Kenneth Mitchell, ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Actor, Dies at 49

Zoe G Phillips and Borys Kit
·3 min read
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Kenneth Mitchell, known for his portrayal of several characters in Star Trek: Discovery as well as roles in Captain Marvel and Jericho, has died. He was 49.

Mitchell died Saturday in Los Angeles from complications of ALS, his family told The Hollywood Reporter.

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“Kenny was the keeper of countless enduring friendships,” they said. “Like a massive star exploding with kindness, pureness and a particular brand of silly, you were pulled right into his orbit. Once captured, Kenny could bathe you in positivity, compassion, thoughtfulness, and hilarity, and make you feel so loved.”

Mitchell played four characters across three seasons of Paramount’s Star Trek: Discovery: Kol, Kol-Sha, Tenavik and Aurellio. He also portrayed a young Captain Marvel’s father in a flashback in Marvel’s Captain Marvel and World War II flyer Deke Slayton in ABC’s The Astronaut Wives Club.

Born in Toronto on Nov. 25, 1974, Mitchell booked his first studio film portraying professional ice hockey player Ralph Cox in Disney’s 2004 Miracle. He later played mayor-turned-sheriff Eric Green on CBS’ Jericho, his first series regular role, starting in 2006. Most recently, he played Joe in FX/Hulu’s The Old Man in 2022.

Mitchell was diagnosed with ALS in 2018. He spoke about the diagnosis in a 2020 interview to People, where he 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.”

Actor Michael Beach said in a statement later Sunday that “Kenny remained a powerhouse of positivity and humor” as he and his family “dealt with the different awful stages of ALS.”

Being able to work while suffering from the disease was important to Mitchell. Dan Shotz, a showrunner who first worked with Mitchell on Jericho where he developed a strong friendship with the actor, cast him for a gig on FX’s 2022 Jeff Bridges drama The Old Man. Mitchell was in the earlier stages of using a wheelchair and the writers put the character, an FBI base commander, in a wheelchair.

Mitchell told him something he won’t forget. “He said, ‘I needed my kids to see that I still can do this as long as I can,’ Shotz recalled to THR.

Shotz added, “You meet a lot of actors and talent over the years and people come in and out of your life, but I just knew that he was going to be a person I was always going to be deeply connected to. He changed my life. He taught me how to live life, how to cherish every moment, and how to act with grace under the most difficult of circumstances.”

Mitchell met his wife, 10 Things I Hate About You actress Susan May Pratt, on the 2001 set of Showtime’s Charms for the Easy Life. They played love interests. The first scene they filmed was their characters’ kissing, and sparks flew onscreen and in real life. They married in May 2006, and had two children, Lilah and Kallum.

Mitchell is survived by Pratt, his children, as well as his parents and in-laws and several nieces and nephews. His family asked that any gifts be directed toward ALS research or his children, the latter via a GoFundMe.

“Kenneth was a giver, a listener, a sentimental and an excellent observer of his surroundings,” his family said. “One of his most endearing qualities as a friend is that Kenny loved to watch others shine. He was a conductor of connecting friends together and thoroughly enjoyed prompting a good story … and boy oh boy did he love to laugh. He absolutely loved to laugh.”

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