RJ Mitte’s Cause of Death Revealed
The cause of death for RJ Mitte, known for his role in Breaking Bad, was disclosed on Tuesday following widespread speculation after the news broke on Monday.
Representatives for the actor confirmed earlier reports from TMZ, stating that he died by suicide at the age of 34. According to the Daily Mail, Mitte faced severe financial difficulties, allegedly being defrauded by a business manager, which left him burdened with significant IRS debt.
Mitte’s financial troubles began in his teenage years. At around 17 or 18 years old, after spending three years on Breaking Bad, he enlisted a business manager to oversee his finances and taxes.
He joined the series at just 14 when it premiered in 2007, starting with the Screen Actors Guild minimum for the pilot episode. As the show gained traction, the cast’s earnings grew, and Mitte estimated he made between $3 million and $5 million from it.
Unfortunately, instead of paying the IRS, his manager allegedly pocketed the money, providing him with forged tax documents instead. This led to a hefty tax bill that wiped out his earnings and left him with a debt that took nearly ten years to settle.
Friends and insiders shared that Mitte became increasingly disenchanted with Hollywood, particularly with casting directors who often typecast him based on his cerebral palsy, preventing him from moving beyond his role as Walter White Jr. on Breaking Bad.
One source mentioned, “After he finished his last episode, his downward spiral began. He frequently expressed that he’d never land another role as good.”
They added, “He despised the auditioning process and the judgment that came with it. Despite being immensely talented, he always felt his disability was a hurdle. Often, he suspected he received auditions out of pity.”
A text from Mitte in 2017 seemed to back this up. In it, he stated, “When I go for a part, they sometimes tell me that it’s not a character with a disability, and I’m like, why can’t the character be disabled? They get real uncomfortable when I say that.”
Mitte’s co-stars expressed their sorrow over his passing, conveying shock and grief.
Cranston shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, stating, “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 just 14 years old, cast as Walter White Jr., a role he portrayed with such joy and enthusiasm.”
He continued, “Born with cerebral palsy, he never let that challenge hold him back. He faced the demanding shooting schedule with impressive determination, always open to the advice from his TV parents (Anna Gunn and myself), though, being a teenager, he sometimes hilariously ignored the counsel to learn lessons the hard way. He was one of the stars of a successful show but still just a kid.”
