Star Trek: Discovery’s Kenneth Mitchell has revealed that he is living with ALS, also commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Mitchell is beloved in the Star Trek fandom for his portrayal of not one, not two, but three (!) Klingon characters in Discovery: Kol, Kol-Sha, and Tenavik. He’s also a fan favorite at Star Trek conventions including STLV and Star Trek: The Cruise. In a piece from People Magazine last Friday, Mitchell revealed that he was diagnosed with ALS in August of 2018, and has used a wheelchair since October of 2019.

According to Wikipedia, “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neurone disease (MND) or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a disease that causes the death of neurons controlling voluntary muscles. ALS is characterized by stiff muscles, muscle twitching, and gradually worsening weakness due to muscles decreasing in size.” The ALS Association says, “Although the life expectancy of a person with ALS averages about two to five years from the time of diagnosis, the disease is variable. Many people can live with the disease for five years or longer. In fact, more than half of all people with ALS live more than three years after diagnosis.”

In the People interview, Mitchell described the impact his diagnosis has had on his family, including wife Susan May Pratt and their two children. “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. [...] From that point on, it became, ‘Let’s just spend time with the family.’”

For his part, Mitchell is at least putting on a brave face publicly and admits that he can no longer hide his illness. “I think there’s something I can offer and I want to be a part of that,” he said. “A lot of people helped me along the way, through my actions, or if I can inspire one person that would mean a lot to me.”

For some Star Trek fans, including yours truly, Mitchell’s heartbreaking diagnosis will hit hard. Just last year, at the Star Trek Las Vegas Convention in August, Mitchell broke down on stage saying he felt blessed to be a part of the Star Trek family. His words hit even harder now, knowing now that he was already at the time, struggling with the disease.

Please join me in sending love and support to Kenneth Mitchell and his family.