Image Credit: The Hollywood Reporter via Getty
RJ Mitte was part of one of the most popular television shows in American history: Breaking Bad. The late 34-year-old actor portrayed Walter White Jr., the son of Bryan Cranston‘s main character, on the Emmy-winning AMC series. And like Jr., Mitte also lived with cerebral palsy, though he did not use crutches in real life.
Unfortunately, Mitte died in October 2026 at the age of 34. As fans of the late actor grieve his death, many are also just learning about the condition he lived with his whole life.
Learn about Mitte’s disability here.
What Condition Did RJ Mitte Live With?
As previously noted, Mitte lived with cerebral palsy. He was diagnosed with the condition when he was just 3 years old. At the time, doctors placed the young Mitte in leg casts for six months in order to straighten his feet.
Throughout his childhood, Mitte used crutches and wore leg braces. By his teen years, the Jackson, Mississippi, native outgrew them and no longer required crutches to walk, thanks to his participation in sports and exercise.
Despite his condition, Mitte assumed financial responsibility for his mother — who was paralyzed — and sister when he was only 13.
What Is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a group of conditions that affect a person’s movement, coordination and posture. It is caused by damage brought to an infant’s brain, usually before birth, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Mitte opened up about his cerebral palsy throughout his acting career. During a 2-14 interview with Untitled magazine, Mitte pointed out the discrimination that disabled artists face in Hollywood.
“There’s a lot of discrimination against people with disabilities,” he noted. “People have a stigma that people with a disability aren’t as capable of holding a normal job or having a normal life, which isn’t true. People have normal lives every day. Living with a disability doesn’t make you disabled. Having a disability gives you the knowledge that no one will ever understand without going through it. I think the SAG and the union have done an amazing job in their diversity department of making people with disabilities heard.”
Adding that the industry had been “growing every day,” Mitte acknowledged that advocacy for the disabled community “need[ed] to be worked on.”
