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Canadian actor Kenneth Mitchell has died of complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. He was 49.
Mitchell was famous for playing three recurring Klingon characters in the Star Trek: Discovery TV series, and for playing Joseph Danvers in the 2019 MCU film, Captain Marvel.
News of his death was announced in an Instagram post, which read:
“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."
The post continued:
"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, humor, inclusion and community."
"Ken was an inspirational work of art to all the hearts he touched.”
His wife, actor Susan May Pratt, penned a heartbreaking post, writing:
"My dear husband Ken has left us."
The post was accompanied by a loving photo featuring the late actor being adored by his family.
The number of loving tributes that flooded the comments showed the enormous impact Mitchell had on the lives he's touched.
@mr_kenneth_mitchell/Instagram
@mr_kenneth_mitchell/Instagram
@mr_kenneth_mitchell/Instagram
@mr_kenneth_mitchell/Instagram
@mr_kenneth_mitchell/Instagram
@mr_kenneth_mitchell/Instagram
@mr_kenneth_mitchell/Instagram
@mr_kenneth_mitchell/Instagram
@mr_kenneth_mitchell/Instagram
In February 2020, Mitchell revealed he was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, a nervous system disease that weakens the muscles and impacts physical mobility.
Leading to August 2018, the actor had been experiencing twitching in his muscles, which he believed was caused by a pinched nerve or multiple sclerosis, which his mother suffered from.
He recalled his initial reaction to the diagnosis with People, saying:
“The moment that they told us it was [ALS], it was like I was in my own movie."
“That’s what it felt like, like I was watching that scene where someone is being told that they have a terminal illness. It was just a complete disbelief, a shock.”
Mitchell is survived by his wife, Susan, their daughter, Lilah, 12, and son, Kallum, 7, his parents, Diane and David, brother Sean, in-laws, nieces and nephews.