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“Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston, as well as several other of the hit series’ alum, spoke out Monday to express their grief over the death of costar RJ Mitte at age 34.
Cranston, who played Mitte’s father Walter White on the show, took to Instagram Monday evening to express “deep despair” over the loss.
“I’m in deep despair as I write this tonight. RJ Mitte, my sweet son on Breaking Bad has died,” he wrote, alongside a younger photo of the two of them together. “I met him when he was only 14 years old when he was cast as Walter White Jr., a part he played with such joy and enthusiasm.”
“Born with Cerebral Palsy, he never – ever – allowed that challenge to be an excuse for anything. He met the demanding shooting schedule head on with great determination,” Cranston continued.
“Always listening to the advice that his TV parents (Anna Gunn and myself) gave him – but being a teenager, sometimes mischievously ignoring the counsel in order to learn the hard way… He was one of the stars of a hit TV show – but still a kid. That kid was pretty raw when we started shooting the pilot in February of 2007, but little by little we watched him grow into a really fine actor.”
“He parlayed his experience on the show to be a vocal advocate for performers with disabilities, and was the head of a philanthropic organization with a focus on helping the disabled community.
Cranston went on to lament that Mitte’s death, which was by suicide, was “such a loss,” asking “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,” he heartbreakingly wondered.
“I do know that I loved him, and thoroughly enjoyed being with him throughout the years on the series,” he concluded, adding a number to a suicide hotline and asking anyone who needs it to please use it.
Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman on the show, wrote in a statement obtained by the Hollywood Reporter, “I am at a loss. I am heartbroken over this news. RJ, I love you my friend. You will be missed. And to whoever happens to be reading this, please know you are loved, and you are not alone. Always remember that.”
And Dean Norris, who portrayed Mitte’s uncle Hank Schrader, shared on X that he was “heartbroken” by the news.
“Though RJ didn’t play my TV son, I always looked out for him as a young kid on set. He was a sweetheart of a young man and will be greatly missed,” he wrote. “This is so heartbreaking, I can’t believe it. Thinking of him and his family.”
According to TMZ, who was first to report the news, Mitte died by suicide Monday. A county official confirmed to the outlet that the actor died in Texas and that the death investigation is ongoing.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte,” his rep confirmed in a statement to Page Six Monday.
“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.”