Grace Diviny, Staff Writer
On Monday, October 12th, actor RJ Mitte, best known as Walter White Jr. on Breaking Bad, passed away from suicide at the age of 34 in his home in Brownsville, Texas, according to his representatives.
Mitte played the son of infamous drug dealer Walter White on the hit AMC TV series, in which was his breakout role. He also appeared in other major roles, such as Campbell Bingham in Switched at Birth and Mike in the movie Triumph. Mitte was a disability rights advocate, with him being diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of three.
Sean Riley, his representative, lamented on how crucial Mitte’s portrayal as Walt Jr. Was. “Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion,” Riley said in a statement, highlighting how Mitte was an important representation for those with disabilities in the entertainment industry.
Throughout Mitte’s career, he managed to raise awareness about multiple conditions whilst also pushing for more expansion in disability representation in the industry. His work allowed him to earn a SAG-AFTRA award in 2014 titled the Howard Russell award, which was named after the first disabled actor to win an Oscar.
Mitte also was an ambassador for multiple organizations that focused on people with disabilities, such as United Cerebral Palsy and Shriner’s Children Hospital, the latter of which he spent his childhood being treated for his cerebral palsy. Mitte had also partnered with Can Do Canines last year, where he advocated for providing service dogs to help assist people with disabilities. He also served as president to the Mitte Foundation, a philanthropic cause founded by his grandparents that sought to fund academic scholarships and community grants.
In the wake of his passing, several of Mitte’s Breaking Bad co-stars have paid tribute to him, such as his on-screen dad played by Bryan Cranston in an emotional Instagram post. “Born with Cerebral Palsy, he never – ever – allowed that challenge to be an excuse for anything. He met the demanding shooting schedule head on with great determination.” Cranston wrote regarding Mitte’s determination and hard work despite his condition, before stating his admiration for his on-screen son’s contributions throughout his life. “He parlayed his experience on the show to be a vocal advocate for performers with disabilities, and was the head of a philanthropic organization with a focus on helping the disabled community. All that promise and potential now is such a loss.”
Aaron Paul, who played White’s former student and drug dealing partner Jesse Pinkman, also took online to express his grief following his passing. “RJ, I love you my friend. You will be missed. And to whoever happens to be reading this, please know you are loved, and you are not alone. Always remember that,” Paul stated on Instagram.
A celebration of life in honor of Mitte was hosted in Brownsville on October 16th. Mitte was an exceptional and talented actor who many Breaking Bad fans adored, and he will be missed.
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