Kenneth Mitchell’s Star Trek fans are coming to the aid of his grieving family.
So far $61,403 has been raised toward the goal of $100,000 on a Go-Fund-Me account set up by a friend named Carolyn Lewinsky.
The beloved actor died Saturday at the age of 49 after five-year battle with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS, leaving his wife, Susan May Pratt, and two children, Lilah and Kallum, behind.
‘Ken loved his work and cherished his friends — so many of whom he’d been close with since childhood — but he lived for Susan and their children, Lilah and Kallum, who truly owned his heart. This Go Fund Me is for them,’ Lewinsky wrote.
‘ALS is a horrible disease, and the costs associated with treatments and required caregivers are truly astronomical. But even as their personal debt continued to grow, Ken and Susan chose to see the inevitability of Ken’s death as bringing with it many beautiful blessings.’
Friends of the late Kenneth Mitchell are hoping his fans will come to the aid of his family after the actor’s death at 49-years-old, following a five-year battle with ALS (Pictured in Los Angeles in September 2017)
According to the National Institutes of Health, the typical cost of treatment for an ALS patient is about $1.43 million, with the family being responsible for about 9-percent of the costs.
Mitchell was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in August 2018 and started using a wheelchair in October 2019. He publicly announced he had the debilitating neurological disease in a February 2020 interview with People.
‘The moment that they told us it was [ALS], it was like I was in my own movie,’ he said.
‘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,’ he told the outlet.
In spite of his illness, Mitchell was able to continue working for a while, most recently on The Old Man series with Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow.
The Canadian actor was well known in the Star Trek community, playing a number of roles on Star Trek: Discovery.
Mitchell appeared as Klingons Kol, Kol-Sha, and Tenavik, as well as scientist Aurellio, on Star Trek: Discovery.
Knowing his condition, the producers made sure to incorporate or camouflage his need to use a wheelchair into his appearances.
Mitchell’s family posted this photo and a lengthy obituary describing his life on Instagram Sunday
The actor is survived by his wife Susan May Pratt, and their children Lilah and Kallum
A friend of the family has established a Go-Fund-Me campaign to help the cover the debt incurred for treatment during his illness. NIH found the typical cost of treatment for an ALS patient is about $1.43 million, with the family responsible for about 9-percent of the costs
He also voiced several characters in an episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks.
His Star Trek: Discovery co-star Anthony Rapp shared Mitchell’s obituary on his Instagram story and said, ‘This wonderful man brightened the lives of so many.’
‘I am privileged to have known him and will never forget his joyful kindness and incredible courage.’
Fellow Canadian Skeet Ulrich mourned the loss of his friend, writing, ‘You will never ever be forgotten!! You are embedded in the hearts and minds of so many. You will always be an inspiration. All my love to you and your beautiful family ❤️❤️❤️’
Mitchell played the Klingons Kol, Kol-Sha, and Tenavik, as well as scientist Aurellio, on Star Trek: Discovery and voiced several characters in an episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks
Producers on Star Trek: Discovery accommodated Mitchell’s need to use a wheel chair when he played scientist Aurelio
Images left on his social media and Mitchell’s obituary indicated that instead of a burial, he wanted his body to be used for renewal. A poem called Connect was posted as part of his obit with the first line reading ‘When I die, I want to become a tree…’
Actress Odette Annable penned, ‘’ll meet you at the Clover Diner Kenny. I love you always and forever my friend.’
The Roddenberry Official account offered, ‘Kenneth was one of a kind, and will be greatly missed. Our deepest condolences to his family and all who loved him. ‘
Images left on his social media and Mitchell’s obituary indicated that instead of a burial, he wanted his body to be used for renewal.
A poem called Connect was posted as part of his obit with the first line reading ‘When I die, I want to become a tree…’