RJ Mitte, the actor who played Walter White Jr in the acclaimed television series Breaking Bad, has died aged 34, his representative has confirmed.
Mitte died in Brownsville, Texas, on Monday, according to reports. TMZ, citing a county official, reported that his death was being investigated as suicide, although no official cause has been released and law enforcement inquiries remain under way.
His representatives told the entertainment website that they were sharing the news with “profound sadness”, describing Mitte as an actor, philanthropist and disability rights advocate.
Mitte became widely known for playing the son of Bryan Cranston’s character, Walter White, in Breaking Bad. The AMC drama, which ran from 2008 to 2013, followed a chemistry teacher who turns to producing drugs after being diagnosed with cancer.
Like his character, Mitte lived with cerebral palsy. He was diagnosed with a mild form of the condition as a toddler and used his public profile to campaign for greater disability representation and inclusion.
He served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s, and was president of the Mitte Foundation. In 2014, he received the SAG-AFTRA Howard Russell Award, recognising his work as an actor with a disability.
Alongside Breaking Bad, his screen credits included The Recall, The Oak Room and The Guardians of Justice (Will Save You!). He was also a member of the Breaking Bad cast that won a Screen Actors Guild Award for best drama ensemble in 2014.
