Breaking Bad actor dies at age 34

American actor RJ Mitte, who brought to life the character of Walter "Flynn" White Jr. in AMC's 'Breaking Bad' series, which garnered immense praise from audiences worldwide, has passed away at the age of 34.

His representatives announced that he passed away on Monday, October 12 (American time), at his home in Brownsville, Texas.

"It is with profound sadness that we announce the tragic passing of RJ Mitte, a beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate advocate for the rights of people with disabilities," read the statement released by his representatives.

Brownsville Justice of the Peace Cyndi Hinojosa confirmed his death at 1:32 PM that day but declined to disclose the cause of death. A statement released by Brownsville Police indicated that the official determination of the cause and manner of death is still pending the completion of investigations. However, American media, citing a state official, reported that Mitte died by suicide. The autopsy and police investigations are still ongoing.

Roy Frank Mitte III, born on August 21, 1992, was adopted a few weeks after birth by Roy Frank Mitte Jr. and Diana Mitte. Growing up in Jackson, Mississippi, he was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at the age of three. As a child, he had to use leg braces and crutches, but he resolutely overcame his disabilities through physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.

Mitte moved to Los Angeles with his family in 2006 for his sister's acting career and began his own acting journey by playing extra roles in shows like 'Hannah Montana'. Around the age of 15, he was cast as Walter White Jr. in the 'Breaking Bad' series. This character, who suffers from cerebral palsy, was created by series creator Vince Gilligan based on a university friend. Appearing in 56 episodes across all five seasons from 2008 to 2013, Mitte incorporated his real-life experiences into the character, even practicing the use of crutches and speech patterns to portray a character with more severe symptoms than his own.

In 2014, along with actors Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, and others, he won the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Prior to that, in 2013, he received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award for his portrayal of 'Walter White Jr.'.

After 'Breaking Bad' concluded, Mitte continued acting, appearing in the series 'Switched at Birth' as well as films such as 'The Oak Room' (2020), 'Triumph' (2021), 'Love Me Dead' (2024), 'Westhampton' (which premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival), and 'Talking to Strangers'. In 'Triumph', he portrayed a wrestler with cerebral palsy. In 2014, he became the face of Gap's global advertising campaign and also walked the runway at the Vivienne Westwood fashion show in Milan.

Beyond acting, Mitte was a prominent activist who advocated for people with disabilities. He served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s Hospitals, consistently championing accurate representation and inclusion of people with disabilities in the media. As chairman of his family's charity, The Mitte Foundation, he contributed to numerous educational, health, and scholarship programs in South Texas. Even a few days before his passing, he participated in a press conference regarding the designation of Brownsville's 'Mitte Cultural District' as a Texas Cultural District and also shared his 'Breaking Bad' experiences on a podcast.

"RJ was a tremendous asset to our community, and we are deeply shocked by this loss," said Reba Cardenas, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Mitte Cultural District. "RJ believed in Brownsville," added Daniela Lopez Valdez, its Executive Director.

In his personal life, Mitte was engaged to his long-term girlfriend, Kennedy Suarez, who had been his friend for over ten years. He proposed to her on October 10, 2025, on her 30th birthday, at the 'Dia del Sol' benefit gala of the San Diego Cerebral Palsy Association in California.

As news of his passing spread, his 'Breaking Bad' co-stars expressed their sorrow. Bryan Cranston, who played his father on screen, recalled meeting Mitte at age 14 and his determination despite cerebral palsy, adding that they had exchanged texts about meeting for lunch just days before, and concluded his message with, "Son, I miss you." Aaron Paul said his heart was broken and added the message, "You are loved, you are not alone." Dean Norris, who played his uncle 'Hank' on screen, described Mitte as a very kind young man who looked out for him during filming and called the news utterly heartbreaking. Many others, including Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin, also paid tribute to him.