RJ Mitte, the actor who played the son of drug lord Walter White in “Breaking Bad,” has died at 34.
Mitte, who, like his character Walter “Flynn” White Jr., had cerebral palsy, died Monday in Brownsville, Texas.
The actor played an integral supporting role on the AMC series, which premiered in 2008 and lasted five seasons. The character was considered by many fans to be the heart and conscience of the series. As his father became more trapped by his criminal enterprises, Flynn remained decent and upstanding. When he learned of White’s drug dealing, he was openly devastated.
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“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte,” Mitte’s representatives said in a statement. “Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion.”
The statement added that Mitte was an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s, and he served as president of the Mitte Foundation, which supported philanthropic efforts and community initiatives. A cause of death was not given, but People reported that Mitte died by suicide.
While his character in “Breaking Bad” was his best known role, the actor recently had been publicizing his new film, “Talking to Strangers,” in which he played a “rigid loner with cerebral palsy and a vibrant force of nature who forms an unlikely friendship with an attractive woman over lunch,” according to the film’s press notes. The drama takes a turn when she tells him that she plans to kill herself.
During appearances at “Breaking Bad” related-events, Mitte warmly greeted associates and fans, and spoke of his excitement about being on one of TV’s most popular series.
Speaking to students at Southern Illinois University in 2015, Mitte said he would not have had a career if not for “Breaking Bad.” He added that he would not have been cast if he did not have cerebral palsy.
He also credited the drama for promoting inclusivity for artists with disabilities: “I think the acting industry has evolved, and ‘Breaking Bad’ was a big spearhead for that.”
In a 2008 interview with The Times, Mitte and his family detailed how his acting career developed in a roundabout way. A talent agent spotted his sister at a water park in Houston, where the family lived. That encounter led to a meeting in Los Angeles, where Mitte was signed up too, prompting the family to move to Hollywood. The youth, who already had a daily schedule of exercise and speech therapy to lessen the effect of cerebral palsy, started taking acting classes.
Being a positive force and influence was a priority for Mitte.
“Hollywood has portrayed disabilities as a weakness — as something you have to overcome or that you are a victim,” he said in 2015. “To me, it’s the complete opposite. To me, a disability is a personal challenge to grow and evolve. I have much bigger plans for my life. I want to keep working, pushing forward and keep creating something that I am very passionate about. The biggest goal in life is to keep your passion, and if you don’t, you lose out.”
Other credits include the ABC Family drama series “Switched at Birth” and the Netflix superhero series “The Guardians of Justice.”
If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
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