# Kenneth Mitchell (actor)
**Kenneth Mitchell** (Kenneth Alexander Mitchell; November 25, 1974 – February 24, 2024) was a Canadian film and television actor best known for playing four roles, three of them Klingons, on *Star Trek: Discovery*, for portraying [Eric Green](https://www.edgepedia.org/eric-green) on the CBS series *Jericho*, and for playing Joseph Danvers, father of [Carol Danvers](https://www.edgepedia.org/carol-danvers), in *Captain Marvel* (2019).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 1974, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; February 24, 2024, Los Angeles, California, aged 49[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1058987/bio/) |
| Cause of death | Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), diagnosed August 2018; disclosed publicly in a 2020 People interview[2](https://www.massgeneral.org/assets/MGH/pdf/neurology/als/kenneth-mitchell-people-magazine-march-30-2020.pdf) |
| Star Trek roles | Klingons Kol, Kol-Sha, and Tenavik, and the human Aurellio, on *Star Trek: Discovery* (2017–2021); three voice roles in *Star Trek: Lower Decks*[3](https://www.startrek.com/news/remembering-kenneth-mitchell) |
| Signature TV role | Eric Green on the post-apocalyptic CBS drama *Jericho* (2006–2008)[4](https://obits.syracuse.com/news/kenneth-mitchell-1974-2024-star-trek-discovery-regular) |
| Film roles | Ralph Cox in *Miracle* (2004); Alan in *The Recruit* (2003); Joseph Danvers in *Captain Marvel* (2019)[5](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2024-02-25/star-trek-discovery-actor-kenneth-mitchell-dies-jericho) |
| Education | Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, University of Guelph; striker for the Guelph Gryphons soccer team[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1058987/bio/) |
| Final role | Joe in three episodes of the FX series *The Old Man* (2022)[6](https://www.tvline.com/news/kenneth-mitchell-dead-star-trek-discovery-cause-of-death-1235173773/) |
## Early life and education
Mitchell was born in Toronto and did not set out to be an actor. He studied landscape architecture at the [University of Guelph](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-guelph) in Ontario, completed a five-year program, played striker for the university's soccer team, and graduated with top honors, receiving the Canadian Society of Landscape Architecture Silver Medal[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1058987/bio/). His turn toward acting came while working as a camp counselor during university summers, and after graduating he pursued acting rather than landscape architecture[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/kenneth_mitchell). Before his screen career, he appeared in television commercials for brands including Campbell Soup, AT&T, Adidas, Hyundai, and Bud Light[8](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/mitchell-kenneth-1974).
## Career
**Television.** Mitchell's first major screen roles came in the early 2000s on Showtime: Spencer Matthew on *Leap Years* (2001) and a role on the science fiction series *Odyssey 5* (2002)[4](https://obits.syracuse.com/news/kenneth-mitchell-1974-2024-star-trek-discovery-regular). His best-known television role was Eric Green, the deputy mayor in the CBS post-apocalyptic drama *[Jericho](https://www.edgepedia.org/jericho-2006-tv-series)* (2006–2008), opposite [Skeet Ulrich](https://www.edgepedia.org/skeet-ulrich); one obituary counts the role at 27 episodes[4](https://obits.syracuse.com/news/kenneth-mitchell-1974-2024-star-trek-discovery-regular), while another retrospective counts 26[9](https://www.slashfilm.com/2202257/kenneth-mitchell-star-trek-roles-explained/). He later held recurring roles on *Ghost Whisperer*, *Switched at Birth*, *The Astronaut Wives Club* (as astronaut [Deke Slayton](https://www.edgepedia.org/deke-slayton)), and *Frequency*, and made single-episode appearances on shows including *Grey's Anatomy*, *Bones*, *Castle*, *Criminal Minds*, *Hawaii Five-0*, and the various *CSI* and *NCIS* series[5](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2024-02-25/star-trek-discovery-actor-kenneth-mitchell-dies-jericho). Over a two-decade career he played more than 50 roles[5](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2024-02-25/star-trek-discovery-actor-kenneth-mitchell-dies-jericho).
**Film.** His film work included Alan in *The Recruit* (2003) and Ralph Cox in *[Miracle](https://www.edgepedia.org/miracle-2004-film)* (2004), the sports film starring [Kurt Russell](https://www.edgepedia.org/kurt-russell) about the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, in which Mitchell played the last player cut from the squad[5](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2024-02-25/star-trek-discovery-actor-kenneth-mitchell-dies-jericho). In *Captain Marvel* (2019) he played Joseph Danvers, father of Carol Danvers, the title character[3](https://www.startrek.com/news/remembering-kenneth-mitchell).
## Star Trek roles
Mitchell played four characters across three seasons of *Star Trek: Discovery*: the Klingon commander Kol in the first season, Kol's father Kol-Sha in the second, the time-keeper Tenavik in the second, and the human scientist Aurellio in the third[3](https://www.startrek.com/news/remembering-kenneth-mitchell). Speaking about Kol in 2017, he said he hoped to give viewers a new perspective on Klingon culture: "Whether someone is good or bad is all about perspective, and it's about understanding that culture"[3](https://www.startrek.com/news/remembering-kenneth-mitchell).
In the third season, after his ALS diagnosis, Mitchell appeared without Klingon makeup as Aurellio, a character who uses a hoverchair. The role was written for him in collaboration with the show's producers, and Mitchell described it on Instagram as a "special collaboration with my Discovery family that injected me with heaps of Love & Inspiration during my tough battle with ALS"[10](https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2024/02/26/kenneth-mitchell-death-star-trek-discovery-marvel/). He also voiced three characters, including a Tweerk captain, a Black Ops operative, and a Romulan guard, in the episode "Veritas" of the first season of the animated series *Star Trek: Lower Decks* (2020)[11](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/1758/kenneth-mitchell).
His final acting credit was as Joe, a wheelchair-using FBI agent, in three episodes of the FX series *The Old Man* in 2022[6](https://www.tvline.com/news/kenneth-mitchell-dead-star-trek-discovery-cause-of-death-1235173773/).
## Illness and death
Mitchell experienced muscle twitching in the months before August 2018 and was diagnosed with limb-onset ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that takes away the ability to control muscles; he began using a wheelchair in late 2019[2](https://www.massgeneral.org/assets/MGH/pdf/neurology/als/kenneth-mitchell-people-magazine-march-30-2020.pdf). He disclosed the diagnosis publicly in a 2020 interview with People, saying "I can't hide it anymore" and that he hoped to become a voice for others with the disease[2](https://www.massgeneral.org/assets/MGH/pdf/neurology/als/kenneth-mitchell-people-magazine-march-30-2020.pdf). He continued acting after the diagnosis, in *Star Trek: Discovery*, *Nancy Drew*, and *The Old Man*[2](https://www.massgeneral.org/assets/MGH/pdf/neurology/als/kenneth-mitchell-people-magazine-march-30-2020.pdf).
He died on February 24, 2024, in Los Angeles at age 49, five and a half years after his diagnosis[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1058987/bio/). His family announced the death in a statement on his social media accounts, and StarTrek.com published a tribute[3](https://www.startrek.com/news/remembering-kenneth-mitchell). He asked that gifts in his memory be directed toward ALS research or in support of his children, Lilah and Kallum[3](https://www.startrek.com/news/remembering-kenneth-mitchell).
## Personal life
Mitchell married the actress Susan May Pratt, known for *Center Stage* and *10 Things I Hate About You*, in May 2006; they had two children, Lilah Ruby and Kallum Porter[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1058987/bio/). His older brother is Sean David Mitchell[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1058987/bio/).
## References
1. [Kenneth Mitchell – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1058987/bio/)
2. ["I Have ALS and I'm Not Giving Up Hope": Star Trek's Kenneth Mitchell, People (March 30, 2020), via Massachusetts General Hospital](https://www.massgeneral.org/assets/MGH/pdf/neurology/als/kenneth-mitchell-people-magazine-march-30-2020.pdf)
3. [Remembering Kenneth Mitchell, 1974–2024, StarTrek.com](https://www.startrek.com/news/remembering-kenneth-mitchell)
4. [Kenneth Mitchell (1974–2024), Star Trek: Discovery regular, Legacy.com](https://obits.syracuse.com/news/kenneth-mitchell-1974-2024-star-trek-discovery-regular)
5. ['Star Trek' actor Kenneth Mitchell dies at 49, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2024-02-25/star-trek-discovery-actor-kenneth-mitchell-dies-jericho)
6. [Kenneth Mitchell, Star Trek: Discovery And Jericho Actor, Dead At 49, TVLine](https://www.tvline.com/news/kenneth-mitchell-dead-star-trek-discovery-cause-of-death-1235173773/)
7. [Kenneth Mitchell Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/kenneth_mitchell)
8. [Mitchell, Kenneth 1974–, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/mitchell-kenneth-1974)
9. [Kenneth Mitchell's Star Trek Roles Explained, SlashFilm](https://www.slashfilm.com/2202257/kenneth-mitchell-star-trek-roles-explained/)
10. [Kenneth Mitchell, 'Star Trek: Discovery' actor, dies at 49, The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2024/02/26/kenneth-mitchell-death-star-trek-discovery-marvel/)
11. [Kenneth Mitchell, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/1758/kenneth-mitchell)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › Canadian actors › Surnames M to P*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license