“Breaking Bad” actor RJ Mitte dies aged 34
Mitte played Walter White Jr., the son of Walter White (played by Bryan Cranston), a chemistry teacher turned meth dealer, in almost every episode of the five seasons of the AMC series, which was recently ranked as the best of the 21st century in a ‘New York Times’ poll
RJ Mitte, the “Breaking Bad” actor and advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, has died at the age of 34. According to the authorities and his representatives, Mitte was pronounced dead on 12 October in Brownsville, Texas. The authorities have not disclosed the cause of death, but a post-mortem examination will be carried out. Mitte was best known for his role as Walter White Jr. in the acclaimed AMC series. He drew on his own experience of living with cerebral palsy to bring authenticity to the character. His representatives said he used his public profile to challenge stereotypes and promote greater representation of people with disabilities.
The Cameron County Justice of the Peace, Cyndi Hinojosa, told the Associated Press that she had confirmed Mitte’s death at around 1.30 pm at what she believed to be his home in Brownsville, Texas. She added that she was unable to provide the cause of death, but that a post-mortem examination would be carried out.
Mitte played Walter White Jr., the son of Walter White (played by Bryan Cranston), a chemistry teacher turned meth dealer, in almost every episode of the five seasons of the AMC series, which was recently ranked as the best of the 21st century in a *New York Times* poll.
Bryan Cranston: “deep despair” over the loss of his “sweet son” on screen
“I met him when he was just 14 years old, when he was cast as Walter White Jr., a role he played with great joy and enthusiasm,” Cranston wrote in a Facebook post on Monday evening. “Born with cerebral palsy, he never – ever – allowed that challenge to be an excuse for anything. He tackled the demanding filming schedule head-on, with great determination.”
In 2014, Mitte told the AP that his disability and the difficulties it entailed – physiotherapy, family problems and exorbitant medical bills – all central themes of the series – had made him better at his job. “You develop a different mindset and gain a different perspective on how the world sees you and how you see the world,” he had said. “You manage to make the most of all that. And I think it’s an asset, rather than an obstacle.”
