RJ Mitte

RJ Mitte Bio

Roy Frank “RJ” Mitte III (born August 21, 1992) is an American actor and producer best known for playing Walter White Jr. on the AMC crime drama series Breaking Bad. Born in Jackson, Mississippi, Mitte was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of three and later moved with his family to Los Angeles in 2006 to pursue acting opportunities that could also educate viewers about disability.

Beyond Breaking Bad, Mitte has built a varied career across television, film, and stage, with credits including the ABC Family drama Switched at Birth, the Netflix animated series The Guardians of Justice, and the films Time Share, Standing Up for Sunny, and The Oak Room. Off screen, he serves as a Screen Actors Guild spokesman for actors with disabilities and as a celebrity ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy.

Early Life and Background

Roy Frank Mitte III was born on August 21, 1992, in Jackson, Mississippi. He was delivered by emergency caesarean section and was not breathing at birth, resulting in permanent brain damage described as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. He was adopted a few weeks later by Michael Scott Mitte and Dyna Mitte, who later separated.

Mitte was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of three, and doctors placed his legs in casts for six months in an attempt to straighten his feet. He was later fitted with leg braces and used crutches through most of his childhood, although his body grew stronger through sports and exercise, and he no longer needed any walking devices by his teenage years.

Raised primarily by his mother after his parents’ separation, Mitte took on significant family responsibility at a young age. After his mother became paralyzed, he became the financial provider for his family at thirteen, supporting both his mother and his younger sister Lacianne Carriere, who had been born when he was eleven.

Path to Acting

In 2006, Mitte moved with his family to Los Angeles, where his younger sister had received an offer for a role in a film project. Once in Hollywood, he worked with a personal talent manager to find acting roles that could educate viewers about cerebral palsy and disability.

After landing several minor parts as an extra, including work on the Disney series Hannah Montana, Mitte became more interested in film and began taking acting lessons. His growing skills and personal experience soon led to casting opportunities that would reshape his career and bring disability representation into the spotlight.

RJ Mitte Career

Early Career (2006–2007)

Shortly after settling in Los Angeles, Mitte began booking small parts as an extra on television sets. These early experiences, combined with formal acting lessons, gave him an introduction to on-camera work and helped him understand the pace and demands of the entertainment industry.

Within a year, his persistence and representation caught the attention of casting directors looking for a young actor who could authentically portray a character with cerebral palsy. That search led directly to his casting on a major cable drama.

Breakthrough (2008–2013)

Mitte landed his breakthrough role as Walter White Jr. on the AMC crime drama Breaking Bad, appearing in the series from 2008 to 2013. The character, who also has cerebral palsy, gave Mitte the chance to bring honest representation of disability into one of the most acclaimed shows of its era.

During the show’s run, Mitte expanded his work beyond Breaking Bad. In 2011, he starred in the short horror film Stump and served as executive producer on the documentary Vanished: The Tara Calico Story. The following year, he was cast in the 2012 thriller House of Last Things, and in 2013, he appeared in the music video for “Dead Bite” by rapcore band Hollywood Undead.

In January 2014, Mitte began a recurring role on the ABC Family drama series Switched at Birth, portraying Campbell, a premed student paralyzed from a snowboarding accident who uses a wheelchair. That same year, he also modeled for a spring Gap advertising campaign.

Notable Works and Milestones

Mitte’s most recognized credit remains Breaking Bad, which earned him industry honors and national visibility. He went on to star in the Netflix animated series The Guardians of Justice in 2022, while continuing to take on film roles including Who’s Driving Doug, Time Share (2018), Standing Up for Sunny (2019), The Oak Room (2020), and Triumph (2021), the last of which he also executive produced.

RJ Mitte Award Nominations

Throughout his career, Mitte has been recognized by peers and disability advocacy organizations for both his performances and his efforts to expand representation. His nomination record reflects steady acknowledgment of the importance of authentic disability casting across film and television.

RJ Mitte Awards Won

Mitte received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award in 2013 at the Media Access Awards for his portrayal of Walter White Jr. on Breaking Bad. During the same ceremony, he also presented the inaugural RJ Mitte Diversity Award to deaf actor Ryan Lane.

RJ Mitte Family

RJ Mitte was adopted by Michael Scott Mitte and Dyna Mitte, who later separated. He has a younger sister, Lacianne Carriere, who was born when he was eleven and whose film opportunity helped spark the family’s move to Los Angeles in 2006.

After his parents’ separation, Mitte was raised by his mother and assumed financial responsibility for her and his sister at the age of thirteen following her paralysis. He has continued to support his immediate family while building his acting and producing career.

Personal Life

Mitte has been in a relationship with Kennedy Suarez since 2018, a fact he shared publicly through an Instagram post in 2023. In October 2025, he announced that the couple had become engaged. Beyond his family life, Mitte is widely recognized for his advocacy work as a Screen Actors Guild spokesman for actors with disabilities and as a celebrity ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy, roles he took on in 2015.