RJ Mitte

Biography

RJ Mitte is an American actor, model & producer. He is known for playing the role of Walter White in the TV series Breaking Bad (2008–13)

Childhood- Family

Roy Frank Mitte III was born on 21st August 1992 in Jackson, Mississippi, USA. 

RJ Mitte was born under medical complications, he was delivered through caesarian and had breathing difficulties which resulted in brain damage. He was adopted by Dyna Mitte and husband Roy Frank Mitte Jr., he was given the name Roy Frank Mitte III, he has a younger sister named Lacianne Carriere. He is quite found of his uncle with whom he spent a lot of time as a child.

He parents separated when he was young, Lacianne was born when he was 11 years old. When he was 13, his mother had a paralysis, RJ became financially responsible for the family, including his far younger sister.

Image: RJ Mitte's Family: Mother Dyna Mitte, Sister Lacianne Carriere

His sister Lacianne Carriere has appeared in movies such as Triumph(2021), The Unseen(2023) among others.

Cerebral palsy

[Mitte Talking about his life & Cerebral Palsy]

Mitte has permanent movement disorders since childhood (it developed at the age of 3), it is caused due to various issues like stiff muscles, weak coordination, weak muscles etc. Mitte's character of Walter White also has the same disorder. RJ has very stiff hands and legs.

He had leg braces and crutches to support him in the initial years, but because of his love for sports and inner strength he developed quickly and started walking without braces in his teen years.

He is an advocate for betterment of kids with disabilities, he coordinates with many charities and is also an ambassador for some organizations.

Education

• He was mostly home schooled, he also learned through distance education, he was in fact 2 years ahead of his age in curriculum.

Relationships

Kennedy Blaire

In 2023, RJ revealed that he has been dating Kennedy Blaire since 2022 through his instagram account. The two had known each other since 2018, and have been hanging out together, they have been on friendly outings such as fishing , sight seeing and other fun activities.  

Career

RJ moved to Hollywood in 2006 along with his family to support his younger sister Lacianne's career, she had got print, commercial work and a role in a film project, Soon after the move, RJ also took up training with the Los Angeles talent manager Addison K. Witt. Addison and talent agent Debra Manners encouraged him to take up auditions.

RJ's first audition for a role was in the medical drama Grey's anotomy. However his first role was in Hannah Montana(2007), where he played School Jock in the episode "Schooly Bully"

Modeling

He modeled for GAP, An American clothing and accessories retailer in 2014. In 2015 he walked the ramp in Berlin, Milan and New York City for designer Vivienne Westwood and others. He has appeared on billboards across the world, from Dubai to Tokyo.

Breaking Bad

RJ's big break came with Breaking bad. He gained country wide popularity for his role in Breaking Bad as Walter White. Though he has the same disorder as his character in Breaking Bad, his real condition is much milder and he had to slow his talking and walk with crutches for his role. He got many nominations for his role including at the Screen Actors Guild Award(2011, 2012), Young Artist Award(2012) and has won at Media Access Award(2013), Screen Actors Guild Award(2013)

He has appeared in a total of 62 episodes.

He ventured into production with the video Vanished: The Tara Calico Story. Wildflowers, The Kids of Widney High are his other production ventures.

He appeared as Tim in the short movie Stump(2011)

In the Series Vegas, he played Russ Auster in the episode "Paiutes"

In the horror thriller House of Last Things(2013), he played Tim, disabled brother of lead character Kelly played by Lindsey Haun

In the short movie Weird Science 2: Strange Chemistry(2013), he played a Nerd character

Switched at birth

In the ABC family drama Created by Lizzy Weiss, RJ played the recurring role of Campbell Bingman, a pre-med student on wheelchair who volunteers at the free clinic. He dates Daphne when she worked at the free clinic.

He appears in a total of 9 episodes in season 3.

In the crime drama Dixieland, he played CJ, a deceptive character. It was the first non handicapped role DJ played. The film was premiered at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival.

Who's Driving Doug

In the college cmodey drama Who's Driving Doug, DJ plays the titular role of Doug. 

DJ plays Doug, an introvert college student who has muscular dystrophy and goes on road trip with Scott (Ray William Johnson) and Stephanie (Paloma wiatkowski). Daphne Zuniga plays his mother Alison

He voiced Walter White Jr. in the animation series Robot Chicken in the episode Food (S8E18)

The Recall(2017)

In the 2017 Canadian sci-fi horror movie The Recall, RJ played Brendan, one of the friends who witness the alien attack while on vacation

Wesley Snipes, Jedidiah Goodacre, Niko Pepaj, Laura Bilgeri appeared in the lead roles.

In the series On Hiatus with Monty Geer, he played Ronnie Jones in the episode "Morning Person" (S2E8)

In the 2017 movie Mower Boy written and directed by John W. Lawson, he appeared in the lead role. 

In the series Chance, he played Solomon in the episode "The Collected Works of William Shakespeare"

In the 2018 Mexican thriller drama "Time Share", he played Tom, a sinister American manager

In the 2019 comedy short film, "Retired Cupid", he played RJ 

In the series "This Close", he played TJ Black in the episode "Who we are"

In the 2018 thriller film River Runs Red, he played Officer Thomas. John Cusack, George Lopez, Taye Diggs, Luke Hemsworth appeared in the main roles.

In the comedy series "Now Apocalypse", he appeared in 2 episodes as Leif

Standing Up for Sunny(2019)

In the 2019 Romantic comedy drama "Standing Up for Sunny" written and directed by Steven Vidler, RJ played the lead role of Travis. RJ plays a introverted man affected by cerebral palsy who is forced to help a female stand up comedian. In the process he finds love and acceptance.

In the Joey Travolta directed drama movie Carol of The Bells, he played a man with a troubled past who is in search of his biological mother. 

In the drama film All the Little Things We Kill(2019), RJ played Jamie King. The film is about a teacher who takes her students hostage to force a bill that bans semi-automatic weapons.

In the mystery thriller "The Oak Room" directed by Cody Calahan, he appears in the lead role of Steve. It is based on the play of the same name by Peter Genoway.

Triumph (2021)

In this inspirational drama movie directed by Brett Leonard, RJ plays a determined high school senior who is striving to be a wrestler despite his cerebral palsy. Who goes on extreme struggles to give his best.

RJ also produced this inspiratonal movie based on real life events. Colton Haynes, Johnathon Schaech, Grace Victoria Cox, Terrence Howard played the main roles.

In the Netflix animation series The Guardians of Justice written and directed by Adi Shankar, RJ played Mind Master

In the 2023 movie The Unseen, he played Tommy Olson

He appeared in the podcast series "The Bex Moore Show" in an episode

In "HCBS Final Rule: The Animated Series" he voiced Lorenzo, the lead character.

Filmography

Movies

TV Series

Music Videos

Interesting Facts

• RJ Mitte especially chooses characters which suit his physical condition so that he can rise social awareness about his state.
• In 2013 Mitte won Harold Russell Award for his role of Walter White in Breaking Bad(2008-13)
• Mitte was nominated as the spokesperson for actors with disabilities by the Screen Actors Guild.
• He wants to venture into Film Direction.
• He was teased by friends in school for his braces, they would shout "Run, Forrest, run"
• His younger sister Lacianne Carriere will be starring in the movie Wildflowers, which Mitte is producing.
• He appeared on the cover page of Neurology Now(February 2015), a magazine published by American Academy of Neurology.
• Mitte is an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy, a nonprofit charity organization working for wellbeing of kids with disabilities.
• He became romantically linked with Miley Cyrus on the sets of Hannah Montana (2007)
• The Breakfast King: A name given by his fans for his role in Breaking Bad.
• He wants to continue his studies and to get a Masters in business.
• He likes: Dirt Biking, Go-Karting.
• He attends the charity events held by Arts For A Better Tomorrow.
• He used to sell Sandwiches at school unknown to his mother when he was a kid. He liked the idea of making money.
• He likes buying Vintage clothes from Thrift stores, he feels those clothes are the best ones.
• He drives -67 Mercury Cougar, they have a family car Mercedes ML350
• He doesn't like buying new cars, he prefers used ones and likes bargaining the price.
• Costliest thing he has ever bought: Louis Vuitton shoes costing $1200.
• RJ is a motivational speaker, he is often invited to give inspirational speeches.
• Football: He likes football and he has played as a Goal keeper or Center-forward
• Dazed and Confused Magazine called him "an overnight Fashion sensation." [2]

Activism & Philanthropy

• He launched the campaign #CutTheBull in October 2014 to help kids with disabilities.
• He supports the charity work through SCOPE in the UK.
• He spends one quarter of his time in charity work.
• United Cerebral Palsy: He is an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy, an international nonoprofit charity which works for the betterment of children with disabilities
• American Academy of Neurology: He appeared in the coverpage of Neurology Now, a magazine published by the American Academy of Neurology, the coverage included a short biography of RJ, along with his views on the disorder, bullying he faced, his acting career..

Awards

Quotes

• A lot of times kids are the most reasonable people, they don't have to deal with all the adult drama.
• You can do anything if you set goals. You just have to push yourself.
• The people that you have around you are your biggest influence.
• My sister is a mess. I love her to death, but she is a mess.
• You can never use excuses because they always run out.
• To everyone that's voting please know your rights and what you are voting on.
• Never be afraid to take the risk enjoy the ride you will go down its a long one but it's usually worth it.
• A disability isn't a weakness its knowledge and strength.
• I’ve always treated money with respect, but I don’t really think about money – I don’t like what money does to people.
• I find if you get too much money involved, people get corrupted.
• I think being generous is the whole point of having a little bit extra.
• I wouldn’t be in the position I am in today without my disability.
• You can do anything if you set goals, You just have to push yourself.

Sources

1. RJ Mitte on Wikipedia
2. RJ Mitte imdb bio
3.