RJ Mitte, the actor best known for playing Walter White Jr. on the AMC series Breaking Bad, has died at 34, his representatives confirmed on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026.
“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, according to NBC News. No cause of death or further details on his passing have been released.
RJ Mitte’s Breaking Bad Legacy
Mitte was 15 years old when Breaking Bad premiered in January 2008, launching his breakout role as the teenage son of a high school chemistry teacher who turns to producing methamphetamine. The award-winning series became one of the most acclaimed dramas of its era and made Mitte a recognizable face well beyond the show’s run.
Mitte, who had a form of cerebral palsy, brought that experience to his portrayal of Walter White Jr., a character who also lived with the condition. The role put disability representation in front of a mainstream television audience in a way that was uncommon at the time.
Career Beyond Breaking Bad
After Breaking Bad ended, Mitte continued acting in film. He starred in the 2017 sci-fi film The Recall and the 2020 horror film The Oak Room, building a career that extended past the role that first made him known to audiences.
Mitte was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, and moved to Hollywood in 2006 to study acting, a move that set him on the path to his eventual casting on Breaking Bad two years later.
Disability Advocacy And Philanthropy
Outside of acting, Mitte built a significant presence as a disability rights advocate. He served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s, organizations focused on supporting people with disabilities and children’s health care.
He also served as president of The Mitte Foundation, which backed philanthropic efforts and community initiatives centered on disability representation. That work ran alongside his acting career for much of his adult life, according to NBC News.
What’s Next
No funeral or memorial details have been announced. Tributes from Breaking Bad cast members and colleagues in the entertainment industry had not been publicly shared as of the representatives’ statement on Monday.
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Additional reporting via IMDb.
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