‘Breaking Bad’ star Bryan Cranston leads tributes to ‘sweet son’ RJ Mitte after actor dies at 34

RJ Mitte’s Breaking Bad costars have paid tribute to the actor and disability rights advocate after he died at 34.

Mitte died in Brownsville, Texas, on Monday. His publicist told Reuters that he died by suicide.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte,” his representatives said. They said the actor, who had cerebral palsy, used “his platform to challenge stereotypes and promote greater representation.”

Mitte played Walter White Jr., the son of Bryan Cranston’s lead character on the acclaimed drama, in 56 episodes from 2008 to 2013.

In a post on Instagram, Cranston said he was in “deep despair” over the loss of his “sweet son on Breaking Bad.” He wrote, “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.”

Mitte never used his cerebral palsy as “an excuse for anything,” and he met the show’s “demanding shooting schedule head on with great determination,” he added.

Cranston said it was “especially devastating to hear that he took his own life,” adding that he “loved him.”

Aaron Paul, another star of Breaking Bad, wrote in a statement shared with the Hollywood Reporter, “I am at a loss. I am heartbroken over this news. RJ, I love you my friend. You will be missed. And to whoever happens to be reading this, please know you are loved, and you are not alone. Always remember that.”

Dean Norris, who played Walt Jr.’s uncle on the show, wrote on X, “Though RJ didn’t play my TV son, I always looked out for him as a young kid on set. He was a sweetheart of a young man and will be greatly missed. This is so heartbreaking, I can’t believe it. Thinking of him and his family.”

Mitte was born in Jackson, Miss., in 1992 and was adopted by Roy Frank Mitte Jr. and Dyna Mitte. His parents divorced when he was 2 months old, he told the Sydney Morning Herald in 2019, and he was ‌diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age 3.

“I wore leg braces in childhood, but my diagnosis empowered me to be better: to work on my body and work on my mind, and to give me a different perspective on what we are as humans and how we interact with each other,” he said.

He landed small guest roles on the sitcoms Everybody Hates Chris and Hannah Montana after moving to Los Angeles to act in 2006, before landing his Breaking Bad role. The show received near-universal critical acclaim during its five-year run.

The New York Times said Mitte “brought a raw sensibility to his character,” while Variety said his role was a “breakthrough for disability representation.” He and his costars won a Screen Actors Guild Award in the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series category in 2014.

Mitte went on to produce several independent films and appeared in shows such as Switched at Birth and The Guardians of Justice.

He announced his engagement to Kennedy Suarez, a human recan’t wait to officially start our life together and see what adventures life takes us on next,” he told People at the time

Mitte served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s. He was also president of the Mitte Foundation, which his family created, that supports philanthropic and community initiatives related to disabilities.

He campaigned for better representation of disabled people onscreen, telling the BBC in 2021, “Whenever awards season rolls around, we always hope to see a diverse group of projects that reflect all of us, in body and mind. Watching the awareness grow around disability representation has been great to see, but breakthroughs sometimes come in pieces and moments instead of larger change.” 

RJ Mitte’s life and career at a glance

• 1992:Born in Jackson, Miss.

• 2006:Made TV debut on Everybody Hates Chris

• 2008:Played Walter White Jr. on Breaking Bad

• 2015:Namedcelebrity ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy

• 2025:Announced engagementtoKennedy Suarez

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