Breaking Bad actor RJ Mitte dies aged 34

US actor RJ Mitte, renowned for his role as Walter White Jr. in the acclaimed drama series Breaking Bad, has died at the age of 34. Mitte's representative shared the devastating news to the BBC, stating that he passed away in Brownsville, Texas, without providing immediate details on the cause of death. Mitte, who lived with cerebral palsy, drew from his personal experiences to portray his character with authenticity, earning a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2014 for his performance.

He was also a passionate disability rights advocate, serving as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children's, and founded The Mitte Foundation to support philanthropic efforts and promote disability representation. Mitte's breakthrough role came in 2005 when he auditioned for an anti-meth public service announcement in Los Angeles, later landing the pivotal part in Breaking Bad.

The series, created by Vince Gilligan, aired on AMC from 2008 to 2013 and was nominated for and won 16 Primetime Emmy Awards, including two for Outstanding Drama Series.