Actor and disability-rights advocate RJ Mitte, known for playing Walter White Jr. on Breaking Bad, died Monday in Brownsville, Texas. He was 34.

Mitte’s representatives confirmed his death in a statement. Cameron County Justice of the Peace Cyndi Hinojosa told The Associated Press that she pronounced him dead at about 1:30 p.m. local time. No cause of death has been released, and Hinojosa said an autopsy will be performed.

A defining role on ‘Breaking Bad’

Mitte had cerebral palsy and drew on that experience while portraying Walter White Jr., also known as Flynn, the son of Bryan Cranston’s Walter White. He appeared throughout the AMC drama’s run from 2008 to 2013 as the character confronted the collapse of his family and the truth about his father’s criminal life.

The series won 16 Emmy Awards, including two for outstanding drama series. Mitte shared in a Screen Actors Guild Award for the show’s final season. His later screen credits included Switched at Birth, The Guardians of Justice and the film Triumph.

Advocacy beyond acting

Mitte used his public profile to challenge stereotypes and push for greater representation of people with disabilities in entertainment. His representatives said he served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s and as president of the Mitte Foundation.

His death was confirmed independently by Reuters, The Associated Press and CBS News. The absence of an announced cause should not be treated as evidence of any particular circumstance.

Sources: Reuters, October 12 at 7:22 p.m. EDT; The Associated Press, October 12; CBS News, updated October 12 at 7:06 p.m. EDT.

Lead image: RJ Mitte speaking at Rose City Comic Con on September 6, 2024, photographed by Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. File photo.