Breaking Bad star RJ Mitte has died aged 34, and now his cause of death has been confirmed.
The actor, best known for playing Walter ‘Flynn’ White Jr in the hit crime drama, died in Brownsville, Texas, on Monday, October 12.
His representative shared the heartbreaking news in a statement, describing Mitte as a ‘beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate,’ per the BBC.
The statement continued: “Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion.”
It added that, beyond entertaining audiences around the world, he had served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s.
Mitte’s death has prompted emotional tributes from his Breaking Bad co-stars, including Bryan Cranston, who played his on-screen father, Walter White, throughout the show’s five-season run.
Cranston revealed that he was struggling to process the news, explaining that the pair had exchanged text messages in recent weeks and had been trying to arrange a catch-up.
“I’m in deep despair as I write this tonight,” the actor wrote in an emotional social media post, per Sky News.
“RJ Mitte, my sweet son on Breaking Bad has died.”
Bryan Cranston pays tribute to his on-screen son
Cranston went on to reflect on meeting Mitte when he was just a teenager, after he was cast as Walter White Jr in the acclaimed series.
“I met him when he was only 14 years old when he was cast as Walter White Jr., a part he played with such joy and enthusiasm,” he said.
Recalling the young actor’s development during filming, Cranston added: “That kid was pretty raw when we started shooting the pilot in February of 2007, but little by little we watched him grow into a really fine actor.”
He also praised Mitte for the way he approached his work and advocated for greater representation of disabled performers.
“Born with Cerebral Palsy, he never – ever – allowed that challenge to be an excuse for anything,” Cranston wrote.
The actor expressed his sadness at the loss of Mitte’s potential, adding that he had thoroughly enjoyed spending time with him during the series and in the years after its conclusion.
“I’ll miss you, son,” he concluded.
Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad, also shared a heartfelt message following the news.
“RJ, I love you my friend. You will be missed,” Paul wrote.
He also used the moment to share a message with anyone reading his post, adding: “And to whoever happens to be reading this, please know you are loved, and you are not alone. Always remember that.”
Dean Norris, who portrayed Mitte’s on-screen uncle Hank Schrader, said he had always looked out for the actor when he was younger.
Although Mitte did not play his character’s television son, Norris explained that their relationship extended beyond the screen.
“He was a sweetheart of a young man and will be greatly missed,” he wrote.
RJ Mitte’s remarkable career in Breaking Bad
Mitte became a familiar face to millions of viewers after joining Breaking Bad in 2008, playing Walter White Jr, the son of a high school chemistry teacher who transforms into a ruthless drug kingpin.
Created by Vince Gilligan, the drama starred Cranston as Walter White and Anna Gunn as his wife, Skyler, with Mitte appearing throughout all five seasons before the series ended in 2013.
His character, who was also known as Flynn, was a teenager living with cerebral palsy. Mitte drew on his own experiences with the condition to bring authenticity to the role.
The series became one of television’s most celebrated dramas, earning 58 Primetime Emmy nominations and winning 16 awards.
Mitte also received recognition for his work on the show, sharing in a Screen Actors Guild Award win in 2014.
But his career extended well beyond the programme that made him famous.
He appeared in television shows including Hannah Montana, Everybody Hates Chris, Switched at Birth, Vegas, Chance and Now Apocalypse. His film credits included Dixieland, The Recall, Time Share and The Oak Room.
His most recent project was Talking to Strangers, released earlier this year, in which he starred alongside Lin Yin.
At the time of his death, Mitte also had several projects in pre-production or production, according to reports.
He was a passionate disability rights advocate
Away from acting, Mitte worked to improve representation for people with disabilities, using his public profile to challenge stereotypes and push for more varied roles in the entertainment industry.
He served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s, while also establishing the Mitte Foundation to support philanthropic efforts and community initiatives.
In an interview with the BBC in 2021, he reflected on the progress being made towards greater representation on screen.
“Whenever awards season rolls around, we always hope to see a diverse group of projects that reflect all of us, in body and mind,” he said.
“Watching the awareness grow around disability representation has been great to see, but breakthroughs sometimes come in pieces and moments instead of larger change.”
Mitte had also recently spoken about his experience on Breaking Bad during an appearance on the Joe Vulpis Podcast, released earlier this month.
He described landing the role as an ‘unbelievable’ and ‘life-changing’ experience.
He explained that he had moved to Los Angeles in 2005 to support his younger sister’s acting career, before eventually securing the part that would change his own life.
His early auditions included one for a public service announcement warning about methamphetamine use.
Reflecting on that experience during the podcast, he said: “Fast forward to auditioning for Breaking Bad, which is still, in my opinion, an anti-meth thing because it doesn’t end well for anyone.”
Vulpis later paid tribute to the actor on social media, describing him as a “kind, incredible, and gentle soul”.
He added that he had been honoured to sit down with Mitte for the interview.
RJ Mitte’s cause of death confirmed
Mitte’s death was initially announced without a confirmed cause, with police stating that an investigation was ongoing.
The Brownsville Police Department received a call at around 12:50pm local time on Monday and officers subsequently found the actor dead at what was believed to be his home.
Authorities initially said that the cause and manner of death had not been determined. A post-mortem examination was expected to be carried out, and police reportedly did not suspect foul play.
However, subsequent reporting by Variety and TMZ stated that Mitte had died by suicide, with TMZ citing a county official.
The reports come as fans, colleagues and loved ones continue to mourn the actor, whose work on Breaking Bad and advocacy for disability representation left a lasting impression.
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