February 24 marked the first anniversary of Star Trek: Discovery actor Kenneth Mitchell’s death following five years of living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Mitchell, post-diagnosis, made the most of every moment as a husband, father, friend, and actor, and it’s well worth taking a look back at what he accomplished during his 49 years on Earth.
Hailing from Toronto, Canada, Mitchell initially gained traction as a model before shifting to acting. He amassed nearly 50 film and television credits before his death. Among those credits were the movies Miracle and Captain Marvel, recurring or series regular roles on Odyssey 5, Jericho, Ghost Whisperer, Switched at Birth, The Astronaut Wives Club, Frequency, Nancy Drew, and The Old Man, as well as numerous guest shots. He was, of course, best known for portraying the Klingon characters Kol, Kol-Sha, and Tenavik, as well as Aurellio, a human scientist, on Star Trek: Discovery. He also voiced a few characters for an episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks.
Doctors diagnosed Mitchell with ALS in the summer of 2018, and he went public with the news, via his social media accounts and a People magazine feature story in February of 2020. He continued to work after the diagnosis, first when he was still able to walk, and later when he used a wheelchair. Several productions, including Discovery, Nancy Drew, and The Old Man, made accommodations accordingly. The Discovery team, for instance, built a hover wheelchair for him to use as Aurellio in the episodes “There Is a Tide” and “That Hope Is You, Part 2.” Discovery also honored him, during his lifetime, by naming a starship the U.S.S. Mitchell.
In addition to still acting, Mitchell prioritized his family, spending as much time as possible with his wife, the actress Susan May Pratt, and their two young children. He also continued to make convention appearances, including at official Star Trek events like the annual cruise, and Creation Entertainment’s yearly gathering of fans in Las Vegas.
Mitchell’s son joined him on stage at one Creation event, and Mitchell hosted a Klingon rave -- with the help of several of his closest friends -- on a cruise. It’s important to point out that he bravely did all of that, the acting and personal appearances, during the pandemic. During his last few convention appearances, he used a computer to do the “talking” for him. He even got big laughs one-night performing stand-up comedy for fans.
On social media, Mitchell occasionally shared photos and thoughts about his experience with ALS. In an Instagram post on August 10, 2023, he wrote, “This disease is absolutely horrific… yet despite all the suffering, there is so much to be grateful for. Especially the little joys and resilience of today and the hope of a tomorrow.”
Following his death, Mitchell’s family released the following statement: “For five and a half years, Ken faced a series of awful challenges from ALS. And in true 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 principles that each day is a gift and that we never walk alone.”
Though he’s gone a year now, Mitchell made his marks as an actor and a human. His family, his work, and his courage live on and will forever remain his legacy.