He is known for such roles as Dexter Wilson on The John Larroquette Show, Tommy Webber in Galaxy Quest, Leo Michaels on Veronica's Closet, Eli Goggins III on Ed, and Patton Plame on NCIS: New Orleans.

For his performance in the sitcom Brothers, Mitchell won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series.

[10] For his work on John Larroquette, Mitchell was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in 1996 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

[21] Mitchell played a state trooper in The Country Bears (2002),[22] which finished filming shortly before he was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident.

[24] Despite the show's short run, Mitchell received his second NAACP Image Award nomination in 2010, in the category of Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series.

[29] In September 2009, Mitchell was profiled on TV One's biographical documentary program Life After, a series that examines the lives of celebrities following a career turning point.

[30] On November 10, 2001, Mitchell was paralyzed from the waist down after a motorcycle crash on an island near Beaufort, South Carolina, in which he lost control of his bike while turning a corner on gravel and loose pavement.

[30] Mitchell got full support from his family and friends, including Denzel Washington and Chris Tucker, to continue his career.