Celebrity Death

RJ Mitte struggled with getting cast as a disabled actor in Hollywood ... at least according to years of text messages he exchanged with a friend.

According to messages obtained by Daily Mail, RJ often griped to his friend about the challenges he faced in the industry, particularly when it came to the representation of disabled actors.

In a message from April 7, 2017, he wrote ... "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 added ... "They get real uncomfortable when I say that."

1:42pm PT -- RJ's reps tell TMZ ... "It is with profound sadness we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte."

"RJ Mitte was best known for his role as Walter 'Flynn' White Jr. on AMC’s critically acclaimed, award-winning series Breaking Bad. Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion," his reps continue, "Beyond entertaining friends and family around the world, he served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s."

RJ Mitte -- who played Walter White Jr. on "Breaking Bad" -- is dead ... TMZ has learned.

A county official confirmed to TMZ that RJ died Monday in Texas. We're told he died by suicide.

Law enforcement tells us the death investigation is ongoing.

RJ Mitte checked an item off his bucket list days before his death ... taking his first hot air balloon ride alongside his "Breaking Bad" costar Luis Moncada.

RJ, who played Walter White Jr. on the hit AMC series, reunited with Luis at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico on October 4 ... just 8 days before his death.

Luis played Marco Salamanca, one of the notorious Salamanca twins on the show.

In a touching statement, StrangeKind Ballooning says RJ was all smiles during the outing, greeting passengers, laughing with the crew, and making everyone feel welcome.

Aaron Paul is honoring his "Breaking Bad" costar RJ Mitte following his tragic death.

On Monday, Aaron said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, "RJ, I love you my friend. You will be missed.”

Aaron added, "And to whoever happens to be reading this, please know you are loved, and you are not alone. Always remember that."

Amber Siyavus, who competed on Season 8 of "Big Brother," is dead ... TMZ has learned.

Amber died Friday ... according to records from the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner in Nevada.

Her cause and manner of death are both listed as pending.

James Lew, the Hollywood stuntman and martial artist, died from congestive heart failure ... TMZ has learned.

We obtained Lew's death certificate from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, which shows he died August 23 at an assisted living facility in L.A.

The document lists "end-stage congestive heart failure" as his cause of death. No other significant conditions were listed.

Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber are venturing back out into public after their son Presley's tragic passing ... holding hands during an outing in Malibu.

The pair were spotted holding hands on Zuma Beach ... wearing athletic attire.

Cindy wore a long-sleeve white shirt and leggings while Rande wore his own white shirt and athletic shorts. They both added caps to their ensembles.

Bob Mackie's death wasn't just the result of pneumonia as previously reported ... his death certificate reveals he suffered a serious head injury after a fall just days before his passing.

According to the death certificate obtained by Us Weekly, Mackie's immediate cause of death was listed as a subarachnoid hemorrhage ... bleeding around the brain and blunt head trauma.

The documents reveal Mackie fell September 11 at the home of his longtime design director, Joseph McFate. He died three days later, September 14, at a hospital in Palm Springs.

Mariusz Komenda has died after a months-long battle with brain cancer.

The "MasterChef Poland" star's death was announced Wednesday by the show's production team, TVN, which paid tribute to Komenda in an emotional social media post.

Komenda was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in January after being hospitalized for what doctors initially believed was a possible stroke.

Landlords really have no shame ... because the person who was renting out a home to Gypsy Rose Blanchard's baby dad, Ken Urker, asked his family for rent ... one week after Ken died.

Urker family sources tell TMZ ... Ken's relatives cleaned out the unit -- where he died on October 1 -- leaving it spotless. We're told the landlord inspected the place, thanked the family, and then reached out to Ken's mom Wednesday to ask about missing October rent.

Ken had been dead for exactly 7 days when the landlord came crawling back for money ... and our sources say the family felt the timing was inappropriate, especially because Ken had paid a security deposit they believed should cover October's $1,400 rent.

Mike Ditka -- one of the most legendary figures in NFL history -- is dead.

The Pro Football Hall of Famer's family announced his death Friday, saying in a statement ... "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mike Ditka."

The family continues ... "While the world knew Mike as a Hall of Fame football player, legendary coach, and leader of the Chicago Bears' Super Bowl XX championship team, we knew him as the heart of our family."

They add ... "Mike will be missed beyond measure and remembered forever."

The cause of death is unclear.

C.W. Morgan, famous for playing Ghostface killer Billy Loomis' father in "Scream," is dead ... TMZ has learned.

Medical Examiner records seen by TMZ show the actor died August 30 in Los Angeles County. His cause and manner of death are unclear ... but the records indicate he died in a bathroom.

An LAPD spokesperson tells TMZ ... officers responded to a call for a death investigation and the death appears to have been from natural causes. An LAFD spokesperson tells us they received a call for an unconscious adult male. Morgan was not transported because the incident became a coroner’s case.

Charles Manson family killer Patricia Krenwinkel is on the doorstep of freedom after being recommended for parole in California ... but Governor Gavin Newsom could still step in and keep her locked up.

Krenwinkel, who was among the Manson family members convicted in the Tate-LaBianca murders in 1969, was granted parole on a preliminary basis Tuesday ... according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

It's the third time 78-year-old Krenwinkel has been approved for parole ... Newsom used his power to prevent her release the previous two times ... and it will be interesting to see if he does so again or if the third time's the charm for Krenwinkel.

PAC wasn't breathing when he was found unconscious in his car in a parking lot ... according to 911 audio obtained by TMZ.

In the call, you hear a woman say PAC was lying very still in his running vehicle ... she says she tried waking him up, but he wouldn't stir.

At first, the woman incorrectly identifies PAC as a woman ... and says he's passed out in a gray Volkswagen next to her own vehicle.

Quavo and Offset may be called as witnesses to testify on behalf of Takeoff's mom in her legal fight with the late Migos rapper's dad ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, Takeoff's mom, Titania Davenport, is fighting her ex, Kenneth Ball, over how much he will get from a settlement payment.

In her papers, she's arguing the matter should be handled in Georgia rather than Texas, noting that all of the relevant witnesses  -- including Quavo and Offset -- reside in the Atlanta/Athens area.

A contractor who appeared as a guest on the hit HGTV show "Go Big or Go Home" died while hiking one of the most notorious mountains in California.

Kalem Peter Kazarian died in Sequoia National Park earlier this week ... and local reports say he was hiking Mount Whitney when he mysteriously passed.

According to the California Post, the Tulare County Coroner's Office has not yet revealed a cause of death.