RJ Mitte, Breaking Bad Actor and Disability Advocate, Dies at 34 in Texas

RJ Mitte died on Monday in Brownsville, Texas. He was 34. Cameron County Justice of the Peace Cyndi Hinojosa declared him dead at about 1:32 p.m. local time at what she believed was his home. The Brownsville Police Department said officers responded to a call around midday. Mitte was already deceased when they arrived. No foul play is suspected. An autopsy will determine the cause and manner of death.

Mitte played Walter White Jr., the son of Bryan Cranston’s character, on all five seasons of the AMC series Breaking Bad. The show aired from 2008 to 2013. He appeared in 56 episodes. Like the character, Mitte lived with cerebral palsy. He was diagnosed at age three. He used the role to push for better representation of people with disabilities on screen.

His representative Sean Reilly said in a statement that Mitte brought authenticity to the part and built a platform for disability awareness. Mitte served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s. He founded the Mitte Foundation to support community work on disability issues. Co-stars paid tribute after the news. Aaron Paul wrote that he was heartbroken. Dean Norris said he always looked out for Mitte on set.

Mitte was born Roy Frank Mitte III on 21 August 1992 in Jackson, Mississippi. He was adopted. He moved to Los Angeles in 2006. His first credited role came on Breaking Bad. He also appeared on Switched at Birth and in other projects. Days before his death he was promoting a new film, Talking to Strangers. He was engaged to Kennedy Suarez, whom he had dated since 2018.

The investigation remains open. Police have not released further details. Mitte’s family has asked for privacy. His work on Breaking Bad remains the most visible part of a career spent arguing that disability does not limit what an actor can do.