RJ Mitte, who played Walter White Jr. on Breaking Bad, was found dead at his home in Brownsville, Texas, on Monday, October 12. He was 34. Cameron County Justice of the Peace Cyndi Hinojosa told the Associated Press she declared Mitte dead at about 1:30 p.m. His representative confirmed to People that he died by suicide. Brownsville police told CNN they received an emergency call around midday and Mitte was already deceased when officers arrived. No foul play is suspected, the investigation is ongoing, and an autopsy will be performed.
Mitte played Walt Jr. — "Flynn" — across all five seasons of the AMC drama, appearing in 56 episodes from 2008 to 2013 as the son of Bryan Cranston's Walter White and Anna Gunn's Skyler White. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age three, he drew on his own experience to play the role: his real condition was milder than his character's, and he learned to walk with crutches and slow his speech for the part.
“You develop a different mentality and you develop a different look at how the world sees you and how you see the world. You're able to use that. And I think it's an asset instead of something that would hinder.”
After the show, Mitte spent years advocating for disability rights. He served as a Screen Actors Guild spokesman for actors with disabilities, as a celebrity ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children's, and as president of The Mitte Foundation. He received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award in 2013. His representatives said in their statement that, drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte "brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion," using that platform "to challenge stereotypes and promote greater representation for people with disabilities."
Co-stars shared tributes through Monday night. Cranston wrote that he is in "deep despair" over the loss of his "sweet son" on the show, said they had been texting just weeks ago about getting lunch, and added: "It is especially devastating to hear that he took his own life." Aaron Paul wrote: "I am at a loss. I am heartbroken over this news. RJ, I love you my friend. You will be missed." Paul closed his tribute with a message to anyone reading it: "please know you are loved, and you are not alone. Always remember that."
Never miss a story.
Join our Telegram channel and get every article link the second it’s published.
Join Telegram Channel