It is with great sadness that we report that R.J. Mitte, star of Breaking Bad and staunch disability rights advocate, has died at the age of 34. The actor, who played Walter White's son across all five seasons of Vince Gilligan's critically acclaimed crime drama, passed away today in Brownsville, Texas. No cause of death has been confirmed at this time, but Mitte's representatives have issued a brief statement on the actor's passing, writing, "It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist and passionate disability rights advocate R.J. Mitte."
Roy Frank Mitte III was born on August 21, 1992 in Jackson, Mississippi. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of just three, a young R.J. refused to let his condition define his potential, and upon moving to Los Angeles, California with his family as a young teen, it didn't take long before Mitte caught the acting bug. A grafter from the start, the fledgling actor started his career doing supporting artist work on everything from TV shows like The Hannah Montana Show, Weeds, and Everybody Hates Chris, to extra gigs on Epic Movie and Drillbit Taylor. Somewhat cosmically fittingly, one of Mitte's first auditions upon arrival in LA — as revealed on The Joe Vulpis Podcast just last week — was for an anti-meth PSA. And though he didn't get that particular gig, you could say he got a far bigger anti-meth project before long.
In 2008, after five rounds of auditioning from Los Angeles to New Mexico, R.J. Mitte landed the role of Walter White Jr. — son of Bryan Cranston's chemistry-teacher-turned-drugs-kingpin Walter White — in AMC's Breaking Bad. Across five years, five seasons, and 56 episodes of television, Mitte's Walt Jr. — or Flynn, as he very much preferred — played a crucial role in Vince Gilligan's sprawling drama, not only as one of the series' few true moral anchors and symbols of innocence, but also as the last member of the White family to uncover his father's secret, setting in motion Heisenberg's ultimate downfall. What's more, playing a character who shared his own condition as a cerebral palsy sufferer, Mitte brought invaluable visibility and awareness to CP itself while lifting up and championing those working with disabilities in the industry. To that end, Mitte received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award in 2013 for his portrayal of Walter White Jr., and proudly became SAG's spokesman for actors with disabilities — as well as a representative of Inclusion in the Arts and Media of Performers with Disabilities — in the years that followed.
While R.J. Mitte will almost definitely be best remembered for his role in one of the greatest TV shows of all time, he worked consistently his whole life through, prioritising — by his own admission — performance and the collaborative act of creating art over paycheques. With over 30 credits to his name, including most recently the Dove Cameron co-starring, TIFF debuting dark romantic thriller Cassi, suffice it to say that Mitte created more in his 34 years than many could hope to in a far longer span of time.
“Mitte built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion,” said R.J. Mitte's representatives in further comment on the star's passing. “Beyond entertaining friends and family around the world, he served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s. He also served as president of The Mitte Foundation, supporting philanthropic efforts and community initiatives while using his platform to challenge stereotypes and promote greater representation for people with disabilities.”
R.J. Mitte will be remembered as a talented actor, measured philanthropist, steadfast advocate, and trailblazing ambassador, and we will continue to appreciate his work for years to come. Our thoughts are with his friends, family, and loved ones at this difficult time.