In brief
RJ Mitte, the actor who portrayed Walter White Jr. in the acclaimed series Breaking Bad, passed away at the age of 34 in Brownsville, Texas, under undisclosed circumstances. The cerebral palsy advocate was celebrated for bringing authenticity to his role and actively fighting for disability inclusion, earning a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2014. Mitte’s foundation and ambassadorship with United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s underscored his commitment to social change. His death marks a significant loss for the entertainment industry and the communities he championed. The industry and fans worldwide mourn his passing and celebrate his legacy of advocacy and representation.
US actor RJ Mitte, best known for his role as the defiant son of drug kingpin Walter White in the Emmy-winning drama series Breaking Bad, has died aged 34.
"It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte," his representative told the BBC. He died in Brownsville, Texas. No immediate cause of death was provided.
Mitte, who lived with cerebral palsy, drew on his own experience for his role as Walter White Jr in the series, earning a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2014. “Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion,” his representative Sean Reilly said in a statement to the BBC.
Mitte also served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s. He created The Mitte Foundation to support philanthropic efforts and community initiatives, using his platform to challenge stereotypes and promote greater representation for people with disabilities.
Breaking Bad aired on US cable broadcaster AMC for five seasons from 2008 to 2013. The anti-hero drama created by Vince Gilligan earned 58 Primetime Emmy nominations and won 16, including two for Outstanding Drama Series in 2013 and 2014. It is widely credited as being one of the best US TV series of the 21st century.
Actor Bryan Cranston played a high school chemistry teacher in New Mexico who turns to a life of crime to support his family after a cancer diagnosis. As he descends deeper into the underbelly of the meth trade, he drifts further from his son Walt Jr., who made his displeasure known with levity through much of the series.
Mitte grew up in Louisiana and moved to Los Angeles in 2005 to support his younger sister’s acting career. He auditioned for a California state public service announcement for an anti‑meth commercial before landing the breakthrough role in Breaking Bad, calling the show “still, in my opinion, an anti‑meth thing because it doesn’t end well for anyone.”
Other on‑screen credits include Hannah Montana, Switched at Birth, Westhampton and his latest project, Talking to Strangers, which premiered earlier this year.
