Kenneth Mitchell, the popular actor who played several characters in Star Trek: Discovery, and also was known for his roles in Jericho and Captain Marvel, has died from complications of ALS, his family revealed Saturday. He was 49.
“With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Kenneth Alexander Mitchell, beloved father, husband, brother, uncle, son and dear friend,” his family shared on X/Twitter.
“For five and a half years, Ken faced a series of awful challenges from ALS. And in truest Ken fashion, he managed to rise above each one with grace and commitment, to living a full and joyous life in each moment. He lived by the principals that each day is a gift and we never walk alone,” his family said in a partial statement on Instagram. You can see the entire statement below.
Mitchell announced publicly that he’d been diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2020 in an interview with People.
“The moment that they told us it was [ALS], it was like I was in my own movie,” Mitchell told the publication. “That’s what it felt like, like I was watching that scene where someone is being told that they have a terminal illness. It was just a complete disbelief, a shock.”
It has been noted that Mitchell played three Klingon characters in Star Trek: Discovery’s first two seasons. He portrayed Kol in Season 1, Kol-Sha and Tenavik in Season 2. In Season 3, as the disease progressed, he played Aurellio, a character who used a hoverchair, created to incorporate his need for a wheelchair, into the series.
He also voiced three characters in the first season of Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 1, a black ops operative and a Romulan guard.
StarTrek.com also posted a tribute to Mitchell.
“Being a part of Star Trek keeps me inspired and gives me purpose,” Mitchell told Syfy Wire in 2020. “Hopefully, that will keep going.”
Mitchell was well-known for playing Eric Green in the Jericho television series on CBS.In terms of movies, he played Ralph Cox in the sports biography Miracle in 2004 and Joseph Danvers in the 2019 film Captain Marvel, the father of Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), who made an appearance in a flashback with a young Carol (McKenna Grace). His other television credits include guest appearances in Code Black, CSI: Cyber, NCIS, and The Astronaut Wives Club, among others. He also starred in Switched at Birth.
Lilah and Kallum, Mitchell’s children, his parents, his in-laws, and a number of nieces and nephews survive him.
The family requests that any presents be given to his kids or to ALS research.
