By TheDailyNewsHub Reporter
American actor RJ Mitte, best known for playing Walter “Flynn” White Jr. in the acclaimed television series Breaking Bad, has died at the age of 34.
Mitte died on Monday, October 12, 2026, in Brownsville, Texas, according to reports confirmed by his representatives. Reuters reported that a publicist confirmed the actor died by suicide. An autopsy was expected to be conducted, according to the Brownsville Police Department.
His death has drawn tributes from colleagues, fans and disability rights advocates who recognised both his contribution to television and his work promoting greater inclusion for people with disabilities.
Mitte rose to international prominence through Breaking Bad, the AMC crime drama that aired from 2008 to 2013. He portrayed Walter White Jr., the son of chemistry teacher-turned-drug kingpin Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston.
The character, also known as Flynn, appeared throughout the show’s five-season run. Mitte brought personal experience to the role because he also lived with cerebral palsy, a condition that affects movement and muscle control.
His performance helped bring greater visibility to disability representation on mainstream television, particularly through a character whose life extended beyond his physical condition and remained central to the drama surrounding the White family.
Cranston paid tribute to his former co-star following the news of his death. In a message shared on social media, he recalled meeting Mitte when the actor was 14 and praised his determination throughout the production of the series.
Cranston also expressed deep sorrow over Mitte’s death, saying they had exchanged messages in the weeks before his passing and had discussed meeting for lunch.
Bob Odenkirk, who played lawyer Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad, also remembered Mitte in a statement to People. Odenkirk described him as a person who approached others with positivity and a genuine desire to connect.
Beyond his acting career, Mitte was an advocate for disability rights and more inclusive employment opportunities in the entertainment industry. He worked with organisations including United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s and served as president of The Mitte Foundation.
He also worked with the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) on efforts to improve opportunities for performers with disabilities.
Mitte continued acting after Breaking Bad, appearing in productions including Switched at Birth, The Guardians of Justice, The Oak Room and Triumph. In the 2019 film Standing Up for Sunny, he played a character with cerebral palsy, while Triumph featured him as a high school wrestler with the condition.
In the days before his death, Mitte had been promoting Talking to Strangers, a film project that was among his recent professional activities.
His career became significant not only because of his role in one of television’s most widely recognised dramas but also because of his efforts to challenge narrow portrayals of disability and encourage broader representation in film and television.
Mitte’s death has prompted renewed tributes from his former castmates and audiences who followed his work. His representatives described him as an actor, philanthropist and disability rights advocate whose personal experiences helped shape his contribution to entertainment and inclusion.