Anton Yelchin, the Russian-American actor most famous for his portrayal of Pavel Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek movies, has been killed in an accident with his own car.

According to reports, the 27-year-old was found dead on Sunday morning, seemingly crushed between his Jeep Cherokee and a security fence at the bottom of his Los Angeles home's steep driveway.

Yelchin was born in St Petersburg to professional figure skaters who moved to the US soon after his birth. He played Chekov in 2009's Star Trek and 2013's Star Trek Into Darkness and is due to appear in the third Star Trek movie, Star Trek Beyond, next month.

The actor was reportedly found by friends concerned by the fact that he hadn't shown up to a late-night rehearsal. LA police say he had just gotten out of the car when it rolled back and pinned him to his gate.

Tributes have poured in from Hollywood colleagues, including JJ Abrams, the director of the first two rebooted Star Trek films. He tweeted: "You were kind. You were funny as hell, and supremely talented. Anton, you weren't here nearly long enough. Missing you..."

Justin Lin, who directed the third iteration of Star Trek, also wrote of his shock at the sudden death.

Still in shock. Rest in peace, Anton. Your passion and enthusiasm will live on with everyone that had the pleasure of knowing you. — Justin Lin (@trailingjohnson) June 19, 2016

His castmate Zachary Quinto said on Instagram: "our dear friend. our comrade. our anton. one of the most open and intellectually curious people i have ever had the pleasure to know. so enormously talented and generous of heart. wise beyond his years. and gone before his time. all love and strength to his family at this impossible time of grief."

Yelchin reportedly owned a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit California Edition, and while there is currently no suggestion that this model is defective, some media reports have pointed out that other models of Jeep, which are manufactured by the Italian company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, have had to be recalled because they did not sound warnings to drivers when they got out that their vehicles had been left in neutral rather than park.

In April this year, Fiat Chrysler issued a voluntary recall to Grand Cherokees built between July 16, 2012, and December 22, 2015. The company is yet to comment on Yelchin's accident.

A report from the American National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said: "The affected vehicles... may not adequately warn the driver when the driver’s door is opened and the vehicle is not in PARK, allowing them to exit the vehicle while the vehicle is still in gear."

Yelchin began his career at the age of nine in the independent film A Man Is Mostly Water. He has also appeared in many other films, including Like Crazy, Alpha Dog, Fright Night, and Along Came a Spider.