American actor RJ Mitte, best known for portraying Walter White Jr, the son of drug kingpin Walter White in the television drama series Breaking Bad, has died at the age of 34.
His representative, Sean Reilly, announced his death in a statement to the BBC, saying, “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte.”
Mitte died in Brownsville, Texas, on October 12.
The cause of his death has not been established, and authorities said investigations were ongoing.
The Brownsville Police Department confirmed his death and said no foul play was suspected.
Cameron County Justice of the Peace Cyndi Hinojosa told the Associated Press that the actor was pronounced dead at what was believed to be his home.
A post-mortem examination was expected to be conducted to determine the circumstances surrounding his death.
Mitte, who had cerebral palsy, gained international recognition for his portrayal of Walter White Jr in Breaking Bad, which starred Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul.
His performance in the Emmy-winning series earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2014.
His representative said Mitte used his position in the entertainment industry to promote disability awareness and inclusion.
“Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion,” Reilly said in a statement to the BBC.
Beyond acting, Mitte supported organisations advocating for people with disabilities.
He served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s and established The Mitte Foundation to support charitable activities and community initiatives.
According to Reilly, the foundation reflected Mitte’s commitment to challenging stereotypes and improving the representation of people with disabilities.
Cranston, who played Mitte’s father in Breaking Bad, paid tribute to the late actor in an emotional Instagram post, expressing deep sorrow over his death.
“I met him when he was only 14 years old when he was cast as Walter White Jr., a part he played with such joy and enthusiasm,” Cranston wrote.
“That kid was pretty raw when we started shooting the pilot in February of 2007, but little by little we watched him grow into a really fine actor.”
Cranston also praised Mitte’s advocacy for performers with disabilities, noting that the actor never allowed his condition to limit his ambitions.
“All that promise and potential now is such a loss,” Cranston wrote, adding that he had enjoyed spending time with Mitte during the series and in the years after it ended.
“I’ll miss you, son,” he added.
Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman in the series, also expressed his grief in a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter.
“RJ, I love you my friend. You will be missed,” he said. “And to whoever happens to be reading this, please know you are loved, and you are not alone. Always remember that.”
Dean Norris, who portrayed Mitte’s uncle, Hank Schrader, in the drama, remembered the actor as a young man he cared for during their time on set.
“RJ didn’t play my TV son, I always looked out for him as a young kid on set,” Norris wrote, describing him as “a sweetheart of a young man” who would be greatly missed.
Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, aired on the American cable network AMC for five seasons between 2008 and 2013.
The crime drama received 58 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and won 16, including Outstanding Drama Series honours in 2013 and 2014.
The series followed Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher in New Mexico who turns to manufacturing methamphetamine after being diagnosed with cancer.
As he becomes increasingly involved in the drug trade, his relationship with his family deteriorates, including his relationship with his son, Walter White Jr.
Mitte grew up in Louisiana and moved to Los Angeles in 2005 to support his younger sister’s acting career. He was still a teenager when he auditioned for the role that would eventually make him famous.
His first audition in Los Angeles was for a California public service announcement warning against methamphetamine use.
He later reflected on how that experience connected with his breakthrough role.
“Fast forward to auditioning for Breaking Bad, which is still, in my opinion, an anti-meth thing because it doesn’t end well for anyone,” he said on the Joe Vulpis Podcast earlier this month.
Mitte’s character was inspired by a late friend of Gilligan who had a more severe form of cerebral palsy and used forearm crutches.
Mitte did not require crutches himself, but his performance was widely recognised for its authenticity.
After gaining prominence through the series, he continued to advocate for more complex and diverse portrayals of people with disabilities in film and television.
Speaking to the BBC in 2021, Mitte said, “Whenever awards season rolls around, we always hope to see a diverse group of projects that reflect all of us, in body and mind.”
He added, “Watching the awareness grow around disability representation has been great to see, but breakthroughs sometimes come in pieces and moments instead of larger change.”
His other screen credits included Hannah Montana, Switched at Birth and Westhampton. His latest project, Talking to Strangers, was released earlier this year.
