Actor Kenneth Mitchell has died at the age of 49 due to complications from ALS, according to a statement posted on Instagram. The man also played in Star Trek: Discovery and Captain Marvel.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Kenneth Alexander Mitchell, who was a beloved father, husband, brother, uncle, son and dear friend to many,” the statement said.
“For five and a half years, Ken faced a series of terrible challenges due to ALS. In a Ken-like way, he managed to rise above them all with grace and commitment to living a full and joyful life in every moment,” they added.
“The entire Star Trek family extends its condolences to Mitchell’s family, friends, loved ones and fans around the world,” Star Trek said also on its official website.
The essence of ALS, i.e. amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease, is that the nerve cells that move the muscles atrophy, which eventually leads to complete paralysis. At the end of the disease, respiratory functions also cease, and death occurs due to suffocation. However, the disease does not affect mental abilities.
In Hungary, the disease has been the focus of attention mainly because constitutional lawyer Dániel Karsai also suffers from it, and he is fighting for the possibility of euthanasia in Hungary, so far with little success.