Kenneth Mitchell was an actor best known for his recurring roles on the TV series “Star Trek: Discovery” and “Jericho,” and his role in the blockbuster “Captain Marvel.”
- Died: February 24, 2024 (Who else died on February 24?)
- Details of death: Died in Los Angeles of ALS aka Lou Gehrig’s disease at the age of 49.
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Kenneth Mitchell’s legacy
The Toronto-born Mitchell first appeared on television in 2001 and 2002, when he was in nine episodes each of “Leap Years” and “Odyssey 5.” Neither made a big splash, but several years later he became a series regular on the post-apocalyptic show “Jericho” which became a cult fan favorite. Mitchell ended up playing deputy mayor Eric Green in 27 episodes from 2006 to 2008.
Mitchell also had recurring roles on “Ghost Whisperer,” “Switched at Birth,” “The Astronaut’s Wives Club,” and “Frequency,” and small roles in a wide array of others, including “Bones,” “Castle,” “The Mentalist,” “Private Practice,” and many variations of “CSI” and “NCIS.” However, it was his regular appearances on “Star Trek: Discovery” that won him a lasting fandom. Including his voice roles on “Star Trek: Lower Decks,” Mitchell appeared as six different characters of four different species in the science fiction adventure franchise, including a pivotal role setting up the story of Captain Christopher Pike, which led into the spinoff series “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.” He also had a role in the superhero film “Captain Marvel.”
Mitchell was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2018. As a result, he began using a wheelchair the following year. When Mitchell died of ALS at 49, he left behind his wife, Susan, and their two children, Lilah and Kallum.
On his ALS diagnosis:
“Thankfully, I feel like I lived a life and a mantra that, pre-diagnosis, I was proud of. But, it’s certainly hard and created a shift in my focus. I’m more focused on my family than ever before. My kids are my everything. Thinking about them has been the hardest part. I don’t want to leave them.”—from a 2020 interview for SYFY
Tributes to Kenneth Mitchell
Full obituary: The New York Times
