The entertainment world mourns the loss of Kenneth Mitchell, a well-respected actor known for his roles in Star Trek: Discovery, Captain Marvel, and as the spouse of Center Stage actress Susan May Pratt. Mitchell passed away on Saturday, February 24, after struggling with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was 49. 

He is survived by his wife, their children Lilah, 16, and Kallum, 11, along with his parents, brother, and other family members. His loved ones turned to social media over the weekend (Feb. 25) to share the devastating news with a lengthy obituary. 

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"With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Kenneth Alexander Mitchell, beloved father, husband, brother, uncle, son, and dear friend to many," read the heartwarming tribute. "Ken was widely known as an actor in many films and television shows. He's portrayed an Olympic hopeful, an apocalypse survivor, an astronaut, a superhero's dad, and four unique Star Trekkers. But to those close to him, he was known as a hope seeker, daydreamer, dream believer, soccer player, beach walker, bear hugger, landscape designer, garden grower, canoe paddler, happy camper, nature explorer, cat lover, infectious laugher, gift giver, not sender, movie goer, art maker, music listener, sports connoisseur, detailed particular, Leafs supporter, world traveler, uncle joker, younger brother, Susan's partner, and more than anything else, a proud father." 

Mitchell's own words, shared in an essay titled "Connect," included in the obituary, reflect his desire to be remembered with nature and beauty – aspiring to become a tree to "touch the night sky" and "twinkle with the stars."

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Born in Toronto, Mitchell's acting career began in the early 2000s, with notable roles in series like Jericho, Ghost Whisperer, and more recently, The Old Man. His tenure on Star Trek: Discovery from 2017 to 2021 saw him portraying multiple characters, including Klingons and a human character, Aurellio. Within the project, he used a hoverchair, mirroring Mitchell's own use of a wheelchair following his ALS diagnosis in 2018.

Mitchell lived with ALS for five years, which left him faced with several challenges. Despite the hardships, Mitchell "managed to rise above each one with grace and commitment to living a full and joyous life." 

According to the Mayo Clinic, ALS is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The debilitating sickness causes a loss of muscle control and can get worse over time. The late actor has requested that any gifts be directed towards ALS research or supporting his children. 

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His impact extended beyond his family to his colleagues and the Star Trek community. The massive franchise issued a statement to honor Mitchell's contributions to the Star Trek universe. 

"The entire Star Trek family sends their condolences to Mitchell's family, friends, loved ones, and fans around the world," they wrote. 

Fellow actor Ethan Peck, who plays Spock, and fans honored Mitchell and his legacy. "You will be missed by all of us, Ken. A beloved member of the Trek family and just a lovely human," wrote a fan. "Tell the Great Bird of the Galaxy we all said hi and thanks for so many memories," said another, referring to the hit franchise. 

A close friend of the family has created a GoFundMe to raise money for ALS. Donate, here.