“Breaking Bad” star RJ Mitte died by suicide, his representative confirmed to Page Six after the 34-year-old actor’s death was announced Monday.
Mitte, who played Walter White Jr. on the hit television series, died in Brownsville, Texas. Both he and the character he played lived with cerebral palsy, and Mitte had used his platform to advocate for other actors with disabilities.
In a statement announcing Mitte’s death, his representative highlighted his acting and advocacy:
RJ Mitte was best known for his role as Walter ‘Flynn’ White Jr. on AMC’s critically acclaimed, award-winning series ‘Breaking Bad.’ Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion.
Several of Mitte’s co-stars paid tribute to him, sharing memories of their time on set.
“I’m in deep despair as I write this tonight. RJ Mitte, my sweet son on ‘Breaking Bad’ has died. I met him when he was only 14 years old when he was cast as Walter White Jr., a part he played with such joy and enthusiasm,” actor Bryan Cranston wrote in a tribute to his on-screen son.
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“Born with Cerebral Palsy, he never – ever – allowed that challenge to be an excuse for anything. He met the demanding shooting schedule head on with great determination,” Cranston continued.
“Always listening to the advice that his TV parents (Anna Gunn and myself) gave him – but being a teenager, sometimes mischievously ignoring the counsel in order to learn the hard way… He was one of the stars of a hit TV show – but still a kid. That kid was pretty raw when we started shooting the pilot in February of 2007, but little by little we watched him grow into a really fine actor.”
Cranston also praised Mitte’s efforts to use his fame to make positive changes for other actors with disabilities.
“We were texting each other just a few weeks ago – figuring out when we could meet for lunch. I don’t know if that lunch would have changed his future,” Cranston worried. “I do know that I loved him, and thoroughly enjoyed being with him throughout the years on the series.”
“Though RJ didn’t play my TV son, I always looked out for him as a young kid on set. He was a sweetheart of a young man and will be greatly missed,” Dean Norris, who portrayed Mitte’s uncle Hank Schrader, wrote in a statement on X. “This is so heartbreaking, I can’t believe it. Thinking of him and his family.”
If you or anyone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
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