RJ Mitte Cause of Death Confirmed After Texas Death

Actor RJ Mitte died by suicide at age 34 after his representative confirmed the cause of death on Monday, October 12, 2026. Mitte was pronounced dead at 1:32 p.m. local time at his residence in Brownsville, Texas, according to Cameron County Justice of the Peace Judge Cyndi Hinojosa.

Law enforcement officials continued investigating the death, according to USA TODAY. Mitte was known for playing Walter White Jr. in the AMC series Breaking Bad, a role he portrayed across the show's five-season run from 2008 to 2013.

Sean Reilly, Mitte's representative, described the actor's legacy in a statement about his death.

"It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte," said Sean Reilly, Mitte's representative.

Reilly also highlighted how Mitte's personal experiences shaped his acting and advocacy work.

"Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion," said Sean Reilly, Mitte's representative.

Bryan Cranston, who played Mitte's father on Breaking Bad, shared a tribute after the actor's death. Cranston said he had known Mitte for two decades and described the loss in an Instagram post.

"in deep despair," wrote Bryan Cranston, actor.

Cranston referred to Mitte as a family-like figure from their time working together on the series.

"my sweet son," wrote Bryan Cranston, actor.

Cranston also reflected on the circumstances surrounding Mitte's death and the plans they had discussed before his passing.

"especially devastating to hear that he took his own life," wrote Bryan Cranston, actor.

Cranston said he and Mitte had recently discussed meeting for lunch before the actor's death.

"I don't know if that lunch would have changed his future," wrote Bryan Cranston, actor.

Mitte, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age 3, used his public profile to promote disability awareness. In a 2016 Vice interview, he discussed the advocacy role that developed alongside his acting career.

"to avoid being an advocate and a spokesmodel" said RJ Mitte, actor.

Mitte explained that avoiding advocacy eventually led him deeper into disability awareness efforts.

"But the more [I] tried to avoid doing it, the more I found myself in the middle of it," said RJ Mitte, actor.

He also spoke about public perceptions of disability and the need for broader understanding.

"People perceive disability as a weakness, as an illness, as something that needs to be cured, and we need to fight against that," said RJ Mitte, actor.

Mitte was an honorary trustee of United Cerebral Palsy and president of the Mitte Foundation, where he supported disability-related initiatives.

"Having a disability, it's not a disability. It's knowledge that you can take into the world. It's something you can learn and grow from," said RJ Mitte, actor.

He further described his view of belonging and personal identity in the same advocacy work.

"To me, normal is whatever you make it. Normal is wherever you find yourself belonging, normal is wherever you find yourself the happiest," said RJ Mitte, actor.