Star Trek actor Kenneth Mitchell dead at 49 after 5-year battle with ALS

Kenneth Mitchell — best known for acting in Star Trek — has passed away at 49 years old after a five-year battle with ALS, according to the Daily Mail.

Mitchell played the Klingons Kol, Kol-Sha, and Tenavik on Star Trek: Discovery. And he voiced several other characters in an episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Mitchell was born in Toronto on November 25, 1974, and he kicked off his acting career by playing professional hockey player Ralph Cox in Disney's 2004 film "Miracle." He went on to act in several other shows before eventually being diagnosed with ALS in 2018.

Mitchell said that “the moment that they told us it was [ALS], it was like I was in my own movie. 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," according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The actor is survived by his wife Susan May Pratt and their two children, Kallum and Lilah.

The family posted to Instagram: "For five and a half years Ken faced a series of awful challenges from ALS [or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]. 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."

"To those close to him he was known as a hope seeker, daydreamer, dream believer, soccer player, beach walker, bear hugger, landscape designer, garden grower, canoe paddler, happy camper, nature explorer, cat lover, infectious laugher, gift giver..."

"Note sender, movie goer, art maker, 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."

Mitchell talked about his role as Kol in 2017, saying that "[w]hether someone is good or bad is all about perspective, and it's about understanding that culture."

"You'll get to know the Klingons on our show, and then people can decide if we really are the villains."

Following Mitchell's death, the family set up a GoFundMe account, where they said the funds would go toward helping support the children who have experienced financial strain at the loss of their father.

At the time of this report, the fundraising page has raised $34,208 out of its goal of $100,000.

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