RJ Mitte, the actor best known for playing Walter White Jr. in the acclaimed television series Breaking Bad, has died at the age of 34, his representatives confirmed to AFP on Monday.
The cause of death of the actor, who lived with cerebral palsy, was not immediately disclosed.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte,” said a statement issued by his representative, Sean Reilly.
Mitte rose to prominence in 2008 when he began playing Walter White Jr., the son of chemistry teacher-turned-drug kingpin Walter White, portrayed by Bryan Cranston, in the award-winning series.
Drawing on his personal experience with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and used his platform to promote disability awareness, inclusion and representation.
“Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion,” Reilly said.
Beyond acting, Mitte was actively involved in disability advocacy and philanthropy. He served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s, a non-profit hospital network.
He also served as president of The Mitte Foundation, supporting philanthropic and community initiatives while challenging stereotypes and advocating greater representation for people with disabilities.
Breaking Bad, which ran for five seasons between 2008 and 2013, is widely regarded as one of television’s most influential dramas. The series was recently named the best television show of the 21st century by The New York Times.
Co-stars pay tribute
Mitte’s co-stars have expressed grief over his death, remembering him as a determined young actor and a cherished friend.
Cranston, who played his on-screen father, recalled that Mitte was just 14 when production on the series began and praised his determination to meet the demands of the shooting schedule.
“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 wrote in an Instagram post.
Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman, Walter White’s partner in the drug trade, said he was “at a loss” following the news.
“RJ, I love you, my friend. You will be missed,” Paul said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
He also urged people reading his tribute to remember that they were loved and not alone.
Dean Norris, who portrayed Hank Schrader, Mitte’s on-screen uncle and a Drug Enforcement Administration agent, said he was heartbroken by the news.
“Though RJ didn’t play my TV son, I always looked out for him as a young kid on set,” Norris wrote on social media.
“He was a sweetheart of a young man and will be greatly missed. This is so heartbreaking, I can’t believe it. Thinking of him and his family.”
Actress and disability rights advocate Marlee Matlin also paid tribute to Mitte, describing her grief as overwhelming.
Matlin appeared alongside him in Cinemability: The Art of Inclusion, a documentary examining the portrayal of people with disabilities in American film and television.
“There will never be another like RJ Mitte. You will always have a place in my heart. RIP,” she wrote.
Matlin made history in 1987 when she became the first deaf performer to win an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Children of a Lesser God.
Mitte’s work on screen and his advocacy for disability inclusion helped broaden representation in the entertainment industry, leaving a lasting impact on colleagues, audiences and disability rights campaigners.
AFP
