Multiple Star Trek series and Captain Marvel alum and otherwise accomplished actor Kenneth Mitchell has died. Mitchell passed away on February 24, 2024, at the age of 49. Trekkies will recall that Mitchell played multiple roles across several seasons of Star Trek: Discovery. But less well known is the fact that Mitchell also played various roles in Star Trek: Lower Decks‘ season 1’s “Veritas.”
Kenneth Mitchell, 1974 – 2024
Mitchell was born November 25, 1974 in Toronto, Canada. In 2018, Mitchell was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Later, in 2020, he publicly revealed the diagnosis. The disease prevents the patient from controlling their muscles, making it necessary for Mitchell to use a wheelchair.
RELATED: Read all of our Star Trek: Lower Decks recaps here.
However, according to an interview with SyFy Wire, the last time Mitchell recalls walking without the wheelchair was when he recorded his lines for Lower Decks. In that episode, he plays a Starfleet Black Ops officer, a Romulan guard and the insect-like Tweerk captain.
Meanwhile, on Discovery, Mitchell played multiple meaningful roles. First, he played Klingon characters Kol in season 1 and Kol’Sha in season 2.
Additionally, in season 2, he played the Klingon Time Keeper, Tenavik. Significantly, this character is responsible for revealing the future of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), whose canonical fate includes a wheelchair. Then, in Discovery season 3, Mitchell played Aurellio, a human character who uses a mobility chair. And in Discovery season 4, the show honored the actor with a starship called the USS Mitchell.
RELATED: Read all of our Star Trek: Discovery recaps here.
Mitchell is survived by his wife Susan and their children Lilah and Kallum. The late actor requested that memorial donations be made either in support of his family or ALS research. Currently, donations for the former are being accepted through GoFundMe.
The first four seasons of Star Trek: Discovery are currently available for streaming on Paramount+.
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