The actor RJ Mitte, best known for playing Walter White Jr in Breaking Bad, has died aged 34 in Brownsville, Texas.
Mitte lived with cerebral palsy, and his own experience of the condition informed his performance as the son of Bryan Cranston’s chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin, Walter White.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte,” his 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.
Mitte was 15 when he began playing Walter White Jr, appearing in 56 episodes of the AMC series, which is often cited as one of the best television series of all time.
Speaking to the Guardian in 2015 about being a disabled actor who played disabled characters, he said: “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.”
After news of his death broke, his co-stars paid tribute, among them Cranston, who wrote a lengthy post on Instagram. He described Mitte 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 the pair had been texting a few weeks earlier 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.”
Cranston said that during production Mitte “never – ever – allowed [his disability] to be an excuse for anything”, adding: “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.”
Beyond Breaking Bad, Mitte had roles on 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”.
Earlier this month he appeared on the Joe Vulpis Podcast, speaking in depth about his time on Breaking Bad. He noted that 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.
Off screen, Mitte was an outspoken advocate for disability representation in entertainment and held several philanthropic roles, including ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and 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.”
In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org.
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