The actor RJ Mitte, whose personal experience living with cerebral palsy informed his role as Walter White Jr in the television series Breaking Bad, has died aged 34 in Brownsville, Texas.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte,” Mitte’s representatives said in a statement. “Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion.”
A publicist for the actor confirmed news reports that Mitte took his own life. No further details about the circumstances were given.
The Brownsville police department said no foul play was suspected. The Cameron County justice of the peace, Cyndi Hinojosa, told the Associated Press that an autopsy would be performed.
From the age of 15, Mitte played Walter White Jr, the son of Bryan Cranston’s high school chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin, Walter White, on 56 episodes of the acclaimed AMC show, which is often cited as one of the best television series of all time.
In 2015, he spoke to the Guardian about being a disabled actor who played disabled characters. “You accept the risks and you accept these will be the parts you play. But it’s all about how you play those parts – you have to show the inner strength that people have,” he said.
Mitte’s co-stars paid tribute to him after news of his death broke, including Cranston, who wrote a lengthy tribute on Instagram. Cranston described him as “my sweet son on Breaking Bad”, a “fine actor” and a “vocal advocate for performers with disabilities”.
“It is especially devastating to hear that he took his own life,” Cranston wrote. He said he and Mitte had been texting each other a few weeks ago about possibly meeting for lunch. “I don’t know if that lunch would have changed his future,” Cranston wrote. “But I do know that I loved him, and thoroughly enjoyed being with him throughout the years on the series, and after the spotlight on Breaking Bad dimmed. I’ll miss you, son.“
He said Mitte “never – ever – allowed [his disability] to be an excuse for anything” during the show’s production. “He met the demanding shooting schedule head-on with great determination.”
Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman, said in a statement: “I am at a loss. I am heartbroken over this news. RJ, I love you my friend. You will be missed.”
Dean Norris, who played Walt Jr’s uncle Hank Schrader, wrote on social media: “Though RJ didn’t 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’t believe it. Thinking of him and his family.”
In addition to Breaking Bad, Mitte had roles on other series including Switched at Birth and The Guardians of Justice. Days before his death, he was promoting his new film, Talking to Strangers, billed as a “romantic tragedy”.
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Earlier this month, Mitte appeared 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’s creator, Vince Gilligan. “It really felt real playing this character and getting into the groove with this character,” Mitte said.
Offscreen, Mitte was an outspoken advocate for disability representation in entertainment, and he served in various philanthropic roles, including as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and as president of the Mitte Foundation.
Born in 1992, Mitte was raised in Mississippi by adoptive parents. In a 2016 interview with the Guardian, he said he found out he was adopted when he was eight years old.
“My step-brother told me. He’d overheard my mum and my stepdad at the time talking about it, and he threw it in my face,” he said. “But I didn’t really care. It didn’t seem relevant, because I never once in my life felt unloved or like I was a burden.”