Kenneth Mitchell, 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.
“For five and a half years, Ken faced 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.
Mitchell announced publicly that he’d been diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), 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.”
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.
“Being a part of Star Trek keeps me inspired and gives me purpose,” Mitchell told Syfy Wire in 20290. “Hopefully, that will keep going.”
Mitchell also was known for his role as Eric Green in CBS’ Jericho. On the film side, he portrayed Joseph Danvers in 2019’s Captain Marvel, the father of Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), who appeared in a flashback with the young Carol (McKenna Grace), and early in his career as Ralph Cox in sports biopic Miracle in 2004. His additional television credits include The Astronaut Wives Club, Switched at Birth and guest spots in Code Black, CSI: Cyber, and NCIS among others.
Mitchell is survived by his wife, Susan, their children, Lilah and Kallum, his parents and in-laws and several nieces and nephews.
The family asks that any gifts be directed toward ALS research or toward his children.
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