RJ Mitte, actor best known for Breaking Bad, dies aged 34
Actor who played Walter White Jr and who advocated for disability representation is remembered by Bryan Cranston as ‘my sweet son’ RJ Mitte – a life in pictures The actor RJ Mitte, whose personal experience living with cerebral palsy informed his role as Walter White Jr in the television series Breaking Bad, has died aged 34 in Brownsville, Texas. “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of…
Key points
- RJ Mitte, known for playing Walter White Jr. on Breaking Bad, died at 34 in Brownsville, Texas.
- His representatives said he took his own life; police suspect no foul play.
- Bryan Cranston and other co-stars paid tribute, calling him a fine actor and advocate.
RJ Mitte, the actor who played Walter White Jr. on the television series Breaking Bad, has died at age 34 in Brownsville, Texas. His representatives said in a statement that Mitte, who lived with cerebral palsy, was a beloved actor, philanthropist and disability rights advocate.
A publicist confirmed reports that Mitte took his own life. The Brownsville police department said no foul play was suspected, and Cameron County justice of the peace Cyndi Hinojosa told the Associated Press that an autopsy would be performed.
Career and advocacy
Mitte played Walter White Jr., the son of Bryan Cranston's character, on 56 episodes of the AMC series from the age of 15. He also appeared on Switched at Birth and The Guardians of Justice, and days before his death he was promoting his film Talking to Strangers.
Offscreen, Mitte advocated for disability representation in entertainment. He served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and as president of the Mitte Foundation. Born in 1992, he was raised in Mississippi by adoptive parents.
I don’t know if that lunch would have changed his future. But I do know that I loved him
— Bryan Cranston
Tributes from co-stars
Cranston wrote on Instagram that Mitte was "my sweet son on Breaking Bad", calling him a fine actor and a vocal advocate for performers with disabilities. He said it was especially devastating to hear that Mitte took his own life, and that they had been texting weeks earlier about possibly meeting for lunch.
Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman, said he was at a loss and heartbroken. Dean Norris, who played Hank Schrader, wrote that he always looked out for Mitte as a young kid on set and called him a sweetheart of a young man.
