RJ Mitte, 'Breaking Bad' Star, Dies at 34
In his final interview, the actor reflected on living life to the fullest and the importance of his advocacy work.
RJ Mitte, known for his role as Walter "Flynn" White Jr. on the acclaimed AMC series "Breaking Bad," has died at the age of 34. His representative confirmed his passing on Monday, with reports from TMZ indicating the cause was suicide.
Mitte, who lived with cerebral palsy, had become a prominent advocate for disability rights. In a podcast interview on Oct. 5, he spoke about how he channeled his life experiences into his acting roles, particularly on "Breaking Bad."
"I live life to the fullest," Mitte stated in the interview on "The Joe Vulpis" podcast. "I always try. I have a very finite amount of time." He explained that he drew from his extensive life experiences, both positive and negative, to inform his performances. "I’ve seen a lot. I’ve seen a lot of s—t in this world," he said. "I’ve seen the most beautiful things and I’ve seen some of the most heinous things in working with communities all around the world. And I find drawing from experience is something that’s really important as an actor."
Mitte considered the platform "Breaking Bad" provided him to advance his advocacy for disability rights as the most fulfilling aspect of the show's success. He dedicated himself to challenging stereotypes and promoting greater representation for individuals with disabilities through his work with various foundations.
"That’s really the greatest thing that ‘Breaking Bad’ has given me, is to be able to lend my voice to causes that make a meaningful impact that changes people’s lives," he shared. He identified "giving back" as his greatest achievement and expressed that his foundation work brought him the most happiness.
Mitte's final public appearance was on Oct. 2, when he spoke with the podcast Stauros Entertainment about his role in the movie "Talking to Strangers." In the film, he portrayed a character with cerebral palsy.
His representative issued a statement mourning his loss, noting that Mitte "served as a proud ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s," in addition to entertaining audiences worldwide. Mitte's earlier filmography included appearances in "Switched at Birth," "Last Man Standing," and "The Unreality of Memory."