RJ Mitte, Walter Jr. in 'Breaking Bad,' Dies at 34; Bryan Cranston Expresses 'Profound Despair'

Actor RJ Mitte, who played Walter White Jr., a character with cerebral palsy, in the hit U.S. television series "Breaking Bad," has passed away at the age of 34.

U.S. entertainment outlet TMZ reported on the 12th (local time) that RJ Mitte died at his home in Texas, and law enforcement authorities are investigating the cause of death.

Bryan Cranston, who played RJ Mitte's "TV father" in "Breaking Bad," posted a tribute on his Instagram the same day.

Cranston reflected, "Writing this tonight, I am in a state of profound despair. RJ Mitte, my beloved son from 'Breaking Bad,' has passed away." He continued, "RJ Mitte was cast as Walter Jr. at age 14. Although born with cerebral palsy, he never once used it as an excuse and steadfastly powered through a demanding shooting schedule. He always listened to the advice Anna and I, his TV parents, gave him, but like a typical teenager, he would playfully brush it off and learn through firsthand experience. Even as one of the main stars of a hit drama, he was still a kid."

He also noted that when pilot filming began in February 2007, RJ Mitte was just a raw boy, but he watched him gradually grow into a wonderful actor. Cranston shared that building on his acting experience, RJ Mitte advocated for performers with disabilities and served as a representative for charities supporting the disability community.

Cranston expressed his longing, writing, "Just a few weeks ago, we were texting back and forth trying to set up a lunch date. I don't know if that lunch would have changed his future. But I know that I loved him, and that I cherished our time together both while the show was airing and long after the spotlight on 'Breaking Bad' had faded. I'll miss you, son."

RJ Mitte gained recognition for his role as Walter Jr., the son of protagonist Walter White (Bryan Cranston), in the AMC drama "Breaking Bad," which aired from 2008 to 2013. As an actor who actually lives with cerebral palsy, he has since been active as an advocate for representation of performers with disabilities in Hollywood.



(Photo: SBS Entertainment News | Reported by Kang Kyung-yoon)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.