RJ Mitte, 'Breaking Bad' Actor, Dies at 34
Co-star Luis Moncada shares poignant final moments from a hot air balloon ride just days before Mitte's death.
RJ Mitte, known for his role as Walter White Jr. in the acclaimed series "Breaking Bad," has died at the age of 34. His representatives confirmed the actor's passing on Monday, with reports from TMZ indicating the cause was suicide. Mitte's death occurred just eight days after he was seen on a hot air balloon ride with his "Breaking Bad" co-star Luis Moncada.
In what appears to be his final public appearance, Mitte attended the Albuquerque Balloon Festival in New Mexico with Moncada, who played cartel hitman Marco Salamanca in the show. Footage shared by Moncada shows him comforting Mitte, saying, "Let's hold hands bro. Put your head on my shoulder. You're going to be ok." The hot air balloon company that hosted Mitte's ride also shared their grief, remembering him for his "kindness, laughter, and joy."
Just days prior to the balloon festival, Mitte attended the Los Angeles premiere of his new film, "Talking to Strangers." He had also promoted the indie film on Facebook, encouraging fans to watch it. In "Talking to Strangers," Mitte starred opposite Lin Yin, portraying a character dealing with cerebral palsy.
Mitte gained recognition for his role in "Breaking Bad," appearing in 56 episodes of the Emmy-winning series between 2008 and 2013. His representatives noted that he drew from his own experience living with cerebral palsy to bring authenticity to the role and used his platform to advocate for disability awareness and inclusion.
"Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion," his reps said in a statement. Mitte had previously spoken about how his disability had shaped his career, telling The Wrap in 2016, "I wouldn't be in the position I am in today without my disability." He had also been involved in raising awareness for disability representation in media, aiming to change global attitudes.
Law enforcement told TMZ that a death investigation is ongoing. No further details regarding his passing have been released.