Canadian actor Kenneth Alexander Mitchell, known for his notable roles in Hollywood such as Star Trek: Discovery and Captain Marvel died at the age of 49 from complications related to ALS on Saturday. His family members confirmed his passing, releasing an official statement on social media.
On Saturday, Mitchel’s family took to his Instagram account and wrote a statement regarding the actor’s death, “With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Kenneth Alexander Mitchell, beloved father, husband, brother, uncle, son and dear friend.”
The family also shared an obituary of the actor on the graphics that read, “Born in Toronto, Canada on November 25, 1974, to Diane and David Mitchell, 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.”
The statement further stated, “For five and a half years Ken faced a series of awful challenges from ALS. And in truest Ken fashion, he managed to rise above each one with grace and commitment to living a full and joyous life in each moment. He lived by the principles that each day is a gift and that we never walk alone. His life is a shining example of how full one can be when you live with love, compassion, humour, inclusion, and community. Ken was an inspirational work of art to all the hearts he touched.”
In 2018, Mitchell received a diagnosis of ALS. His family regularly provided updates on his health over the past few years. In August, Mitchell acknowledged the fifth anniversary of his diagnosis in a post on Instagram.
For unversed, ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurological disorder affecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to progressive muscle control loss. Despite ongoing research, its exact cause remains unknown, with some cases possibly being inherited.