FILE - RJ Mitte poses for a portrait to promote the film, "Time Share", at the Music Lodge during the Sundance Film Festival, Jan. 20, 2018, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP, File)

Updated at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — “Breaking Bad” actor and disability rights advocate RJ Mitte died Monday at age 34, authorities and his representatives said.

Cameron County Justice of the Peace Cyndi Hinojosa told The Associated Press she declared Mitte dead at about 1:30 p.m. at what she believed was his home in Brownsville, Texas. She said she was unable to provide a cause, but an autopsy will be performed.

Mitte played Walter White Jr., the son of Bryan Cranston’s chemistry teacher-turned-meth dealer Walter White on nearly every episode of the five seasons of the AMC show, which recently ranked as the best of the 21st century in a New York Times poll.

“Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion,” Mitte’s representatives said in a statement announcing his death. The statement said he used “his platform to challenge stereotypes and promote greater representation for people with disabilities.”

Mitte has also starred in multiple films from Lawrence filmmaker Michael Coffey, including “Triumph,” about a high school student with cerebral palsy who strives to become a wrestler and “One Eye Open,” which filmed in Lawrence and is scheduled to release in select AMC Theatres on Friday.

Coffey told the Journal-World that he was shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Mitte’s death.

“It was so nice to work with RJ again when I cast him in ‘One Eye Open,'” Coffey said via email. “We quickly re-bonded like brothers and got to work. RJ delivered a great performance. He will be greatly missed by all of the lives he touched.”