Kenneth Mitchell (actor)

Canadian actor (1974–2024)

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Kenneth Alexander Mitchell (November 25, 1974 – February 24, 2024) was a Canadian actor. He was known for his role as Eric Green in the CBS television series Jericho (2006–2008) and for portraying various characters in Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2021). In film, he appeared as Ralph Cox in the sports biopic Miracle (2004) and as Joseph Danvers in Captain Marvel (2019).

Early life

Mitchell was born in Toronto on November 25, 1974. He attended Earl Haig Secondary School in his hometown, before studying landscape architecture at the University of Guelph. He subsequently worked in Toronto and Guelph, before becoming acquainted with an agent through his friend.

Career

Mitchell began his acting career in commercials and independent productions. His first major roles came in Leap Years and Odyssey 5.

In 2004, Mitchell was cast in the film Miracle with Kurt Russell, in the role of hockey player Ralph Cox who was the last player cut from the 1980 Mens Olympic Hockey Team.

Mitchell appeared as Eric Green in the U.S. television drama Jericho, which was cancelled by CBS in May 2007, but was brought back onto the 2007–08 schedule following a fan campaign to save the show.

In 2014, Mitchell was cast in ABC's The Astronaut Wives Club television drama series, playing the role of Deke Slayton. Mitchell played three recurring Klingon characters in Star Trek: Discovery: season 1's Kol and season 2's Kol-Sha (Kol's father) and Tenavik. He also appeared in season 3 as Aurellio, a character whose use of a wheelchair-like device matched Mitchell's real situation with his progressing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease; Mitchell hinted that he would be seen in season 4 playing a character who, like Mitchell's progressing situation, has lost the use of his voice. Mitchell was cast in the FX series The Old Man by Dan Shotz, a friend of Mitchell's who was also an executive producer on Jericho. The role also incorporated Mitchell's condition into the character.

Personal life

Mitchell married actress Susan May Pratt in May 2006. Together, they had two children, a daughter (born 2007) and a son (born 2012). They resided in Los Angeles, where Mitchell relocated to in the mid-2000s.

In February 2020, Mitchell revealed that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Beginning in October 2019, he used a power wheelchair. To incorporate Mitchell's wheelchair, the showrunners of Star Trek: Discovery said Aurelio's wheelchair was a hover chair to help him move as a result of a genetic condition. By August 2021, Mitchell had lost his voice due to the disease. Mitchell died on February 24, 2024, at the age of 49.