US actor RJ Mitte, widely recognised for playing Walter White’s outspoken son in the drama series Breaking Bad, has died at the age of 34.

“It is with immense sadness that we confirm the tragic death of beloved actor, philanthropist and committed disability-rights advocate RJ Mitte,” his representative said in a statement.

Mitte died on Monday in Brownsville, Texas. His publicist said that his death was the result of suicide.

The actor, who had cerebral palsy, brought personal understanding to his portrayal of Walter “Flynn” White Jr in the Emmy-winning series. Bryan Cranston, who played his father on screen, said he was in “deep despair” after hearing the news.

Cranston starred as a high-school chemistry teacher who entered the criminal world after receiving a cancer diagnosis, hoping to provide for his family.

“I met him when he was just 14 years old, when he was cast as Walter White Jr, a role he approached with so much energy and happiness,” Cranston said.

“He was still very inexperienced when we began filming the pilot in February 2007, but over time we watched him become an exceptionally talented actor.”

Cranston also commended Mitte’s work on behalf of disabled performers, saying he never treated cerebral palsy as “an excuse for anything”.

“To lose all of that promise and possibility is heartbreaking,” the actor wrote, adding that he had treasured their time together during the show and after Breaking Bad had ended.

He said it was “especially devastating” to learn that Mitte had taken his own life.

Cranston concluded his tribute by writing: “I’ll miss you, son.”

Mitte’s representative, Sean Reilly, said the actor brought a sense of truth to his role and used his public profile to promote disability awareness and inclusion.

He also worked as an ambassador for organisations supporting people with cerebral palsy and children with medical needs.

Mitte founded The Mitte Foundation to help fund charitable projects and local initiatives, using his visibility to confront stereotypes and encourage broader representation of people with disabilities, Reilly said.

Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad, said he was devastated and struggling to find the words.

“RJ, I love you, my friend. You will be missed,” he wrote. “To anyone reading this, please remember that you are loved and that you are not alone.”

Dean Norris, who portrayed Hank Schrader, said that even though Mitte did not play his television son, he had always looked out for him as one of the younger cast members.

“He was a genuinely kind young man and will be missed enormously,” Norris wrote.

Mitte was raised in Louisiana and was in his early teens when he secured the career-defining role after relocating to Los Angeles in 2005 to support his younger sister’s acting ambitions.

He had previously said that his first audition in Los Angeles was for a California public-service campaign warning against methamphetamine use.

“Then I went on to audition for Breaking Bad, which I still think is, in its own way, an anti-meth story because it never ends well for anybody,” he said in a podcast interview earlier this month.

His character was inspired by a late friend of series creator Vince Gilligan, who had a more severe form of cerebral palsy and used forearm crutches, unlike Mitte.

Mitte’s performance was often praised for its naturalism and warmth, with his character allowed to be funny, complicated and fully part of the family rather than defined by his condition.

Breaking Bad ran for five seasons on AMC between 2008 and 2013.

Following the series’ success, Mitte campaigned for more diverse casting and richer portrayals of people with both visible and non-visible disabilities.

“When awards season arrives, we hope to see projects that reflect all of us, in our bodies and minds,” he said in a 2021 interview.

“It has been encouraging to see greater awareness around disability representation, although progress can sometimes happen through smaller moments rather than sweeping change,” he added.

Mitte’s other screen roles included appearances in Hannah Montana, Switched at Birth, Westhampton and his most recent project, Talking to Strangers, released earlier this year.

If you are affected by themes of suicide or self-harm, consider contacting local emergency services, a crisis helpline, or someone you trust for immediate support.