RJ Mitte, the actor best known for portraying Walter White Jr. on the acclaimed television series “Breaking Bad,” has passed away at the age of 34. A representative for the actor confirmed the news to Variety, though no immediate cause of death has been disclosed.
Mitte rose to fame in Vince Gilligan’s drama, playing the son of Bryan Cranston and Anna Gunn’s characters. Like his on-screen counterpart, Mitte had cerebral palsy, a condition that informed his authentic portrayal of the role. His performance helped bring greater visibility to the condition and cemented his status as a vocal advocate for disability representation in Hollywood.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte,” his representative stated. “Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion.”
Beyond acting, Mitte served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s. He also led the Mitte Foundation, a charitable organization he founded to support philanthropic causes and challenge stereotypes surrounding individuals with disabilities.
At the time of his death, Mitte was actively promoting his upcoming film, “Talking to Strangers,” making podcast appearances just days prior. His other television and film credits include roles in the Netflix superhero series “The Guardians of Justice,” as well as appearances in “The Recall” (2017) and “The Oak Room” (2020). Several projects were still in pre-production or production stages.
Mitte is survived by his long-term partner, Kennedy Suarez, to whom he was engaged. The couple had been dating since 2018.
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