RJ Mitte, 'Breaking Bad' star and disability advocate, dies at 34

RJ Mitte, who played Walter White Jr. across all five seasons of Breaking Bad and became a prominent voice for disability representation in Hollywood, died Monday in Brownsville, Texas, his representatives confirmed. He was 34.

TMZ reported that the actor died by suicide, citing a county official. The Brownsville Police Department told the BBC that the cause and manner of death have not been determined and that an investigation is ongoing, adding that no foul play was suspected.

Cameron County Justice of the Peace Cyndi Hinojosa told the Associated Press that Mitte was declared dead on Oct. 12 at what was believed to be his home and that an autopsy would be performed.

"It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte," his representatives said in a statement.

Born Roy Frank Mitte III on Aug. 21, 1992, in Jackson, Mississippi, Mitte was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age 3. His condition mirrored that of his Breaking Bad character, a detail the show's creator, Vince Gilligan, built into the role from the start.

Mitte's performance on the AMC drama, which ran from 2008 to 2013, drew on his own experiences. He said he had to "regress" from his physical therapy to accurately portray Walt Jr., staying up late to blur his speech and relearning how to use crutches so it would not look like he was faking.

The role made him one of the most visible disabled actors on television and launched a second career as an advocate. He served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children's and founded The Mitte Foundation to support philanthropic efforts and community initiatives.

His representatives said he used his platform "to challenge stereotypes and promote greater representation for people with disabilities." In 2013, he received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award at the Media Access Awards for his portrayal of Walt Jr.

Mitte's other credits included Switched at Birth, The Guardians of Justice, and the 2026 film Talking to Strangers. Just weeks before his death, he attended a Sept. 30 screening of that film in Beverly Hills.

His Breaking Bad co-stars mourned him publicly. Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman, said he was "heartbroken" and added, "RJ, I love you my friend. You will be missed." Dean Norris, who played Hank Schrader, wrote that he "always looked out for him as a young kid on set" and that Mitte was "a sweetheart of a young man."

Mitte is survived by his sister, mother, and grandmother, Anita. He became engaged to Kennedy Suarez in October 2025.