Breaking Bad Actor RJ Mitte Dies at 34 in Texas

RJ Mitte, the actor who portrayed Walter White Jr. on the AMC series Breaking Bad, died on Monday 12 October in Brownsville, Texas. He was 34. A spokesperson for the office of Justice of the Peace Cyndi Hinojosa confirmed the death. Brownsville police said they received an emergency call around midday and that Mitte was already deceased when officers arrived. No foul play is suspected. The investigation is ongoing.

Mitte was born Roy Frank Mitte III on 21 August 1992 in Jackson, Mississippi. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age three and used leg braces and crutches as a child. He moved to Hollywood at 14 after his younger sister received an offer in film production. His early work included uncredited appearances on Hannah Montana and Everybody Hates Chris. He joined the Breaking Bad cast in 2008 and appeared across all five seasons as the son of Walter and Skyler White. The character also had cerebral palsy, and Mitte drew on his own experience for the role.

He used the platform to advocate for disability representation in Hollywood and served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s. He also worked through the Mitte Foundation. Co-stars offered tributes. Bryan Cranston described him as a sweet son he had known for two decades. Dean Norris, who played Hank Schrader, said he had looked out for Mitte as a young person on set and called him a sweetheart. The cast won a Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding ensemble in a drama series in 2014.

Mitte’s other credits included the Netflix series The Guardians of Justice and films such as The Recall and The Oak Room. In the days before his death he had been promoting a new project, Talking to Strangers, and appeared on podcasts. He was engaged to Kennedy Suarez, whom he had been dating since 2018. His representatives described him as a beloved actor, philanthropist and passionate disability rights advocate.

Police have not released a cause of death. Some outlets reported that a representative confirmed suicide, but authorities have not made a public determination. The family has asked for privacy. Mitte’s portrayal of Walter White Jr. brought visibility to cerebral palsy on a widely watched series that ran from 2008 to 2013. His advocacy work continued after the show ended and included public speaking and fundraising for disability organisations.

The investigation by Brownsville police and the justice of the peace remains open. No further details on the circumstances have been released. Colleagues and fans have posted remembrances focusing on his work on Breaking Bad and his efforts to increase authentic representation of disabled actors.