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Bryan Cranston mourns 'Breaking Bad' co-star RJ Mitte
Bryan Cranston mourned RJ Mitte, expressing deep sadness over his “Breaking Bad” co-star’s death and remembering him as a talented performer and advocate for people with disabilities.
In an Instagram post, Bryan recalled meeting RJ when he was just 14 years old after being cast as Walter White Jr., the son of Bryan’s character, Walter White, in the television series.
“I’m in deep despair as I write this tonight. RJ Mitte, my sweet son on Breaking Bad has died,” Bryan said.
Bryan praised RJ for his determination while working on the series, noting that the actor was born with cerebral palsy but never allowed the condition to hold him back.
He also recalled how RJ listened to the advice of his onscreen parents, played by Bryan and Anna Gunn, while sometimes choosing to learn lessons on his own as a teenager.
“He was one of the stars of a hit TV show - but still a kid,” he said.
The actor said RJ grew from an inexperienced young performer into a fine actor throughout the series, which began filming its pilot in February 2007.
Beyond acting, RJ used his experience to advocate for performers with disabilities and led a philanthropic organization focused on helping the disabled community, Bryan said.
“All that promise and potential now is such a loss. It is especially devastating to hear that he took his own life. Why? We were texting each other just a few weeks ago - figuring out when we could meet for lunch. I don’t know if that lunch would have changed his future… But I do know that I loved him, and thoroughly enjoyed being with him throughout the years on the series, and after the spotlight on Breaking Bad dimmed,” he said.
“I’ll miss you, son,” Bryan added.
He ended his message by encouraging people who may be contemplating suicide to seek help, sharing the contact information for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the United States.
“There is hope,” he said.
RJ died on Monday. He was 34.
He also played a high school wrestler with cerebral palsy in the 2021 coming-of-age drama "Triumph." He was a Screen Actors Guild spokesman for performers with disabilities and a celebrity ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy.
—Carby Rose Basina/CDC, GMA News
