{"id":926195,"date":"2026-10-13T04:06:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T04:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/926195\/"},"modified":"2026-10-13T04:06:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T04:06:12","slug":"rj-mitte-actor-best-known-for-breaking-bad-dies-aged-34-rj-mitte","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/926195\/","title":{"rendered":"RJ Mitte, actor best known for Breaking Bad, dies aged 34 | RJ Mitte"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Breaking Bad<\/a> actor RJ Mitte died on Monday aged 34, his representatives confirmed.<\/p>\n

Mitte died in Brownsville, Texas<\/a>. No cause of death was given.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte<\/a>,\u201d Mitte\u2019s representatives said in a statement. \u201cDrawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Brownsville Police Department said no foul play was suspected and the investigation into his death was ongoing. Cameron County justice of the peace, Cyndi Hinojosa told the Associated Press that an autopsy would be performed.<\/p>\n

From the age of 15, Mitte played Walter White Jr, the son of Bryan Cranston<\/a>\u2019s high school chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin, on 56 episodes of the acclaimed AMC show, which is often<\/a> cited<\/a> as one of the best television programs of all time.<\/p>\n

Mitte had cerebral palsy, a condition he shared with his Breaking Bad<\/a> character.<\/p>\n

In 2015, he spoke to the Guardian<\/a> about being a disabled actor who plays disabled characters.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou accept the risks and you accept these will be the parts you play. But it\u2019s all about how you play those parts \u2013 you have to show the inner strength that people have.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mitte\u2019s costars paid tribute to him after news of his death broke, including Bryan Cranston who wrote a lengthy tribute on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m in deep despair as I write this tonight,\u201d Cranston wrote. \u201cRJ Mitte, my sweet son on Breaking Bad has died. 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. Born with cerebral palsy, he never \u2013 ever \u2013 allowed that challenge to be an excuse for anything. He met the demanding shooting schedule head on with great determination. Always listening to the advice that his TV parents (Anna Gunn and myself) gave him \u2013 but being a teenager, sometimes mischievously ignoring the counsel in order to learn the hard way\u2026 He was one of the stars of a hit TV show \u2013 but still a kid.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat 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. He parlayed his experience on the show to be a vocal advocate for performers with disabilities, and was the head of a philanthropic organization with a focus on helping the disabled community. All that promise and potential now is such a loss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cranston said he \u201cthoroughly enjoyed being with him throughout the years on the series, and after the spotlight on Breaking Bad dimmed\u2026 I\u2019ll miss you, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman, said in a statement: \u201cI am at a loss. I am heartbroken over this news. RJ, I love you my friend. You will be missed.\u201d<\/p>\n

skip past newsletter promotion<\/a>Free newsletter |Around 2-3 times a day<\/p>\n

Sign up to Breaking News US<\/p>\n

Get the most important news as it breaks<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dean Norris, who played Walt Jr\u2019s uncle Hank Schrader, wrote<\/a> on social media: \u201cThough RJ didn\u2019t play my TV son, I always looked out for him as a young kid on set. He was a sweetheart of a young man and will be greatly missed. This is so heartbreaking, I can\u2019t believe it. Thinking of him and his family.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to Breaking Bad, Mitte had roles on several series, including Switched at Birth and The Guardians of Justice. Just days before his death, he was promoting<\/a> his new movie, Talking to Strangers, billed as a \u201cromantic tragedy<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, Mitte appeared<\/a> on the Joe Vulpis Podcast, speaking in depth about his time on Breaking Bad. He noted his character was based on a real-life friend of the show\u2019s creator, Vince Gilligan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really felt real playing this character and getting into the groove with this character,\u201d Mitte said.<\/p>\n

Offscreen, Mitte was an outspoken advocate for disability representation in entertainment, and served in various philanthropic roles, including as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and as president of the Mitte Foundation.<\/p>\n

Born in 1992, Mitte was raised in Mississippi by adoptive parents. In a 2016 interview<\/a> with the Guardian, he said he found out he was adopted when he was eight years old.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy step-brother told me. He\u2019d overheard my mum and my stepdad at the time talking about it, and he threw it in my face. But I didn\u2019t really care. It didn\u2019t seem relevant, because I never once in my life felt unloved or like I was a burden.\u201d<\/p>\n