RJ Mitte, ‘Breaking Bad’ Actor, Dies at 34

RJ Mitte, an actor best known for his role as Walter White Jr. in the acclaimed television series “Breaking Bad,” has died at the age of 34. A representative confirmed his death on Monday, stating that Mitte died in his home in Brownsville, Texas, though the cause of death was not disclosed.

Mitte was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age 3, and he drew from his personal experience to bring authenticity to his character on “Breaking Bad.” Beyond his acting career, he became a prominent philanthropist and advocate for disability awareness and inclusion. "At the end of the day, it’s all about continuing to push forward, no matter how hard it may be," Mitte said in a red carpet interview. "We learn more from our failures than successes, but as long as we’re alive, as long as we’re healthy and happy and doing the things we chose to do for ourselves, you can never go wrong with that." Mitte expressed a desire to challenge perceptions of disability, stating in a 2013 interview, “People perceive disability as a weakness, an illness, as something that needs to be cured, and we have to fight against that.” He added, “I think we all have an obligation to have an impact for the positive.”

Mitte, born in Mississippi, moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. He made his television debut in a 2006 episode of “Everybody Hates Chris” and appeared on “Hannah Montana” before landing his breakout role in “Breaking Bad” in 2008. The series, which also starred Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, and Aaron Paul, concluded in 2013 and garnered 16 Emmy Awards over its five-season run.

Following “Breaking Bad,” Mitte continued to act, appearing in films such as “Westhampton” and television series including “Switched at Birth” and Netflix’s “The Guardians of Justice.” His final known public appearance was on September 30 at the premiere of his film “Talking to Strangers,” in which he portrayed a character who also has cerebral palsy.