Actor and disability rights advocate RJ Mitte, best known for playing Walter White Jr. in the hit television series Breaking Bad, has died at the age of 34.
Cameron County Justice of the Peace Cyndi Hinojosa told The Associated Press that she declared Mitte dead at around 1.30pm on Monday at what she believed was his home in Brownsville, Texas. She said the cause of death had not been determined and an autopsy would be conducted.
Mitte portrayed Walter White Jr., the son of Bryan Cranston’s chemistry teacher-turned-meth dealer Walter White, in nearly every episode across the show’s five seasons. Breaking Bad, which aired from 2008 to 2013, was recently ranked the best television series of the 21st century in a New York Times poll.
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of three, Mitte said in a 2014 interview with the AP that his personal experiences with the disability helped him bring greater authenticity to his role. The challenges he faced, including physical therapy, family difficulties and high medical bills, were also reflected in the show’s storylines.
“You develop a different mentality and you develop a different look at how the world sees you and how you see the world,” he said. “You’re able to use that. And I think it’s an asset instead of something that would hinder.”
Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Mitte moved to Los Angeles in 2006 to pursue acting, initially landing small guest roles in sitcoms. He began working on Breaking Bad in 2007, when he was in his mid-teens.
His representatives said Mitte brought authenticity to his role while using his public profile to champion disability awareness and inclusion.
“Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion,” they said in a statement announcing his death, adding that he used “his platform to challenge stereotypes and promote greater representation”.
Beyond Breaking Bad, Mitte appeared in the ABC Family series Switched at Birth and the superhero satire Guardians of Justice. He also produced several independent films.
Outside acting, Mitte served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s. He also led his own Mitte Foundation, which supported philanthropic and community initiatives related to disabilities.
