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Breaking Bad star RJ Mitte is best known for his iconic portrayal of Walter White Jr. in the cult AMC series, as well as his advocacy for disability rights. His performance earned him a special place in fans’ hearts, making his journey to landing the role an interesting story in itself. But did you know that a seemingly ordinary trip to a water park played an unexpected role in his journey to Hollywood? Scroll below for the deets.
For the unversed, Mitte suffered from cerebral palsy. As a result, he reportedly worked with a personal talent manager to find acting opportunities where his disability could help viewers learn about it. Mitte was a vocal advocate for people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, serving as a SAG spokesperson and a United Cerebral Palsy ambassador. He also founded the Mitte Foundation and received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award in 2013 for his contributions to disability representation.
RJ Mitte once revealed how a trip to a water park helped him land the Breaking Bad role
According to The Telegraph, RJ Mitte and his family once went to a water park when his sister was only 18 months old. During that trip her sister Laci was cast as a baby Lucille Ball for the Universal Studios theme park. The agent who cast his sister called them a week later and asked them to fly to Los Angeles. They spent about a year in a motel in LA as the skit kept extending. Mitte said, “Being in LA was cool, but if you live in LA and you don’t go to school and don’t join a gang and you don’t act, what’s the point of being in LA? So I started acting. I wanted to meet kids my own age and make money. I worked as an extra and took acting classes.”
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He continued, “My first audition was for a new show that was in development. It was called Breaking Bad. The audition took five months – four auditions in LA, then I flew down to New Mexico for the final test. And the rest is history.”
RJ Mitte also revealed that “Breaking Bad was a lifesaver.” He shared that his mother was in a car accident and was partially paralyzed for 7 years. Also, with his grandparents being sick, there were a lot of medical bills. Thus, the Breaking Bad role allowed him to earn and support his family financially since he was 13.
RJ Mitte’s tragic death
According to reports, RJ Mitte passed away on Monday, October 12, in Brownsville, Texas. His Reps said, “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte.” He died at 34 years of age. His reps also confirmed that the Breaking Bad star died by suicide. Also, an autopsy will be performed.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and fans during this difficult time.
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