RJ Mitte, Breaking Bad's Walter White Jr., Died at 34

RJ Mitte died by suicide at 34, his representative confirmed on Monday. The actor played Walter White Jr. across all five seasons of Breaking Bad, the Vince Gilligan-created drama that ran from 2008 to 2013.

The Brownsville Police Department received a call at 12:50 p.m. local time and found Mitte dead at his home, People reported. "The cause and manner of death are still pending, as there is currently an ongoing investigation," the department said.

Who was RJ Mitte?

Mitte was best known as Walter White Jr., son of Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and Holly White's mother Skyler, played by Anna Gunn. Like his character, Mitte had cerebral palsy (a condition affecting movement and muscle tone). That shared experience shaped both his performance and his public life.

"It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte," his representative said in a statement on Monday. "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 is precise about what mattered to him. The acting credits came and went; the advocacy stayed.

What did his career look like beyond Breaking Bad?

Mitte worked steadily after the series ended, mostly in independent film and guest television roles. His credits included:

• Switched at Birth, Robot Chicken, On Hiatus with Monty Geer, This Close, Now Apocalypse and The Guardians of Justice (Will Save You!)
• Films Dixieland, Who's Driving Doug, The Recall, Mower Boy, Time Share and The Oak Room
• Earlier work: the shorts Stump and Weird Science 2: Strange Chemistry, and the feature House of Last Things

At the time of his death he had several projects in pre-production and production, and he was actively promoting his new film, Talking to Strangers.

A career of that shape — one landmark role, then a long run of character work — is common for actors who break through young. Mitte's version had an unusual distinction: his most famous role and his own life overlapped in a way few casting decisions ever allow.

The pending police investigation means the official record is not closed. What is already fixed is the loss: an actor who turned a diagnosis into a platform, dead at 34 with films still unreleased.

If you or anyone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.