RJ Mitte, best known for playing Walter White Jr. in the acclaimed television drama Breaking Bad, has died at 34 in Brownsville, Texas. His representatives confirmed his death but did not disclose a cause.
RJ Mitte’s death marks the loss of an actor whose work extended beyond television. His representatives described him as a philanthropist and disability rights advocate, while Brownsville Justice of the Peace Judge Cyndi Hinojosa confirmed that he died in the Texas city on Monday.
The cause of death has not been publicly disclosed. Mitte became widely recognized through Breaking Bad, playing Walter White Jr., the son of Bryan Cranston’s chemistry teacher-turned-drug manufacturer.
The AMC series aired for five seasons between 2008 and 2013, eventually earning widespread critical recognition and multiple Primetime Emmy Awards.
His performance also brought disability representation into a major television drama. Mitte was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age three, and his personal experience informed his portrayal of Walter Jr.
The character, however, was written with a more severe form of the condition than Mitte experienced. Rather than limiting his work to acting, Mitte became involved in advocacy and philanthropy.
He served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s and led The Mitte Foundation, which supported charitable efforts and community initiatives.
Mitte moved to Los Angeles as a teenager and initially pursued acting partly to meet other young people his age.
In interviews, he credited his family with encouraging him to pursue opportunities despite negative assumptions about what people with cerebral palsy could achieve.
Outside Breaking Bad, his screen credits included the horror film The Oak Room, the science-fiction film The Recall and appearances in television productions including Hannah Montana and Switched at Birth.
His representatives asked for privacy for his family and loved ones. Hinojosa remembered Mitte warmly, saying he had been gracious to Brownsville and would be greatly missed.
Sources
Associated Press
