RJ Mitte, actor best known for Breaking Bad role, dies aged 34

‘You have to show the inner strength that people have’, RJ Mitte said to the Guardian in 2015. Photograph: David Levene/The GuardianView image in fullscreen‘You have to show the inner strength that people have’, RJ Mitte said to the Guardian in 2015. Photograph: David Levene/The GuardianRJ Mitte, actor best known for Breaking Bad role, dies aged 34Mitte, who played Walter White Jr on acclaimed show, had cerebral palsy and advocated for disability representation

The Breaking Bad actor RJ Mitte has died aged 34, his representatives confirmed on Monday.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte,” Mitte’s representatives said in a statement provided to Variety and Deadline.

Mitte, who played Walter White Jr on 56 episodes of the acclaimed AMC show, had cerebral palsy, a condition he shared with his Breaking Bad character.

In 2015, he spoke to the Guardian about being a disabled actor who plays disabled characters.

“You accept the risks and you accept these will be the parts you play. But it’s all about how you play those parts – you have to show the inner strength that people have.”

Mitte was an outspoken advocate for disability representation in entertainment, and served in various philanthropic roles, including as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and as president of the Mitte Foundation.