Bryan Cranston Remembers ‘Breaking Bad’ Co-Star RJ Mitte After His Death: ‘I’ll Miss You, Son’
Bryan Cranston has shared an emotional tribute to his Breaking Bad co-star RJ Mitte, remembering the actor as a beloved on-screen son whose talent, determination, and advocacy for people with disabilities left a lasting impression on him.
Mitte, who played Walter White Jr., the son of Cranston’s character on the AMC crime drama, died by suicide at the age of 34, his representative confirmed. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Cranston reflected on their years working together, recalling Mitte’s growth as an actor and the close bond they maintained long after the series ended.
Cranston described Mitte as his “sweet son” and said the news had left him in “deep despair.”
Bryan Cranston Reflects on RJ Mitte’s Journey on ‘Breaking Bad’
Cranston first met Mitte when the young actor was just 14 and had been cast as Walter White Jr. From the beginning, he said, Mitte approached the role with enthusiasm and a genuine love for the work.
In his tribute, Cranston praised Mitte for refusing to let cerebral palsy define his abilities or limit his ambitions. He recalled how the actor faced the show’s demanding production schedule with determination while taking guidance from his on-screen parents, Cranston and Anna Gunn, who played Walter White’s wife, Skyler.
Mitte was willing to listen to their advice, Cranston explained, although he sometimes chose to disregard it with the mischievous independence of a teenager and learn certain lessons for himself.
When production on the Breaking Bad pilot began in February 2007, Mitte was still developing his skills as a performer. Cranston remembered him as “pretty raw” at the time, but said the cast and crew gradually watched him mature into a talented actor.
“Little by little we watched him grow into a really fine actor,” Cranston wrote, reflecting on the years they spent working together.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/breaking-bad-rj-mitte-bryan-cranston-101226-322d8fb994c64849aae29e8d504cfe88.jpg)
Mitte Used His Platform to Advocate for Performers With Disabilities
Cranston also highlighted the work Mitte pursued beyond his acting career, particularly his efforts to improve opportunities and representation for people with disabilities.
Drawing on his experience on Breaking Bad, Mitte became an outspoken advocate for performers with disabilities. He also led a philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting the disabled community.
For Cranston, these achievements made Mitte’s death even more difficult to comprehend. He reflected on the actor’s potential and the contributions he had already made, expressing sorrow over what he described as an enormous loss.
“All that promise and potential now is such a loss,” Cranston wrote.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2)/rj-mitte-bryan-cranston-breaking-bad-101625-b77c55e5471b453987746a15839bbc9e.jpg)
Cranston Says He Was Texting Mitte Just Weeks Earlier
One of the most painful aspects of the news, Cranston revealed, was that he and Mitte had remained in contact. The two had exchanged text messages only a few weeks before his death, discussing plans to meet for lunch.
Cranston admitted that he could not know whether the meeting might have changed anything, but the possibility added to the heartbreak of losing someone he had cared about for so many years.
“It is especially devastating to hear that he took his own life,” Cranston wrote.
He went on to reflect on the time they shared both during the series and in the years after Breaking Bad ended and the attention surrounding the show began to fade. Their relationship had continued beyond the demands of filming and the public spotlight, making the loss deeply personal.
“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,” Cranston wrote.
He closed his tribute with a simple, deeply personal farewell to his former co-star.
“I’ll miss you, son.”
:upscale()/2018/01/12/910/n/1922283/a21d7a438dcef0a7_TCDBRBA_EC009.jpg)
Cranston Shares a Message of Hope for Those in Crisis
Cranston concluded his post by addressing people who might be experiencing suicidal thoughts, urging them to seek help and reach out for support.
He encouraged anyone contemplating suicide to contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, emphasizing that support is available and that there is hope.
“I can’t stop there without imploring anyone who is contemplating suicide to please call for the support you need at 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (https://988lifeline.org/). There is hope,” he wrote.
People experiencing emotional distress or a mental health crisis, as well as those concerned about someone else, can call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to access support. They can also text MHA to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor through Crisis Text Line.