RJ Mitte, Walter White Jr. Actor on Breaking Bad, Dies at 34

RJ Mitte, who played Walter White Jr. on AMC's "Breaking Bad," died Monday at age 34, according to NBC News.

Brownsville Justice of the Peace Cyndi Hinojosa said the actor died in Brownsville, Texas, where he had moved, and that she declared him dead at 1:32 p.m. Monday. Hinojosa told NBC News she could not disclose a cause of death.

His representatives confirmed the death in a statement, calling it "the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte." They did not provide additional details on the cause of death and asked for privacy for his family and loved ones.

What Role Made Him Famous?

The performer broke out as Walter White Jr., the teenage son of a high school chemistry teacher who turns to producing methamphetamine, in "Breaking Bad." The series premiered in January 2008, when he was 15, and ran on AMC.

How Did Cerebral Palsy Shape His Career?

He had cerebral palsy, a condition reflected in his "Breaking Bad" character, and he became a public advocate for disability rights. "Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion," his representatives said in their statement, according to NBC News.

He served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children's, the statement said. He also served as president of The Mitte Foundation, which supports philanthropic and community initiatives, and he used his public profile to challenge stereotypes about people with disabilities, his representatives said.

What Other Projects Did He Appear In?

Beyond the AMC series, his credits included the 2017 science-fiction film "The Recall" and the 2020 horror film "The Oak Room." In the 2021 film "Triumph," he portrayed a high schooler with cerebral palsy who pursues competitive wrestling. That role earned a Ruderman Family Foundation Seal of Authentic Representation, an honor recognizing accurate on-screen portrayals of people with disabilities, per NBC News.

Has a Cause of Death Been Released?

No. Both his representatives and Hinojosa, the justice of the peace who pronounced him dead, declined to disclose a cause, according to NBC News. No further medical or investigative details had been made public as of the network's report Monday evening.

What Has the Reaction Been?

NBC News reported the statement from representatives describing a public figure whose work extended past acting into advocacy, noting his role in building "greater representation for people with disabilities" through his foundation and ambassador work. No additional statements from co-stars, AMC or disability organizations were included in the available reporting.