Actor RJ Mitte spent years challenging Hollywood casting practices and seeking roles that did not define characters solely by disability, according to private messages obtained by the Daily Mail.
Mitte, best known for playing Walter White Jr. in Breaking Bad, discussed the barriers he faced despite his success on the AMC drama.
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of three, he advocated for disabled performers to receive opportunities to portray a wider range of characters.
In an April 2017 message to a longtime friend, Mitte described how casting professionals responded when he questioned why disabled actors were not considered for roles without disabilities written into the script.
“When I go for a part, they sometimes tell me that it’s not a character with a disability, and I’m like why can’t the character be disabled?” he wrote.
He continued auditioning, but opportunities remained inconsistent. In December 2017, he described the industry as a “Brutal biz” after a television pilot he had worked on failed to progress.
His messages also highlighted concerns about maintaining financial security between projects. In February 2019, after completing a film in Sydney, Australia, he wrote, “I would like to work enough to keep my [health] insurance. Pain in the ass lol.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mitte said he encountered additional assumptions about disabled performers’ health and insurability. He continued pursuing acting opportunities while exploring projects of his own.
In April 2022, he expressed frustration with scripts that offered limited roles and little character development. “I’m writing my own [expletive] now,” he told his friend.
Beyond acting, Mitte served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s, promoting disability awareness and inclusion.
