The actor, who had cerebral palsy and became a prominent disability rights advocate, died Monday in Brownsville, Texas.
BROWNSVILLE, TX — RJ Mitte, the actor who played Walter White Jr. on the acclaimed AMC drama “Breaking Bad” and used his career to advocate for people with disabilities, died Monday in Brownsville, Texas. He was 34.
Cameron County Justice of the Peace Cyndi Hinojosa said she declared Mitte dead at about 1:30 p.m. Monday at what she believed was his home in Brownsville, according to The Associated Press. A cause of death had not been determined, and Hinojosa said an autopsy would be performed. Mitte’s representatives also confirmed his death but did not provide details about the circumstances.
Mitte became widely known for playing Walter “Flynn” White Jr., the teenage son of Bryan Cranston’s Walter White, on “Breaking Bad.” The AMC series followed a high school chemistry teacher who turns to manufacturing methamphetamine after a cancer diagnosis and becomes increasingly consumed by the criminal world he enters. Mitte appeared throughout the five-season series, which ran from 2008 to 2013.
Like the character he portrayed, Mitte had cerebral palsy. He was diagnosed at age 3 and drew on his own experiences while playing Walter Jr., whose disability was presented as one part of his life rather than the focus of the character. Mitte said in previous interviews that his experiences with physical therapy, medical costs and the way other people viewed disability helped shape his performance.
His representatives said Mitte used the attention from “Breaking Bad” to promote disability awareness, inclusion and greater representation in entertainment. He served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s and was president of The Mitte Foundation, which supported charitable and community work. He also worked as a Screen Actors Guild advocate for performers with disabilities.
Born Aug. 21, 1992, in Jackson, Mississippi, Mitte moved to Los Angeles as a teenager and began pursuing acting in 2006. He landed small television roles before being cast on “Breaking Bad” while still in his teens. The series became one of television’s most celebrated dramas, winning 16 Emmy Awards during its run. Mitte shared in the cast’s recognition as the show grew from a cable drama into an international success.
After “Breaking Bad,” Mitte continued working in television and film. His credits included “Switched at Birth,” “The Guardians of Justice,” “The Recall,” “The Oak Room” and the 2021 film “Triumph,” in which he played a high school wrestler with cerebral palsy. He also worked as a producer on independent projects and regularly spoke about expanding opportunities for disabled performers both in front of and behind the camera.
Mitte remained professionally active shortly before his death. He attended a Sept. 30 screening in Beverly Hills for “Talking to Strangers,” a film in which he played a man with cerebral palsy. On Oct. 4, he appeared with “Breaking Bad” actor Luis Moncada at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico, one of his final reported public appearances.
Representatives announcing his death remembered Mitte as an actor, philanthropist and disability rights advocate whose work extended beyond his television career. His advocacy frequently focused on challenging stereotypes and encouraging the entertainment industry to include disabled people in substantial roles rather than treating disability as a defining limitation.
Authorities had not announced an official cause of death as of Monday night. The planned autopsy is expected to provide additional information, while Mitte’s representatives have asked that attention remain on his career, advocacy and contributions to disability representation.
Author note: Last updated October 12, 2026.