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RJ Mitte

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RJ Mitte
Mitte in 2024
Born (1992-08-21) August 21, 1992 (age 32)
Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
Years active2006–present

Roy Frank "RJ" Mitte III (/ˈmɪti/; born August 21, 1992)[1] 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.[2] After making cameos in sitcoms, he was cast in his breakthrough role as Walter White Jr. on the AMC crime drama series Breaking Bad (2008–2013).[3]

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 such as 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

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Mitte was born in Jackson, Mississippi.[4] He was delivered by emergency caesarean and was not breathing at the time of his birth, which resulted in permanent brain damage. He was adopted a few weeks later by Michael Scott Mitte 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.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7][8]

Mitte was raised by his mother following the separation of his parents. After his mother became paralyzed, Mitte became financially responsible at age 13 for the family, which by then also included his sister who was born when he was 11 years old. As of 2015, he was still financially responsible for his mother and sister.[9]

Career

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RJ Mitte speaking at Texas A&M University–Commerce in April 2015

After receiving several roles as an extra, including in the Disney series Hannah Montana,[10] 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.[3]

The cast of Breaking Bad at San Diego Comic-Con in 2018. L-R: Aaron Paul, Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Mitte, Dean Norris.

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.[11] 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.[12]

Mitte starred in the short horror film Stump in 2011.[13] That same year, he worked as executive producer of the documentary Vanished: The Tara Calico Story, about the disappearance of Tara Calico.[14] 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.[15] Mitte modeled for a spring 2014 Gap ad campaign.[16]

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.[17] He was also named a celebrity ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy in 2015.[18]

Mitte went on to walk the catwalk for Vivienne Westwood in June 2015.[19] 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.[20] He appeared in the video for "If I Get High" by Nothing But Thieves in 2016.

Personal life

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Mitte revealed in an Instagram post that he has been in a relationship with Kennedy Blaire since 2022.[21]

Filmography

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Film

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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 Thomas
2019 Standing Up for Sunny Travis
2020 Not a Game Self Documentary
The Oak Room Steve
2021 Triumph Mike Also executive producer[22]
2023 The Unseen Tommy Olson [23]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2006 Everybody Hates Chris Audience Member Uncredited; episode: "Everybody Hates Elections"
2007 Hannah Montana School Jock Uncredited; episode: "Schooly Bully"[24]
2008–2013 Breaking Bad Walter White Jr. Main role
2013 Vegas Russ Auster Episode: "Paiutes"
2014 Switched at Birth Campbell Bingman Recurring role; 9 episodes
2016 Robot Chicken Walter White Jr. (voice) Episode: "Food"[25]
2017 The Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls Participant Series 2
Chance Patient at convention Episode: "The Collected Works of William Shakespeare"
2018 This Close Solomon Episode: "Who We Are"
2019 Now Apocalypse Leif Recurring role; 2 episodes
2022 The Guardians of Justice Mind Master Main role

Music videos

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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

Awards and nominations

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Award Year Category Project Result
Media Access Awards 2013 SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award Breaking Bad Awarded[11]
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2012 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Breaking Bad Nominated[26]
2013 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Breaking Bad Nominated[27]
2014 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Breaking Bad Won[28]
Young Artist Awards 2012 Best Performance in a TV Series – Recurring Young Actor 17–21 Breaking Bad Nominated[29]

References

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  1. ^ "Birthday: RJ Mitte". August 18, 2017.
  2. ^ Gary Strauss (February 20, 2008). "For teen star of 'Breaking Bad,' real-life disability is no obstacle". USA Today. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
  3. ^ a b Tina Calabro (March 17, 2010). "'Breaking Bad' actor RJ Mitte finds 'perfect role' prepared him to become an activist". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
  4. ^ "RJ Mitte of 'Breaking Bad' on Living with Cerebral Palsy". YouTube. October 10, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  5. ^ "RJ Mitte of 'Breaking Bad' on Living with Cerebral Palsy". YouTube. June 9, 2020.
  6. ^ Natasha Wasinkski (October 10, 2013). "'Breaking Bad's' R.J. Mitte talks about living with cerebral palsy". Chicago Sun-Times.
  7. ^ Calabro, Tina (March 17, 2010). "'Breaking Bad' actor RJ Mitte finds 'perfect role' prepared him to become an activist". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  8. ^ Turnquist, Kristi (October 21, 2010). "'Breaking Bad' costar RJ Mitte on ability, disabilities, and filming in Portland". The Oregonian. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  9. ^ Ferguson, Donna (February 17, 2016). "RJ Mitte: 'Breaking Bad didn't even make me a millionaire'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  10. ^ Clements, Erin (September 18, 2013). "RJ Mitte, Miley Cyrus Appeared On 'Hannah Montana' Together". The Huffington Post.
  11. ^ a b "2013 Media Access Awards". Writers Guild of America. November 1, 2013. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014.
  12. ^ Wolfe, Kathi (April 2012). "For Mitte, 'Bad' Rep is Good". Independence Today.
  13. ^ "Stump (2011)". IMDb. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  14. ^ "Vanished: The Tara Calico Story". Indiegogo. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  15. ^ Philiana Ng (January 2, 2014). "'Switched at Birth': 'Breaking Bad's' R.J. Mitte Makes His Debut". The Hollywood Reporter.
  16. ^ GAP Spring Campaign 2014
  17. ^ Childers, Linda (February 2015). "Breaking Good: After the role of a lifetime, Breaking Bad's RJ Mitte is busting stereotypes about cerebral palsy and speaking out against bullying". Neurology Now. 11 (1). American Academy of Neurology: 22–25. doi:10.1097/01.NNN.0000461241.05321.d5. S2CID 147052248.
  18. ^ "Celebrity Ambassadors". Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  19. ^ Time. Breaking Bad Walt Jr. Vivienne Westwood Fashion Show
  20. ^ "Breaking Bad actor RJ Mitte joins Channel 4's Paralympics presenters | Channel 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  21. ^ "Happy birthday my baby !!! It's been an amazing year and it's far from over many more memories !!!". instagram.com.
  22. ^ "Out today! In @cinemark theaters "Triumph" tells the story of A high school senior in the 1980s who aspires to join the wrestling team. Because he has cerebral palsy, even adults who admire his resolve — like Coach Warren (Terrence Howard), who teaches Mike in a phys-ed class, and Mike's single father (Johnathon Schaech) — don't initially believe he can do it. Directed by Brett Leonard, the film was inspired by the experiences of its screenwriter, Michael D. Coffey. Triumph Rated PG-13. Wrestling violence. Running time: 1 hour 40 minutes. In theaters". instagram.com.
  23. ^ "Jennifer A. Goodman Thriller 'The Unseen' Starring 'Breaking Bad's RJ Mitte Acquired By Gravitas Ventures". deadline.com. March 16, 2023.
  24. ^ Clements, Erin (September 18, 2013). "RJ Mitte, Miley Cyrus Appeared On 'Hannah Montana' Together". Huffington Post. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  25. ^ Rohn, Jake. "Exclusive: RJ Mitte Is Down To Voice 'Walter White Jr.' In A Robot Chicken Movie". Movie Ranker. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  26. ^ "18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards. January 29, 2012.
  27. ^ "19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards. January 27, 2013.
  28. ^ "20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards. January 18, 2014.
  29. ^ "34th Annual Young Artist Awards". Young Artist Awards. May 5, 2013.
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