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The actor son of Star Trek veteran Walter Koenig has been found dead in a wood in Vancouver, police have said.

Koenig said his 41-year-old son Andrew, who suffered from depression, "took his own life".

Police spokeswoman Jana McGuinness said she did not believe anyone else had been involved, adding that a coroner had now taken over the investigation.

Andrew was best known for his recurring role as 'Boner' on US sitcom Growing Pains, between 1985-1989.

His parents reported him missing when he failed to return home to Los Angeles after visiting friends in Vancouver earlier this month.

'Talk to somebody'

On Thursday, his body was discovered in Vancouver's 1,000-acre Stanley Park, where Koenig liked to walk and was last seen.

Walter, who played Lieutenant Pavel Chekov in the original Star Trek series, said his son was "obviously in a lot of pain" to have taken his own life.

In a statement he said that Andrew had given away his belongings and had not been taking his medication. He urged others suffering from depression to seek help.

"If you are one of those people who can't handle it any more, know people are out there who really care before you make that final decision," Koenig, 71, said. "Talk to somebody."