I'm actor RJ Mitte AKA Walt "Flynn" Junior from Breaking Bad. Ask me anything!

[u/RJ_Mitte]

Hi, I’m actor and model RJ Mitte. I played Walt Junior in Breaking Bad.

When I was three I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy but it’s never held me back. I’m here in the UK today with disability charity Scope where I’ve been talking to young Brits with disabilities about how I started my career. (photos here)

I want to challenge attitudes about people with disabilities and encourage the UK TV industry to be more diverse.

I'll be here to answer your questions from 4:30pm GMT (11:30am EST).

Ask me anything!

Proof: https://twitter.com/RjMitte/status/538350784078184448

** Update **

Thank you all so much for your questions. So sorry I couldn't get to all of you. Thank you, I hope you enjoyed what I was able to do. If you want to continue, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook - @RJMitte. Thank you all so much. Hope everyone had a great holiday.

[u/GO_RAVENS]

One thing that I always enjoyed and admired about your character was that it wasn't based on your disability, but rather it was just a character that had a disability - it was incidental to the larger story. They could have done the lazy thing and just made every scene "look at how hard it is being disabled" or "look at how hard it is to have a disabled son" but I think they did a great job "normalizing" the character's role in the story. The disability was a part of it, but not at all the focus of the character.

This leads me to a few questions:

1. Do you think that the acting industry needs to do more to include disabled people (and other minorities for that matter) in roles that don't depend on that status? I.e. a black actor who isn't just there for the "black guy" perspective or a gay or lesbian whose entire character isn't centered on their being gay.

2. Was the role of Flynn originally intended to be a disabled character, and if so, is that why you auditioned for the part?

3. Do you worry about being unable to find roles in the future that aren't based on your disability? Do you audition for parts that don't specifically call for your disability?

[u/[deleted]]

You spoke at a local university recently and I couldn't get tickets (darn).

How do you feel about able-bodied people in most of the (very rare) roles for people who have disabilities? Do you have any thoughts about the fact that most roles for those with disabilities are acquired disabilities rather than ones you are born with?

What can we, as an audience, do to change? It feels like the producers want to please the audience, but we also have so few chances to prove that we can love and accept actors who have disabilities.

[u/[deleted]]

[u/jerrylikeseggs]

Hey RJ,

My nephew was born 3 months premature due to an infection. He ended up having a stage 4 brain bleed on his right side, and a stage 3 on his left. The docs told my sister he wouldn't make it and if he did, he would basically be a vegetable. He now is about to turn 4 years old, has mild cerebral palsy but is walking (with little tiny ankle braces) fairly well, talking like a 4 year old should, and has proved everyone wrong.

He always says he wants to be a basketball player when he grows up, and your story has brought a ton of hope and inspiration to our family.

Would it be possible to get a note and maybe a signature from you to give to him? His birthday is December 21st.

[u/Priscilla85]

Hi RJ, Thanks for being such a great example and role model in promoting diversity in the industry, it is much needed. My questions are:

1. How long do you think it will take for disabled actors to be accepted as the norm in film and TV (presuming hopefully it will happen), and what would that look like for you ideally?

2. Do you think with how far TV has come in terms of the amount of critically acclaimed interesting and diverse roles being written, it is a better place at the moment for disabled people and other minorities than the film industry generally?

[u/[deleted]]

Hope you dont mind me asking, do you think acting helped your disability? I have CP, always wanted to act but was turned away from drama school. I do wonder if it would have helped my CP.

[u/Kingy_who]

What difficulties has your disability brought to your acting career? Do you think it has helped or hindered you more? Any advice for young people with similar disabilities?

[u/livsagayfish]

What was it like working on Switched at Birth? Did you learn any sign language? What was your favorite memory from the set?

[u/[deleted]]

What was one lesson you learned playing Walter Jr.? Did Bryan Cranston's character teach you anything that impacted you life?

[u/AndrewZee]

A while ago on Aaron Paul's AMA, I believe he said that Cranston never wore pants in scenes that didn't require his below-the-waist parts. Is this true?

[u/Shunshundy]

I see that you are talking with young Brits about how you started your career. Can you tell us how you got your start?

[u/ButterNP]

Any new projects that you're working on?

[u/yours_duly]

Your name according to Wiki is Roy Frank Mitte III. I am curious what is J in RJ?

[u/jurwin]

You and Jesse (Aaron Paul) were the only two main characters to not ever have a scene together in Breaking Bad. Were there any that got deleted?

[u/it_was_my_raccoon]

When you were first pitched the idea of the show, how many seasons did you think the show had the potential to do?

[u/richardwrinkle]

Would you say that people treat you differently now that you became a succesfull actor compared to before you made it on the big screen?

[u/joshgilbert11]

What is your favourite Breaking Bad episode?

Edit: Or favorite, pardon my Canadian spelling

[u/ksado111]

How did "Breaking Bad" react to your disability? Did you feel it affected your experiences and 'fitting in' during the first stages of the show?

[u/Sxi139]

If you didnt become an actor, what do you think you would do as a job?

[u/kazzumarts]

Hi RJ! I should start by saying I loved your performance in Breaking Bad, it must have been great to be part of such a triumphant success!

I work for a small charity theatre company based in London, called Kazzum. Yesterday we celebrated our 25th anniversary. We work with young people from different backgrounds, and have a history of working with young disabled people.

One of the biggest goals for us is to increase self-confidence, which sometimes means helping people to realise that they are, in fact, just as capable as anybody else when it comes to theatre (and everything else!).

What advice would you give to the young people we work with, given that you're one of a relative few stars who has a disability?

Congratulations on your success!

Edit: Link to website Edit 2: Missed 'stars'

[u/[deleted]]

Hi RJ!

I love your drive to create better opportunities for disabled actors. What specifically do you think needs to be done from the audience perspective to better the chances?

[u/Direbrian]

Hey bud,

Did you hold onto any mementos from the set? If so, what are your favorite keepsakes from your time working on the show?

[u/[deleted]]

[u/[deleted]]

Who do you think was a better son to Bryan Cranston, you, or Frankie Muniz?

[u/sambrosia]

Hi RJ! I just wanted to thank you for using your powers for good. I teach kids with a variety of disabilities and differences, and when they get upset or worried about how they "can't" do things in the future, I like using you and Lauren Potter as shining examples of going out to achieve big dreams. Scope is a great organization, and you're doing fantastic things by partnering with them!

A few other questions...

1. How did you overcome negative perception/judgement/bias that stemmed from your disability, particularly in pursuing an acting career?

2. What's the best piece of advice anyone ever gave you?

Thanks again!