Kenneth Mitchell Passes Away At 49

As a lot of you have heard, today we lost a beloved Star Trek actor, Kenneth Mitchell from complications of ALS.

I am not going to go into a lot of Kenneth Mitchell’s. Bio. Because that has been posted over and over again online. But. I will go into this.

He appeared in episodes of  series including Odyssey 5, Grey’s Anatomy, CSI: Miami, Lie to Me, Ghost Whisperer, Hawaii: Five-0, NCIS: Los Angeles, Bones, Switched at Birth, The Astronaut Wives Club, Nancy Drew and more.

On the film side, Mitchell most notably played Ralph Cox in the 2004 sports movie Miracle. His other film credits include Captain Marvel, Blood Honey and Home of the Giants, among others.

He was perhaps best known for playing Klingons Kol, Kol-Sha, Tenavik and Aurellio in Star Trek: Discovery between 2007 and 2010. He also voiced several characters in an episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks in 2020.

The role of Aurellio was written specifically for him being a scientist in a wheelchair. This was a role that he was so eager to play after his ALS diagnosis.

Mitchell announced to the world at Virtual Trek Con One. (2020) Where he told several attendees, including myself, about being diagnosed with ALS.  I remember we thanked him. and Mary Chieffo for attending because for a lot of us with disabilities, this would be the only way we could get close to an actor or actress.  One because of barriers.  Such as transporting or adaptive equipment and also, the fact of money or lack of.  That is when he broke down and told us that he knew our pain, and he went on to tell us about his diagnosis. The struggles that he has to go through in daily life.  That is when he became a true hero to me.

Kenneth Mitchell also went on to do a featurette for Star Trek Discovery call To Boldly Go.  Where he discussed very emotionally.  His battle with ALS and being a true Star Trek fan.  Even talking about his son going to school and doing the Vulcan LLAP in the window of the school for him.

Now I know we are not supposed to get emotional when writing these articles.  So forgive me, I have to.  As a Star Trek fan.  I will always be grateful.  Not for the fact that he had an illness that killed him, but he had the courage to come forward and let everyone know.  Then go on to not only to make it where people with disabilities had a better life. but also to be a voice for those with disabilities.   I know I will be grateful for this.

After he let the world know he had ALS, I was lucky.  I had a friend that went to a convention where he was at and got me an autograph from him made out to me.  The autograph is on a picture of him playing Aurellio.  I will always cherish it.  It is on my wall above my bed.

I know he is up in heaven or Sto-vo-kor. Depending on your preference looking down upon us.  He’s with the other greats that have passed on.  I know we will miss him here on Earth.  That he would not want us to cry (sorry too late) for him, but to live each day trying to help others.   Being the best. Star Trek fans that we can be.

You will be missed, Kenneth Mitchell.

‘op leS maghomqa’jaj

May we meet again some day

Thank you Klingon language Institute for help with translation.

by Tia "Blindbat" Jenkins