Roy Frank "RJ" Mitte III (; born August 21, 1992) is an American actor and producer. Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Mitte was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was three. He moved to Hollywood in 2006, and worked with a personal talent manager to find acting opportunities where his disability could educate viewers. After playing minor roles in sitcoms, he was cast in his breakthrough role as Walter White Jr. on the AMC crime drama series Breaking Bad (2008–2013).
Mitte has starred in the ABC family drama series Switched at Birth (2014) and the Netflix animated series The Guardians of Justice (2022). He has appeared in films like Who's Driving Doug, the thriller drama Time Share (2018), the independent comedy Standing Up for Sunny (2019), the thriller The Oak Room (2020), and the drama Triumph (2021), the lattermost of which he executive produced.
Mitte has advocated for cerebral palsy and other disabilities. He is a Screen Actors Guild spokesman for actors with disabilities, and a celebrity ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy. He received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award in 2013.
Early life Roy Frank Mitte III was born on August 21, 1992, in Jackson, Mississippi. He was delivered by emergency caesarean and was not breathing at the time of his birth, which resulted in permanent brain damage (hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy). 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; he no longer needed any walking devices by his teenage years. In 2006, he relocated to Los Angeles, California with his family since his younger sister, Lacianne Carriere, got a job offer in a movie production.
Mitte was raised by his mother following his parents' separation. After she became paralyzed, Mitte assumed financial responsibility for his family at the age of 13, which by then also included his sister, who had been born when he was 11. As of 2015, he remained financially responsible for both his mother and sister.
Career
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., a character 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.
Mitte starred in the short horror film Stump in 2011. That same year, he worked as executive producer of the documentary Vanished: The Tara Calico Story, about the disappearance of Tara Calico. Mitte was cast in the 2012 thriller film House of Last Things.
Mitte appeared in the 2013 music video for "Dead Bite" by rapcore band Hollywood Undead. In January 2014, he 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. Mitte modeled for a spring 2014 Gap ad campaign.GAP Spring Campaign 2014
Mitte appeared on the cover of the February/March 2015 issue of Neurology Now (published by the American Academy of Neurology). The issue included a short biography and his views on cerebral palsy, bullying, and his acting career. He was also named a celebrity ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy in 2015.
Mitte went on to walk the catwalk for Vivienne Westwood in June 2015. On 17 November 2015, Mitte was announced to be a presenter as part of British Channel 4's coverage of the 2016 Rio Summer Paralympics. He appeared in the music video for "If I Get High" by Nothing but Thieves in 2016.
Personal life Mitte revealed in an Instagram post in 2023 that he had been in a relationship with Kennedy Suarez since 2018. In October 2025, he announced their engagement.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 2011 Stump Short film 2013 House of Last Things Tim 2015 Dixieland CJ 2016 Who's Driving Doug Doug 2017 The Recall Brendan 2018 Time Share Tom Retired Cupid RJ Short film Rivers Run Red Officer Thomas2019 Standing Up for Sunny Travis Carol of the Bells Scott Johnson 2020 Not a Game Self Documentary The Oak Room Steve 2021 Triumph Mike Also executive producer 2023 The Unseen Tommy Olson
Television Year Title Role Notes 2006 Everybody Hates Chris Audience Member Uncredited; episode: "Everybody Hates Elections" 2007 Hannah Montana School Jock Uncredited; episode: "Schooly Bully" 2008–2013 Breaking BadWalter White Jr. Main role 2013 Vegas Russ Auster Episode: "Paiutes" 2014Switched at Birth Campbell Bingman Recurring role; 9 episodes 2016 Robot Chicken Walter White Jr. (voice) Episode: "Food" 2017 The Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls Participant Series 2ChancePatient at conventionEpisode: "The Collected Works of William Shakespeare"2018This CloseSolomonEpisode: "Who We Are"2019Now ApocalypseLeifRecurring role; 2 episodes2022The Guardians of JusticeMind MasterMain role
Music videos Year Title Artist Notes 2013 "Dead Bite" Hollywood Undead "Party Like Tomorrow is the End of the World" Steel Panther 2016 "If I Get High" Nothing but Thieves "In the Dark" 3 Doors Down 2024 "Never Really Know" Kameron Marlowe
Awards and nominations AwardYearCategoryProjectResultMedia Access Awards2013SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell AwardBreaking BadScreen Actors Guild Awards2012Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesBreaking Bad2013Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesBreaking Bad2014Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesBreaking BadYoung Artist Awards2012Best Performance in a TV Series – Recurring Young Actor 17–21Breaking Bad
References
External links
RJ Mitte discusses Breaking Bad at AMCTV.com, 2009 RJ Mitte — Breaking Bad Is Good Interview with ABILITY Magazine