Growing Pains « my Snark

Very sad news — RIP Andrew Koenig

Andrew Koenig’s Body Found in Vancouver

By Natalie Abrams Thu Feb 25, 5:56 PM PST

The body of Growing Pains star Andrew Koenig, who had been missing for nearly two weeks, was discovered in a Vancouver park Thursday. He committed suicide, his father said.

Koenig’s body was found in Stanley Park about noon, Vancouver police said. Friends of Koenig initiated their own search of the park and invited his father, Star Trek alumnus Walter Koenig, along. His body was found in a densely wooded area where it initially was unseen from the path.

Search and rescue teams had scoured the park Wednesday and found no evidence that Koenig had been there recently. The park was known to be one of the actor’s favorite spots when he lived in the city in the early ’90s.

“My son took his own life,” Walter Koenig said, trying to keep his composure at a news conference Thursday night. “The only other thing I want to say — I’ve already said what a great guy he was, and good human being — he was obviously in a lot of pain.”

The Vancouver police would not give details on cause of death but “have no reason to believe that foul play was involved at all,” Constable Jana McGuinness said. The case has been turned over to the British Colombia coroner’s office.

Koenig’s father went on to mention “hundreds of e-mails” he had received from depressed people and their loved ones and express hope this tragedy would help them.

“If you’re one of those people who … can’t handle it anymore,” he said, breaking down in tears, “if you can learn anything from this is that there are people out there that really care. You may not think so, and … ultimately, it may not be enough. But there are people who really, really care. And before you make that final decision, check it out again. Talk to somebody. And to 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.”

Koenig’s mother, Judy Levin-Koenig , echoed those sentiments: “There is love out there.”

The 41-year-old Venice, Calif., resident was last seen by friends Feb. 14 during a visit to Vancouver. Friends and family reported him missing Feb. 16, when he did not return to Los Angeles as scheduled.

The Koenigs previously held a news conference at the Vancouver Police Department on Wednesday afternoon. They were later scheduled to appear on Larry King Live to discuss their missing son, but walked off the set moments before their segment because of “personal reasons,” according to Walter Koenig’s website.

Koenig is best known for his role as Boner, the best friend of Kirk Cameron‘s Mike Seaver, on Growing Pains and appeared frequently from 1985 to 1989. During the search for Koenig, Cameron told People he was “praying for his family during this time of distress and for his safe return.”

Koenig also appeared in various TV shows, including Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, My Two Dads and 21 Jump Street. He dabbled in directing and writing as well, with a 2004 short called Woman in a Green Dress.

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From EOnline!

Andrew Koenig‘s family is keeping hope alive, but they remain “very, very worried” about him.

“We’re all kind of a mess as you might guess,” Koenig’s sister, Danielle, told E! News Tuesday when our cameras caught up with her outside CNN headquarters in Los Angeles, where she was interviewed for Larry King Live.

While Koenig, who was last seen by friends on Feb. 14, is said to have suffered from depression, Danielle said that the last time she saw her brother, he was “acting normal.”

“I spoke to him briefly via email, maybe around the 5th or 6th of February,”
she said. “And I saw him January 31st, for several hours.

“He was acting normal,” she added. “But he’s suffered from depression for many years. He didn’t seem particularly depressed. We were there for a birthday and he seemed all right.”

Danielle said that she doesn’t know whether or not her brother gave his landlord 30 days’ notice on his Venice, Calif., apartment—but that if he did indeed clear out, she hopes he was merely relocating.

“I hope that’s what he was doing. I hope that was it,” she said.

Authorities say that Koenig’s trail went cold on Feb. 16, the last day he used his credit cards or cell phone. He had been booked on a flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles, but he never boarded the plane.

Vancouver police are still expressing hope that Koenig is alive, but none of the tips they’ve recieved have panned out.

“A good lead would lead to them finding him,” Danielle said. “So I guess none of the leads have been fruitful yet. I certainly encourage anyone who thinks they’ve seen him to call the Vancouver Police Department and talk to Constable Ralla and Detective Payette and tell them what they know.”

Her continued hope that Andrew is out there somewhere is why Danielle has been talking to the press in the first place.

“This is not comfortable being on camera like this,” she told E!. “It’s not something any of us want to do. But we really appreciate people caring. I read the Facebook stuff and everyone’s been incredibly supportive. And that does help.”

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