NewsDavid PowellKenneth Mitchell

Star Trek: Discovery’s Kenneth Mitchell defies ALS with on-stage appearance at 55-Year Mission convention in Las Vegas

NewsDavid PowellKenneth Mitchell
Star Trek: Discovery’s Kenneth Mitchell defies ALS with on-stage appearance at 55-Year Mission convention in Las Vegas
(Left) Kenneth Mitchell appears on stage at Creation Entertainment’s 55-Year Mission Las Vegas; image TrekCore. (Right) "There Is A Tide..." -- Ep#312 -- Pictured: Kenneth Mitchell as Aurellio of the CBS All Access series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. Photo Cr: Michael Gibson/CBS ©2020 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

(Left) Kenneth Mitchell appears on stage at Creation Entertainment’s 55-Year Mission Las Vegas; image TrekCore. (Right) "There Is A Tide..." -- Ep#312 -- Pictured: Kenneth Mitchell as Aurellio of the CBS All Access series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. Photo Cr: Michael Gibson/CBS ©2020 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

AUGUST 12, 2021 - The 55-Year Mission Las Vegas convention is well underway, and it is just as star-studded as its predecessor, STLV. 

One of the stars who studded the stage in Vegas on Wednesday was Kenneth Mitchell, Star Trek: Discovery’s Klingons, Kol; Kol-Sha; Tenavik; and the human, Aurellio. Mitchell also voiced three characters in the Star Trek: Lower Decks season one episode, “Veritas.”

Mitchell’s voice, however, has since succumbed to his ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, according to TrekCore, who was there to document the panel on Twitter. Mitchell was in good humor, though, as he joked through a digitized voice, “I have been assimilated!” On stage with Mitchell was Star Trek: Discovery’s L’Rell, Mary Chieffo, who is often by Mitchell’s side at events.

Because Mitchell’s comments were pre-recorded, he (jokingly) feared that his answers to fan questions would turn into an instance of the fill-in-the-blank game, Cards Against Humanity, but the fans made it clear that they love him.

Also appearing on stage with Mitchell and Chieffo was Mitchell’s son, Kallum, sporting a t-shirt that read, “I have been and always shall be your friend,” the well-known quote from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

While Mitchell did joke that he was returning to Star Trek: Discovery as prime Lorca because “Jason Isaacs wasn’t available”, he did seriously tease that he will be back in Discovery season four “in a very unique way.”

After using his digitized voice to say, “Qapla’!” Mitchell left the stage to a standing ovation.

You can catch all Kenneth Mitchell’s Star Trek performances so far with Star Trek: Discovery seasons one through three AND Star Trek: Lower Decks season one, on Paramount+. And while you’re there, you might as well check out the latest season of Lower Decks: season two episode one just landed yesterday.

David is a contributing writer for Daily Star Trek News on the Roddenberry Podcast Network. He is a librarian, baseball fan, and book and movie buff. He has also written for American Libraries and Skeptical Inquirer. David also enjoys diverse music, but leans toward classical and jazz. He plays a mean radio.