RJ Mitte, "Breaking Bad" Actor, Dies at Age 34

RJ Mitte, an actor best known for his role on the popular TV show "Breaking Bad," has died at the age of 34. His representative confirmed the news to CBS News on Monday. A Justice of the Peace in Cameron County, Texas, said Mitte was pronounced dead around 1:30 p.m. in Brownsville, Texas. No cause of death was given.

Mitte played Walter "Flynn" White Jr. on "Breaking Bad," one of the most praised TV shows ever made. His character was the son of Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who becomes a powerful drug dealer. The show aired on AMC and starred Bryan Cranston and Anna Gunn alongside Mitte. Many critics and fans consider it one of the greatest shows in television history.

Both Mitte and his character, Walter Jr., had cerebral palsy, a condition that affects a person's ability to control their muscles and movements. Mitte drew on his own real-life experience to make the role feel true and honest. His representative, Sean Riley, said that Mitte "brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion." This means Mitte used his fame to help people better understand and accept those who live with disabilities.

As part of the "Breaking Bad" cast, Mitte shared in a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2014. The cast won the award for best drama ensemble for the show's final season. The Screen Actors Guild Awards, also known as the SAG Awards, are voted on by fellow actors and are considered a major honor in Hollywood. That same year, Mitte also received the SAG-AFTRA Howard Russell Award, which is given to an actor with a disability.

Off screen, Mitte worked hard to support people with disabilities. He served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children's, two organizations that help people with serious health conditions. He was also the president of The Mitte Foundation, a group that supported community projects and helped challenge unfair stereotypes about people with disabilities. His goal was to push for more roles for people with disabilities in Hollywood films and TV shows.

Just last year, Mitte teamed up with Can Do Canines, a group that trains and provides service dogs to people in Wisconsin and Minnesota. He spoke about how important it was for people with disabilities to get the help and chances they deserve. "I'm very lucky with my disability that I have worked very hard to have the mobility I have today, but I see in many people's lives, they don't get the same opportunities," he said. Friends, fans, and disability advocates around the world are mourning his loss.