Kenneth Mitchell, an actor who appeared on Star Trek: Discovery and Captain Marvel, has died at the age of 49 following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Mitchell’s family announced his death Saturday in a statement. “With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Kenneth Alexander Mitchell, beloved father, husband, brother, uncle, son and dear friend,” his family wrote on social media.
“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.”
The Toronto-born Mitchell portrayed three different Klingons during the first two seasons of Star Trek: Discovery, and following his ALS diagnosis in 2020, played the character Aurellio on the series’ third season; Mitchell’s character used a hoverchair for the role, as the actor was confined to a wheelchair.
“The entire Star Trek family sends their condolences to Mitchell’s family, friends, loved ones, and fans around the world,” StarTrek.com wrote of the actor who also voiced characters for the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks.
Prior to his diagnosis, Mitchell also played hockey player Ralph Cox in the 2004 hockey drama Miracle as well as the father of Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers in the 2019 Marvel movie Captain Marvel. Mitchell also had multi-episode runs on TV shows like The Ghost Whisperer, Jericho, Switched at Birth, Nancy Drew, and The Astronaut Wives Club, where he portrayed Deke Slayton.
In what was his final on-screen appearance, Mitchell had a reoccurring role as Joe on the FX series The Old Man which also incorporated his health issues.
“He’s portrayed an Olympic hopeful, an apocalypse survivor, an astronaut, a superhero’s dead, and four unique Star Trekkers,” this family added. “But to those close to him he was known as a hope seeker, daydreamer, dream believer, soccer player, beach walker, bear hugger, interior designer, garden grower, canoe paddler, happy camper, nature explorer, cat lover, infectious laugher, gift giver, note sender, movie goer, art marker, music listener, sports connoisseur, detailed particular, Leafs supporter, world traveler, uncle joker, younger brother, Susan’s partner, and more than anything else, a proud father.”
