- RJ Mitte, who played Walter White Jr. in Breaking Bad, died on 12 October 2026 in Brownsville, Texas, at the age of 34
- Before his death, the actor had become engaged to longtime girlfriend Kennedy Suarez, proposing on her 30th birthday at a charity event
- A resurfaced podcast interview revealed Mitte claimed a business manager mishandled his finances, leaving him with a decade-long tax debt
Source: Getty Images
The death of RJ Mitte at 34 has cast fresh attention on the financial struggles he quietly endured behind the scenes, even as his role in one of television's most celebrated dramas made him a household name. It has also emerged that, just days before his passing, he had been looking forward to a life with his fiancée.
Mitte, best known for portraying Walter White Jr. in the hit AMC series Breaking Bad, died on 12 October 2026 at his home in Brownsville, Texas. His representative confirmed the cause of death, and local authorities said the investigation remained ongoing at the time.
RJ Mitte's financial struggles after ‘Breaking Bad’
Following news of his passing, a resurfaced interview on The Iced Coffee Hour podcast drew widespread attention. In it, Mitte described how a business manager allegedly misappropriated money earmarked for his taxes, sending him fake tax filings while redirecting the funds.
"I write a check to go pay my taxes, and instead of her using it to pay my taxes, she would send me a fake tax filing and take that money. I've paid more in taxes than I got from Breaking Bad."
The unpaid amounts accumulated interest, and Mitte claimed it took him a full decade to clear the debt. He also alleged that 14 other performers, including older actors and people with disabilities, were caught up in the same scheme, with funds reportedly traced to overseas accounts.
Source: Getty Images
RJ Mitte was engaged and planning his future
What makes Mitte's death all the more heartbreaking is that he had recently taken a significant step in his personal life. On 10 October 2025, during celebrations for his girlfriend Kennedy Suarez's 30th birthday, he proposed to her at the 56th annual Día del Sol charity benefit in Carlsbad, California. The event supported United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego, an organisation for which Mitte had served as an ambassador.
Suarez, a human resources professional who regularly accompanied Mitte to professional engagements, shared her joy on Instagram, writing:
"My 30th felt like a fairytale… I have the man of my dreams by my side & we are doing what we love most, helping others."
Mitte, who had known Suarez for more than a decade before their friendship turned romantic, spoke openly about his feelings after the proposal.
"I'm thrilled to have found my person, my partner in life who makes me want to be better, no matter what we're doing. Kennedy is my everything, and I can't wait to officially start our life together."
Beyond his acting career, Mitte was widely recognised as a passionate advocate for disability rights and greater inclusion in the entertainment industry.
Bryan Cranston paid tribute to his late on-screen son
Bryan Cranston shared a heartfelt tribute to RJ Mitte, his on-screen son from Breaking Bad, following the actor's tragic death.
Cranston revealed the two had been texting just weeks before Mitte's passing, discussing plans for a lunch that never happened.
Source: Briefly News
Authors:
Hot: