RJ Mitte, who played Walter White Jr. in Breaking Bad, died Monday in Texas. Police are still investigating.
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – RJ Mitte, the actor best known for playing Walter White Jr. in the AMC drama “Breaking Bad,” died Monday at his home in Brownsville, Texas. He was 34. His representatives announced the death in a statement that described him as a beloved actor, philanthropist and disability rights advocate and asked for privacy for his family and loved ones. The Brownsville Police Department said officers responded to a call at 12:50 p.m. local time.
Police said the cause and manner of death were pending and that an investigation was continuing. Variety later reported that Mitte’s representative confirmed he died by suicide. Police had not publicly confirmed that account, and a medical examiner is expected to make the official determination after an autopsy, according to British press reports.
Mitte played the son of Bryan Cranston’s Walter White and Anna Gunn’s Skyler White in all five seasons of “Breaking Bad,” which ran from 2008 to 2013 and won 16 Emmy Awards from 58 nominations. Like his character, he lived with cerebral palsy, and his performance brought wide attention to the condition. He also appeared in “Weeds,” “Everybody Hates Chris” and “Switched at Birth.” Earlier this month he appeared on the Joe Vulpis Podcast, where he discussed the audition for the show.
Mitte used his profile to push for more disability representation in film and television. He served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s and as president of The Mitte Foundation, a family charity that supports education, health and scholarship programs in South Texas. He lived in Brownsville.
Cranston said on Instagram that he was in deep despair and called Mitte his son on the series. Co-star Aaron Paul said he was at a loss, and Dean Norris also paid tribute. Anyone in the United States who is struggling with thoughts of suicide can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help in other countries is listed at findahelpline.com.
This report draws on information from Variety, Deadline, ABC7 Los Angeles, The Hollywood Reporter, TMZ, Fox News and FOX RGV.