RJ Mitte spoke about living with urgency and purpose in an interview recorded just days before his death.
The “Breaking Bad” actor, 34, died Monday, his representative confirmed. Reports said that he died by suicide. His final recorded conversation appeared on “The Joe Vulpis” podcast on Oct. 5, where he reflected on how he approached both his craft and his life.
“I live life to the fullest,” Mitte said on the podcast. “I always try. I have a very finite amount of time.”
Mitte, who played Walter “Flynn” White Jr. On the AMC drama, explained that he drew on personal experience to reach dark emotional places for intense scenes. “I’ve seen a lot. I’ve seen a lot of s—t in this world,” he continued. “I’ve seen the most beautiful things and I’ve seen some of the most heinous things in working with communities all around the world. And I find drawing from experience is something that’s really important as an actor.”
The actor had cerebral palsy and built a parallel career as an advocate for disability rights and representation. He told Vulpis that the platform “Breaking Bad” provided meant more to him than industry accolades. “That’s really the greatest thing that ‘Breaking Bad’ has given me, is to be able to lend my voice to causes that make a meaningful impact that changes people’s lives,” he shared.
He added, “I think that’s one of the greatest things that I have and it’s not the awards. It’s not all of these things people assume come with this. It’s literally being able to impact someone’s life in a meaningful way that without that, wouldn’t have it.”
When asked directly about his greatest achievement, Mitte did not name a role or honor. “Giving back,” he said. “One of the things that makes me truly the happiest is helping others and my foundation work.”
Looking ahead during the conversation, Mitte expressed hope for continued creative work and sustained advocacy. He wanted to keep securing funding for projects and providing resources for people, he said, and to “keep living the dream.”
“I tell people, you know, every dream could be a nightmare, too … but just keep living it, just keep pushing forward,” he said. “As long as my family is healthy and happy, I’m happy.”
Mitte made one other public appearance in his final days, speaking to Stauros Entertainment on Oct. 2 about his role in the film “Talking to Strangers,” in which he portrayed a man with cerebral palsy navigating a love affair.
His representative issued a statement Monday acknowledging his death. “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte,” the rep said. Beyond his onscreen work, the statement noted, Mitte served as ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s.
