference following the confirmation of his son's death, the grieving father urged people to be vigilant about the signs of depression in loved ones. "Don't ignore it; don't rationalize it...extend a hand."
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Walter and his wife Judith asked fans to honor their son's memory by donating to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline or the U.S. Campaign for Burma.
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42My heartfelt condolences to Andy's family and friends. Seek help if you need it, or help others get it who do. I'm a big fan of Star Trek's Walter Koenig, and can see a wonderful resemblance in Andy's photo to his dad. I am very sorry for your loss Walter. I lost a younger sister and older brother under similar circumstances. It's very sad, and my heart goes out to you.
NAK, you suggest that Dr. Phil read the DSM-IV book? Don't kid yourself, I doubt that Dr. Phil can handle reading anything but a comic book. As for "Mike Seaver" - this sicko is an internet troll. They look to get reactions out of people. I believe the diagnosis would be "sociopath". I believe public forums like this should be moderated against trolls...
thank you MyWord for posting something so difficult... but very genuine and factual. THANK YOU!
don't worry you guys. one days someone Dr. Phil loves and cares about will suffer, struggle..but God forbid not lose their battle with horrible disease...and then he will know...
My heart goes out to this family. Suicide is something very hard to understand unless you have been that desperate. In time the pain will heal, though they may never understand why. May God be with this family.
my condolences goes out to Koenig family. Definetly donot ignore depression. my husband has it. it's a nightmare especially after our son passed away it got worst.
My heart goes out to you. I, too lost my daughter, Sona, 42 to sucide, Feb. 2009. Something I will never get past or understand the reasons why.
that's so terrible- i feel for his parents
I am sadden by the news of such a man(we have never met) around my own age with such promise and potential, so overcome with a spirit of depression that he would decide to end it all. For others considering doing the same there is help in the form of salvation, healing and weekly deliverance therapy at a five/four ministry church... look for one in your part of town.your city or state area. five/four ministry churches are ministries that help individuals who feel like they have hit a rock bottom in their lives.... there is help and there is hope... keep the family in your prayers. I sad that this young man and many others didn't find out about this kind of help before they died.
I cannot believe that I am reading. A young man killed himself and all you can think of is correcting someone's bad grammar. And to the person calling themselves "mike seaver", you are the most disgusting of them all. You must be a real piece of garbage if all you can think of at this time is the size of his penis. What are you? A sexual pervert? You are a pretty sick individual and you should get help quickly before you hurt someone.
I never post on these things because I honestly haven't got the time but just had to speak up here: Dr. Phil- you are a pathetic waste of space. If you don't believe depression is a real illness, might I suggest you peruse a copy of the DSM-IV and look under the section titled "Mood Disorders"? Are you also one of those morons that believes that the Holocaust never happened? Loser... As for grammatical errors, inanimate objects (coats, clothing, etc.) are "hung", while a person would be "hanged"...not that it should really matter at this point...but this is second grade English. This is horrible, my sympathy goes out to his friends and family.
@lola he played Kirk Cameron's characters best friend. The younger brother was played by Jeremy Miller.
DrPhil, I hope you get hit with major depression sometime in your life. Get educated before you spew your ignorance out into the world. RIP Andrew
Who did he play in Growing Pains? Was he the youngest brother?
No, "hanged" is correct in this case. And it's embarassing that teachers don't know this. Items are "hung," people are "hanged." Unless you mean something very different. It's more embarassing that someone has died, and people are posting about whatever pops into their minds.
Here's what the Oxford dictionary says: "In modern English 'hang' has two past tense and past participle forms: hanged and hung. Sometime after the 16th century 'hung' replaced the earlier form 'hanged' in general contexts, as in 'they hung out the washing,' while 'hanged' was, as it still is, retained for use in reference to execution by hanging, as in 'the prisoner was hanged.'" And BTW it refers to any death by hanging, not just executions. So the editors are right, Jonathan. That's why they're editors. Now, can we put an end to the tacky bickering over a verb?
Don't you mean, "hung himself?" Did your editors all toke up this morning? "US and them," as far as proper English is concerned!
My prayer's go to the family of this young man. May the lord forgive this young man for ending his own life and resurrect him to laugh and be happy eternally. This lost soul is not be blamed but he who deceived him with the idea. We love you Andrew Koenig.
Boner was well hung......hahaha
It wouldn't have changed the ultimate outcome, but why is it a group of his friends and family were able to find him in a matter of hours but the police weren't able to do the same in two weeks, even though he was known to frequent this park? True it was "densely wooded" and in an area "unseen from the path," but surely the police didn't just stroll up and down the paths? The Associated Press articles described it as a "popular footpath," not some remote corner of the park, and furthermore that the body was only about 30 meters from the path! It would have at least spared his friends' being the ones finding him like that (I haven't seen any specific mention of whether or not his parents were there; I pray they weren't) and the weeks of not knowing.