Actor RJ Mitte, best known as Walter White Jr in ‘Breaking Bad’, dies at age 34
American actor Roy Frank “RJ” Mitte III died on Monday (12 Oct) at the age of 34.
Source: IMDb
The actor was best known for playing Walter “Flynn” White Jr in the Emmy-winning crime drama ‘Breaking Bad’.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte,” his representative said in a statement.
Mitte died at his home in Brownsville, Texas. His representative has since confirmed that he died by suicide, although local police said the official cause and manner of death remain pending as investigations continue.
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age three
Mitte was born in Jackson, Mississippi, on 21 Aug 1992 and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of three.
Growing up, he wore leg braces and used crutches, although he eventually no longer needed walking aids as he became older.
Source: IMDb
After moving to Los Angeles with his family in 2006, Mitte began pursuing acting and landed minor roles before getting his big break.
Among his early credits were appearances as an extra in television shows such as ‘Hannah Montana’.
Best known as Walter White Jr in ‘Breaking Bad’
Mitte rose to fame playing Walter “Flynn” White Jr, the son of Bryan Cranston’s lead character Walter White, in Breaking Bad, which ran for five seasons from 2008 to 2013.
Source: IMDb
Like Mitte, the character had cerebral palsy, allowing the young actor to draw on his own experiences for the role.
While appearing on The Joe Vulpis Podcast on 6 Oct, just days before his death, Mitte reflected on how the condition had always been part of the character from the beginning.
He added that Walt Jr was partly inspired by a college friend of series creator Vince Gilligan who had cerebral palsy, which helped make the role feel authentic to him.
Source: IMDb
Mitte’s performance also helped bring greater visibility to actors with disabilities.
At the 2013 Media Access Awards, he received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award for his portrayal of Walter White Jr and presented the RJ Mitte Diversity Award to deaf actor Ryan Lane.
As part of the ‘Breaking Bad’ cast, Mitte later won a Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series in 2014.
‘Breaking Bad’ stars and peers pay tribute to Mitte
Following news of Mitte’s death, his former co-stars and other members of the entertainment industry paid tribute to the actor.
Cranston shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, saying he was in “deep despair” over the news.
Source: @bryancranston on Instagram
He recalled meeting Mitte when he was just 14 and watching him grow from an inexperienced teenager into a talented actor over the course of the series.
Despite the demanding filming schedule, Mitte approached his role with determination and enthusiasm, Cranston said, adding that he later used his fame to advocate for performers with disabilities.
The actor also revealed that he and Mitte had been texting just weeks earlier, making plans to catch up over lunch.
Reflecting on their friendship, which continued long after ‘Breaking Bad’ ended, Cranston wrote: “I’ll miss you, son.”
Source: @BreakingBad on X
He ended his tribute by urging anyone contemplating suicide to seek support.
Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad, also expressed his grief in a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter.
“I am at a loss. I am heartbroken over this news. RJ, I love you my friend. You will be missed.”
Source: @rjmitte on Instagram
Dean Norris, who played Walt Jr’s uncle Hank Schrader, also remembered Mitte fondly.
“Though RJ didn’t play my TV son, I always looked out for him as a young kid on set,” Norris wrote. “He was a sweetheart of a young man and will be greatly missed.”
Source: @rjmitte on Instagram
Advocate for disability representation
After ‘Breaking Bad’, Mitte continued acting in television and film, with credits including ‘Switched at Birth’, ‘The Recall’, ‘The Oak Room’, and Netflix’s ‘The Guardians of Justice’.
Shortly before his death, he had also been promoting his latest film, ‘Talking to Strangers’, and attended a screening in Beverly Hills on 30 Sept.
Beyond acting, Mitte became a prominent advocate for greater disability representation in the entertainment industry.
Source: @rjmitte on Instagram
He served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s, and was president of the Mitte Foundation, which supported philanthropic and community initiatives.
Throughout his career, Mitte frequently spoke about the importance of challenging stereotypes surrounding people with disabilities and creating more opportunities for disabled performers.
Source: @rjmitte on Instagram
Speaking to the BBC in 2021, Mitte said it had been encouraging to see growing awareness around disability representation, while cautioning that progress often came through individual breakthroughs rather than sweeping change.
If you or someone you know needs support, you can reach out to the following helplines:
- Samaritans of Singapore Hotline: 1767
- Institute of Mental Health’s Helpline: 6389 2222
- Singapore Association for Mental Health Helpline: 1800 283 7019
Also read: Disney Channel actress Carla Jeffery dies at 33, best known as Bree in ‘Disney’s Zombies’
Disney Channel actress Carla Jeffery dies at 33, best known as Bree in ‘Disney’s Zombies’
Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.
Featured image adapted from IMDb and @bryancranston on Instagram.