RJ Mitte, the actor who played Walter White Jr. on the hit series “Breaking Bad,” has died at the age of 34, his representative confirmed on Monday.
- RJ Mitte, best known as Walter “Flynn” White Jr. on “Breaking Bad,” died Monday at 34 in Brownsville, Texas.
- His representative Sean Reilly confirmed the death; authorities have not announced a cause and the investigation is ongoing.
- Living with cerebral palsy himself, Mitte became one of Hollywood’s most prominent disability rights advocates.
- Former co-stars Aaron Paul and Dean Norris paid tribute, calling him “a sweetheart of a young man.”
Mitte was pronounced dead at 1:32 p.m. local time on Monday at his home in Brownsville, Texas, according to Cameron County Justice of the Peace Judge Cyndi Hinojosa, who confirmed the death to USA Today. His representative, Sean Reilly, said in a statement: “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte.”
CNN reported that the Brownsville Police Department received an emergency call around midday Monday and that officers found Mitte already deceased when they arrived. No foul play is suspected, police said. Authorities have not announced a cause of death, and the county said the death investigation is ongoing.
TMZ, which first broke the news, reported that Mitte died by suicide \— a claim officials have not confirmed. The Times also carried reports of a suicide while noting the county has not given a cause. Mitte’s family has asked for privacy.
Mitte was best known for playing Walter “Flynn” White Jr., the son of Bryan Cranston’s Walter White, across all five seasons of “Breaking Bad” from 2008 to 2013. Living with cerebral palsy himself \— he was diagnosed at the age of 3 \— Mitte drew on his own experience for the role, which grew more central as the series progressed.
His advocacy work defined much of his public life. Mitte served as a Screen Actors Guild spokesman for performers with disabilities, a celebrity ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s, and president of The Mitte Foundation, which he founded. He received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award in 2013.
After “Breaking Bad,” Mitte appeared in the ABC Family series “Switched at Birth” and executive produced and starred in the 2021 coming-of-age drama “Triumph,” playing a high school wrestler with cerebral palsy.
Tributes poured in from his former co-stars. Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman, said he was “at a loss” over the news and wrote: “RJ, I love you my friend. You will be missed.” Dean Norris, who played his on-screen uncle Hank, said he was “heartbroken.”
Mitte’s death comes one day after Big Brother star Amber Siyavus died at 46, another loss that has shaken the entertainment world this week.
Sources: Reuters, CNN, USA Today, The Times.
