RJ Mitte's sudden passing has left everyone shocked. The actor was 34 when he died. Now his recollection of how he found out he was adopted has resurfaced.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleThe 34-year-old actor, RJ Mitte, best known for playing 'Walter White Jr.', the physically disabled son of a methamphetamine kingpin in the acclaimed television series Breaking Bad, died on Monday, October 12, 2026. His talent management agency confirmed his death soon after in a statement. Although the agency did not provide further details about the circumstances of his death, it has brought back attention to the actor's personal life, including how he found out he was adopted.
RJ Mitte was born in Mississippi on August 21, 1992. He was adopted by Roy Frank Mitte Jr. and Dyna Mitte when he was only a few weeks old. However, the couple got a divorce when he was just two months old. After their split, he spent time between his paternal grandparents' ranch in Texas and his mother's parents' farm in Louisiana.
However, he didn't always know that he was adopted. The revelation came when he was around six years old. In a candid conversation with The Sydney Morning Herald, RJ Mitte recalled that his stepbrother was the one who came to him and told him that he was adopted and that his parents didn't love him. While he initially didn't believe him, his parents, Roy Frank Mitte Jr. and Dyna Mitte, confirmed that he was. He recalled the incident and said:
"I was about six when I was told that I was adopted. My stepbrother heard my mom and my then-stepdad talking and said to me, 'You are adopted. They don't love you.' I didn't believe him, but my parents confirmed that I was. I was like, 'Okay.'"
RJ Mitte often spoke about being a devoted son and brother on several occasions. He revealed that the reason his mother, Dyna Mitte, adopted him was that she was told she wouldn't be able to have any children. He recalled that his mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which reportedly left her unable to bear children. However, 11 years later, she welcomed RJ's sister, Lacianne.
A few months after Lacianne was born, his mother, Dyna Mitte, was in a car accident, leaving her partially paralyzed for six years. The tragedy led RJ Mitte to take on his family's financial responsibilities at just 13. He recalled how his mother was a single parent at that point, and they had just moved to a new place in Louisiana, and they were afraid they would lose everything. He was quoted as saying:
"A few months later, Mom was in a car accident and was partially paralyzed for six years. After the accident, she was fired from her job. She was a single parent, and we had just moved into a new place in Louisiana and feared we would lose everything."
In the same conversation, RJ Mitte revealed that to keep his family afloat, he started working small jobs, including mowing the lawn, picking up and delivering things. He would do anything he could to keep his family afloat. He added that he devoted his life to his mother, Dyna Mitte, and sister, Lacianne Carriere. He was quoted as saying:
"I mowed lawns, picked up stuff, and took it places. I did whatever I could to scrape cash together. I have devoted my life to my mom and my sister, and I still take care of them today."
However, RJ Mitte's luck changed when his sister Lacianne was cast in a film when she was 18 months old. By the time he too had become of age to legally work in the film industry. In order to earn a living, he moved to Los Angeles, and the rest was history. He soon landed the role in Breaking Bad and never looked back.
What are your thoughts on RJ Mitte's revelation about being adopted and devoting his life to his mother and sister?
Next Read: Identity Of Man Killed By A Tiger At Yorkshire Wildlife Park Will Be Kept Private, Here's Why