R.J. Mitte

RJ Mitte
Mitte in April 2015
Born	Roy Frank Mitte III (1992-08-21) August 21, 1992 (age 25) Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, film producer
Years active	2006–present
Known for	Breaking Bad (2008–2013)

Roy Frank "RJ" Mitte III (born August 21, 1992) is an American actor, producer, and model. He is best known for his role as Walter "Flynn" White Jr. on the AMC series Breaking Bad (2008–13). Like his character on the show, he has cerebral palsy. After moving to Hollywood in 2006, he began training with personal talent manager Addison Witt. They sought acting opportunities where his disability would serve to educate viewers, which led him to audition for the role in Breaking Bad.

Mitte was born in Jackson, Mississippi. He was delivered by emergency caesarian and was not breathing at the time of his birth, which resulted in permanent brain damage. He was adopted a few weeks later by Roy Frank Mitte Jr. and Dyna Mitte, who later separated. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of three, and doctors put his legs in casts for six months in an attempt to straighten his feet.

Mitte was fitted with leg braces and used crutches throughout most of his childhood; however, over time, his body became stronger through sports and exercise and he no longer needed any walking devices by the time he was a teenager. In 2006, he moved with his family to Los Angeles, where his younger sister Lacianne Carriere had received an offer for a role in a film project.

Mitte was raised by his mother following the separation of his parents, and from the age of 13 was financially responsible for the family, which by then also included his sister, born when Mitte was 11 years old. He remains responsible, and takes on multiple jobs to bring in an income.

After receiving several roles as an extra, including in the Disney series Hannah Montana, Mitte became interested in films and decided to take acting lessons. Shortly after, he was offered the role of Walter White Jr., who also has cerebral palsy, in the AMC series Breaking Bad. At the 2013 Media Access Awards, Mitte received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award for his portrayal of Walter White, Jr. on the series, and also presented the eponymous RJ Mitte Diversity Award to deaf actor Ryan Lane. The Screen Actors Guild named Mitte as the spokesman for actors with disabilities and he is the representative of "Inclusion in the Arts and Media of Performers with Disabilities", which employs artists with disabilities.