Sad news reported from People Magazine this week — Star Trek: Discovery’s Kenneth Mitchell has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as ”Lou Gehrig’s Disease” in the United States. This disease
ALS is a disease that causes the death of neurons controlling voluntary muscles, and eventually means that all who are diagnosed will be confined to a wheelchair in order to move freely.
Mitchell told People that when he learned that he had the disease, he felt “complete shock.” The article revealed that he had been diagnosed in August 2018 and has been in a wheelchair since October of 2019.
He and his family have moved to Newfoundland in Canada where they each could help him shift his focus to “everyday life.”
You might not recognize Mitchell by his photo — that’s because he plays two Klingons on the show. He portrayed the Klingon Kol in Discovery’s first season, and the enigmatic Tenavik in the second season. Mitchell also played Kol-Sha, Kol’s father.
Though the condition is a terminal one, many who are diagnosed are able to lead full lives. The world-famous scientist and researcher, Stephen Hawking, suffered from ALS from his college days until his death in March 2018.
He was able to create a number of innovations in his field of quantum mechanics, all while unable to speak. He even appeared on the sixth season of The Next Generation, in the 26th Episode named “Descent.”
Since learning of the news, the Star Trek community has rallied for Mitchell. Many of his fellow Discovery stars posted notes of support:
