Teen star brings his disability to TV role
February 21st, 2008
From USA Today, a feature about a young actor who’s called a “babe magnet.” An excerpt:
RJ Mitte provides a unique authenticity to the disabled character he plays on AMC’s edgy new series Breaking Bad.
Bad’s Walter White Jr. has cerebral palsy. So does Mitte, 16.
But the lanky, dark-haired teen had to adjust to the role. He has a mild case of the neurologic disorder, and extensive therapy helped overcome some of its more pronounced symptoms. His character uses crutches and has a different speech pattern.
… Mitte is a rarity in a Hollywood focused on brawn and beauty. “Sometimes, if there’s a choice between someone disabled who has never acted and a talented, able-bodied actor who’s had acting jobs, the decision is to go with someone who has the experience,” says Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan. “The shame of it is that there’s wonderfully talented, untapped talent that doesn’t get a chance to work.”
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