RJ Mitte, actor and disability advocate, dies at 34, representatives say

RJ Mitte, who portrayed Walter White Jr. in the television series Breaking Bad, has died at 34, his representatives said Monday. Alongside his acting career, he advocated for disability rights and greater inclusion and representation in film and television.

The cause of death was not immediately disclosed. The actor lived with cerebral palsy.

Mitte began appearing in Breaking Bad as a teenager in 2008, playing the son of Walter White, the chemistry teacher who becomes a drug kingpin.

Reilly said Mitte drew on his experience of cerebral palsy in his performance and used the role to develop a platform promoting disability awareness and inclusion.

Reilly also said he served as president of The Mitte Foundation, supporting charitable and community work while challenging stereotypes and seeking greater representation for people with disabilities.

Actor and disability campaigner Marlee Matlin expressed grief over his death. She appeared with Mitte in Cinemability: The Art of Inclusion, a documentary examining disability portrayals in U.S. film and television.