RJ Mitte has died at 34, leaving behind a career defined not only by Breaking Bad, but by his sustained effort to make disability representation in Hollywood less exceptional and more ordinary. His representative confirmed his death, while authorities said the official cause and manner remained under investigation.

Cameron County Justice of the Peace Cyndi Hinojosa told the Associated Press that she pronounced Mitte dead at about 1:30 p.m. on October 12 at what she believed was his home in Brownsville, Texas. An autopsy will determine the cause, she said. Brownsville police also described the official findings as pending.

Mitte's representative told Variety that the actor died by suicide. That account has not yet been confirmed by the medical examination, an important distinction while authorities complete their work. CBS News separately confirmed Mitte's death with representative Sean Riley, but initially reported no cause.

How Walter White Jr. changed his career

Mitte became widely known as Walter White Jr., the son of Bryan Cranston's Walter White and Anna Gunn's Skyler White, in Vince Gilligan's acclaimed crime drama Breaking Bad. He appeared in 56 of the show's 62 episodes after joining the pilot as a teenager.

Like his character, Mitte had cerebral palsy. Casting a disabled actor as a disabled major character should not have been unusual, but television has historically managed to set a very low bar and then congratulate itself for approaching it. Mitte's performance brought authenticity to a role that remained central across almost the entire series.

He shared the 2014 Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding drama ensemble with the cast. That same year, SAG-AFTRA presented him with its Howard Russell Award for his disability advocacy.

A statement from his representative described him as a beloved actor, philanthropist and disability rights advocate who used his own experience with cerebral palsy to promote awareness and inclusion.

What did Mitte do beyond Breaking Bad?

Mitte continued acting in television and film after the series ended. He had a recurring role in Switched at Birth and played Mind Master in Netflix's superhero series The Guardians of Justice. His film credits included The Recall in 2017 and The Oak Room in 2020.

He also moved into producing several independent films. At the time of his death, he had multiple projects in production or pre-production and had recently been promoting his new movie, Talking to Strangers. He appeared on podcasts only days before his death.

Away from the screen, Mitte served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children's. He was also president of the Mitte Foundation, which supported charitable projects and challenged stereotypes about disabled people. His advocacy extended to disability inclusion and service-dog access.

That work gave his career an impact measurable beyond awards or episode counts. A disabled actor played a disabled character in nearly every episode of one of television's most celebrated dramas, then used the attention to press for broader access and representation. Hollywood did not solve its inclusion problem as a result, obviously, but Mitte made it harder to pretend the problem was invisible.

Breaking Bad cast members pay tribute

Bryan Cranston said he was in “deep despair” after Mitte's death. He remembered the younger actor's determination during the show's demanding production schedule and said the two had been texting only weeks earlier about meeting for lunch.

Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman, told The Hollywood Reporter: “RJ, I love you, buddy. You will be missed.” He also urged people to remember that they are loved and not alone.

Dean Norris, who played Hank Schrader, called Mitte “a sweetheart of a young man” and described his death as “so heartbreaking.”

Mitte was engaged to his long-term partner, Kennedy Suarez. The couple had been together since 2018.

Born in Jackson, Mississippi, Mitte experienced brain damage at birth and was later adopted. Doctors diagnosed him with cerebral palsy when he was 3. He eventually turned that experience into a public platform, speaking directly about disability while building a career in an industry not known for making access especially convenient.

The official determination of his cause and manner of death will depend on the pending autopsy, despite the account provided by his representative.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide in the United States, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.