The actor, who had cerebral palsy, drew on his own experience for his role as Walter ‘Flynn’ White Jr in the Emmy-winning drama series. Bryan Cranston, who played his father, led the tributes, writing that he was in “deep despair” following the news.
Cranston played a high school chemistry teacher who turned to a life of crime to support his family after a cancer diagnosis.
“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,” said Cranston.
“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.”
How Breaking Bad’s RJ Mitte changed the way we see cerebral palsy
Cranston praised Mitte’s advocacy for performers with disabilities, and noted that he never allowed his cerebral palsy to “be an excuse for anything”.
“All that promise and potential now is such a loss,” wrote the actor, adding that he “thoroughly enjoyed being with him throughout the years on the series, and after the spotlight on Breaking Bad dimmed”.
