Actor Kenneth Mitchell, known for his work on "Star Trek," died Saturday, according to StarTrek.com. He was 49.
Mitchell was diagnosed with ALS, a neurodegenerative disease, more than five years ago, according to a statement posted to his Instagram page. According to the statement, he faced "awful challenges" in those years.
"And in true Ken fashion, he managed to rise above each one with grace and commitment to living a full and joyous life in each moment," the statement said. "He lived by the principles that each day is a gift and that we never walk alone."
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, affects the nerve cells that make muscles work in both the upper and lower parts of the body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease makes the nerve cells stop working and die.
In the U.S., more than 30,000 people are believed to be living with ALS, and an average of 5,000 people in the country are diagnosed with ALS each year. Most people with ALS live from two to five years after symptoms develop.
