Current:Home > Stocks"Star Trek" actor Kenneth Mitchell dead at 49 after ALS battle -BrightFutureFinance
"Star Trek" actor Kenneth Mitchell dead at 49 after ALS battle
View
Date:2025-04-22 22:40:20
Actor Kenneth Mitchell, known for his work on "Star Trek," died Saturday, according to StarTrek.com. He was 49.
Mitchell was diagnosed with ALS, a neurodegenerative disease, more than five years ago, according to a statement posted to his Instagram page. According to the statement, he faced "awful challenges" in those years.
"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," the statement said. "He lived by the principles that each day is a gift and that we never walk alone."
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, affects the nerve cells that make muscles work in both the upper and lower parts of the body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease makes the nerve cells stop working and die.
In the U.S., more than 30,000 people are believed to be living with ALS, and an average of 5,000 people in the country are diagnosed with ALS each year. Most people with ALS live from two to five years after symptoms develop.
On Aug. 10, the actor shared an Instagram post about what living with ALS was like.
"It's been a long 5 years. So much lost, so much gained. Incredibly hard times, mixed with so many more blessings," he wrote. "At the heart of it all are friends and family, caregivers and doctors coming to the aid of my family over and over and over again."
Mitchell first publicly spoke about his diagnoses in a 2020 interview with PEOPLE.
"The moment that they told us it was [ALS], it was like I was in my own movie," Mitchell told PEOPLE. "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."
Mitchell appeared in several roles after his diagnosis.
He played the Klingons Kol, Kol-Sha, and Tenavik, as well as Aurellio, on "Star Trek: Discovery," according to StarTrek.com. He also voiced several voice characters in an episode of "Star Trek: Lower Decks."
Mitchell was also known for his work in the TV series "Jericho" and "The Astronaut Wives Club" and his acting in "Miracle" and "Captain Marvel."
In the Instagram post announcing his death, Mitchell was remembered him as a daydreamer, nature explorer, cat lover and "more than anything else, a proud father."
Mitchell is survived by his parents, his wife and their two children. According to StarTrek.com, Mitchell asked that any gifts be directed toward ALS research or toward his children.
Aliza ChasanAliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.
TwitterveryGood! (7)
Related
- North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
- Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
Ranking
- All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- Residents worried after ceiling cracks appear following reroofing works at Jalan Tenaga HDB blocks
- Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
Recommendation
What to watch: O Jolie night
Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
Pregnant Kylie Kelce Shares Hilarious Question Her Daughter Asked Jason Kelce Amid Rising Fame
'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'