Breaking Bad star RJ Mitte has died at the age of 34 on Monday October 12, just two days after he and his fiancée Kennedy Suarez celebrated the first anniversary of their engagement.
The actor, best known for portraying Walter White Jr. in the acclaimed drama, became engaged to Kennedy on October 10 last year on her 30th birthday. He proposed during the 56th annual Día del Sol charity benefit in Carlsbad, California, an event in aid of United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego, for which he served as an ambassador.
A year of love and tributes
After Kennedy said yes, Mitte shared his excitement about the impending marriage on Instagram. "I've found that love is not always sunshine and rainbows, and for me, what love comes down to is trust and believing in each other, regardless of the situation, during the good times, the bad times, and everything in between!" he wrote. "I've been grateful for all the love and kindness I have been given over the years, but Kennedy has been the greatest unconditional love no matter what we are going through, no matter what we are facing type love and we face it all together."
He added: "I will never stop lifting her up like she has for me and can't wait for our future." He also told People: "I'm thrilled to have found my person, my partner in life who makes me want to be better, no matter what we're doing. Kennedy is my everything and I can't wait to officially start our life together and see what adventures life takes us on next."
On Valentine's Day this year, he penned a special tribute to his love on Instagram: "Happy Valentine's Day. Looking back at these moments with you reminds me how grateful I am for the love and kindness we share. Love transcends all. Go out and share yours."
Relationship and advocacy work
The couple had been friends for more than a decade before they became romantically involved in 2020. They were living together in Brownsville, Texas at the time of his death. Kennedy works remotely as a human resources generalist and also worked with RJ on his advocacy endeavors, including his family's charity, The Mitte Foundation.
Mitte's death was confirmed by a representative for the actor in a statement on Monday evening. "It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte," the statement said. "Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion."
Co-star's tribute
It was subsequently confirmed the actor had died by suicide. The Brownsville Police Department discovered Mitte at his home after receiving a call at 12.50pm on Monday, according to People.
Co-star Bryan Cranston, who played his father Walter Sr. in the show, spoke of his devastation at the tragic news, disclosing that the two had been exchanging text messages and arranging to meet for lunch in the weeks prior. "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. 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," Cranston wrote.
He continued: "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. That kid was pretty raw when we started shooting the pilot in February of 2007, but little by little we watched him grow into a really fine actor. He parlayed his experience on the show to be a vocal advocate for performers with disabilities, and was the head of a philanthropic organization with a focus on helping the disabled community. All that promise and potential now is such a loss."
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