Andrew Koenig's Long, Losing Battle With Depression

Feb. 26, 2010— -- Andrew Koenig may be best remembered for his role as "Boner" on the 1980s sitcom "Growing Pains," but his more lasting contribution may be helping to lift the lid off depression.

Family and friends found the body of the missing actor in a Vancouver, British Columbia, park Thursday afternoon. At a press conference afterward, his father, Walter Koenig, said: "My son took his own life."

Walter Koenig, who played Chekov on "Star Trek," later wrote on his Web site that his son "passed away ? after a long battle with depression."

Koenig's parents have been vocal about their son's struggle with depression, and they continued to speak out after his body was found.

"The only thing I want to say is if you're one of those people who feel that you can't handle it anymore, if you can learn anything from this it's that there are people out there who really care," Walter Koenig said. "You may not think so, and ultimately it may not be enough, but there are people that really, really care.

"Before you make that final decision, check it out again; talk to somebody," Koenig said