Kenneth Mitchell, a Canadian actor known for his roles in the series “Star Trek: Discovery” and the film “Captain Marvel,” died on Saturday. He was 49.
According to a statement from Mr. Mitchell's family posted on his social media, he had been living with the neurological disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which causes paralysis and death, for more than five years.
In “Captain Marvel” he played the father of superhero Carol Danvers. He was also known for portraying Eric Green in the series Jericho, Joshua Dodd in the series Nancy Drew, and a hockey player in the film Miracle, and appeared in several other film and television series.
Mr. Mitchell played the Klingons Kol, Kol-Sha and Tenavik and Aurellio on “Star Trek: Discovery” and voiced several characters in an episode of “Star Trek: Lower Decks.”
In an interview with StarTrek.com in 2017, he said he hoped to make viewers think differently about Klingons, the humanoid warriors whose role in the Star Trek universe has changed over decades.
“Whether someone is good or bad just depends on perspective, and it's about understanding that culture,” he told StarTrek.com in 2017. “On our show you get to know the Klingons, and then people can decide whether we really are the villains.”
Mr. Mitchell lived in Los Angeles with his wife, actress Susan May Pratt, and their children. He was born on November 25, 1974 in Toronto to Diane and David Mitchell.
In 2018, Mr. Mitchell was diagnosed with ALS, according to a statement posted to his social media in August. He revealed his diagnosis in an interview with People Magazine in 2020, saying that from the moment he found out, “it was like watching this scene where someone is told they have a terminal illness.” Illness.” He added: “It was just complete disbelief, a shock.”
Mr. Mitchell said he has focused on spending more time with his family and turned down a starring role in a television series that would require a return to Canada. The creators of the series “Nancy Drew” also took his illness into account, he told People, and used a stunt double when necessary. Other roles were created for him to accommodate him, he added.
“This disease is absolutely terrible,” Mr. Mitchell said in the post last year, which accompanied a photo of him watching the sunset in a wheelchair on the beach. “Despite all the suffering, there is so much to be grateful for,” he added.
According to the family statement, Mr. Mitchell is survived by his wife, their children Lilah and Kallum, his parents and other family members.