adminBROWNSVILLE, TEXAS: RJ Mitte, the actor best known for his role in the Emmy Award-winning television series Breaking Bad, has died at the age of 34.
According to a spokeswoman for Justice of the Peace Cyndi Hinojosa’s Office in Brownsville, Texas, Mitte died on Monday, and the cause of his death is still under investigation.
The Brownsville Police Department said it received a 911 call around noon local time on Monday. When officers arrived at the scene, Mitte was pronounced dead.
So far, authorities do not suspect any criminal elements.
In a statement shared by his family representative, Mitte’s family confirmed the actor’s passing while remembering his contributions to charitable work as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s through The Mitte Foundation.
His family also expressed appreciation for his efforts to use his platform to challenge stereotypes and advocate for broader representation for people with disabilities (PWDs).
Mitte, who lives with cerebral palsy, played Walter White Jr., the son of Bryan Cranston’s Walter White, throughout the five seasons of Breaking Bad which aired on AMC from 2008 to 2013.
The series won various awards and recognition throughout its broadcast, including the best ensemble cast award, which was then known as the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award.
Started acting at a young age
Born in Lafayette, Louisiana in 1992, Mitte moved to Hollywood with his family at the age of 14 to support his younger brother’s career after being discovered by a talent agent as a child in Houston, Texas.
He began his career by appearing as an extra in several television series including Everybody Hates Chris and 7th Heaven.
According to IMDb records, one of her early appearances was as an uncredited student athlete in the popular series Hannah Montana in 2007.
In a podcast interview earlier this month, Mitte revealed his first audition was for an anti-methamphetamine community service ad in California.
He admitted the situation was somewhat ironic considering his big break came through Breaking Bad, a series about a high school teacher involved in the production and sale of methamphetamine.
Recalling his involvement in the series as a teenager, Mitte said that at the time they did not realise the huge impact the show would have.
According to him, acting was not his original life plan, but that is where he found his true interest and passion.
Last week, Mitte also shared excerpts from the podcast interview on Instagram, including his view that his character’s story in the White family still has many unanswered questions.
“I think there are still a lot of questions that have never been answered and probably never will be answered. I think there are still a lot of stories that can be explored about the White family,” he said.
Mitte has also expressed his desire to achieve success beyond his achievements in Breaking Bad.
Fighting for the rights of the disabled
In 2021, Mitte starred in the film Triumph, which is based on the true story of a high school student who has cerebral palsy and aspires to join his school’s wrestling team.
While promoting the film, Mitte said the experience was close to his own life.
“When someone has a disability, there is often an assumption that they are weaker, slower or too fragile.
“When I was growing up with cerebral palsy, many people said I would never be able to walk properly, would never speak properly and would never have a normal life or career,” he said.
However, his family always believed he could achieve anything he dreamed of.
Mitte previously told Able Magazine that many of the acting opportunities he was offered were closely related to the physical condition he faced.
According to him, people with disabilities want to see themselves accurately represented on television and film, while ensuring that the work produced continues to entertain audiences.
Besides Breaking Bad, he also had a recurring role in the series Switched at Birth and recently starred in the film Westhampton alongside actor Finn Wittrock.
– Agency
