Breaking Bad star RJ Mitte's cause of death has been revealed after the actor's tragic death aged 34. An inquest report stated that Mitte died by hanging on October 12, with the actor found dead at home by his mother.
Mitte, known for playing Walt Jr in the Emmy-winning crime drama, was pronounced dead at 1.32pm, according to Page Six. His representative had previously confirmed he died by suicide but did not disclose further details.
Career and Advocacy
Mitte is best known for portraying Walt Jr, the son of Bryan Cranston's character Walter White, on Breaking Bad, which aired from 2008 to 2013. His performance was praised among critics and fans. Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, he brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion.
He served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children's, and was president of his own charitable organisation, the Mitte Foundation, which championed philanthropic endeavours and challenged stereotypes surrounding people with disabilities.
Outside Breaking Bad, he played Mind Master in the Netflix superhero series The Guardians of Justice, and featured in 2017's The Recall and 2020's The Oak Room. He also played a high school senior pursuing wrestling despite living with cerebral palsy in 2021's Triumph. Having recently appeared alongside Dove Cameron in Love Me Dead and opposite Finn Wittrock in Westhampton, Mitte had been promoting his latest film Talking to Strangers and had appeared on podcasts just days before his passing.
Tributes and Final Words
Mitte was engaged to his long-term partner Kennedy Suarez, whom he had been with since 2018. He celebrated her 31st birthday just two days before his death. Speaking in his final interview on The Joe Vulpis Podcast, he said: "I live life to the fullest. I always try. I have a very finite amount of time."
Leading the tributes was his onscreen dad Cranston, who wrote: "I'm in deep despair as I write this tonight. RJ Mitte, my sweet son on Breaking Bad has died. I met him when he was only 14 years old when he was cast as Walter White Jr., a part he played with such joy and enthusiasm."
Cranston added: "Born with Cerebral Palsy, he never - ever - allowed that challenge to be an excuse for anything. He met the demanding shooting schedule head on with great determination. Always listening to the advice that his TV parents (Anna Gunn and myself) gave him - but being a teenager, sometimes mischievously ignoring the counsel in order to learn the hard way… He was one of the stars of a hit TV show - but still a kid."
He continued: "All that promise and potential now is such a loss. It is especially devastating to hear that he took his own life. Why? We were texting each other just a few weeks ago - figuring out when we could meet for lunch. I don't know if that lunch would have changed his future… But I do know that I loved him, and thoroughly enjoyed being with him throughout the years on the series, and after the spotlight on Breaking Bad dimmed… I'll miss you, son."
