Bryan Cranston has shared an emotional tribute to RJ Mitte following the reported death of his Breaking Bad co-star at the age of 34, describing the actor as his “sweet son” and revealing that the two had been texting just weeks earlier to arrange lunch.
In a deeply personal Instagram post, Cranston reflected on meeting Mitte when he was just 14 years old, his growth as an actor, and the lasting impact he made as an advocate for performers with disabilities.
“I’m in deep despair as I write this tonight. RJ Mitte, my sweet son on Breaking Bad has died,” Cranston began.
Bryan Cranston Remembers Meeting RJ Mitte at 14
Cranston recalled how Mitte was cast as Walter White Jr., the son of his character Walter White, when the young actor was still a teenager.
“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.”
Mitte was born with cerebral palsy, but Cranston said he never allowed the condition to become an excuse or prevent him from taking on challenges. The actor remembered his young co-star approaching the demanding production schedule with determination.
“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 also reflected on the relationship he and Anna Gunn developed with Mitte while filming the hit AMC drama. The two actors played his on-screen parents, and Cranston recalled how Mitte sometimes listened to their advice and sometimes chose to learn lessons for himself.
“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.”
‘We Watched Him Grow Into a Really Fine Actor’
The actor went on to describe how Mitte developed during the series, remembering the early days of production and the progress he witnessed over the years.
“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.”
For Cranston, Mitte’s impact extended far beyond his performance as Walter White Jr. He praised his former co-star for using the opportunities that came with Breaking Bad to advocate for greater representation of performers with disabilities.
“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 described the loss of Mitte’s future potential as especially painful, reflecting on the many things the actor could still have accomplished.
“All that promise and potential now is such a loss.”
Cranston Reveals They Were Planning to Meet for Lunch
One of the most heartbreaking parts of Cranston’s tribute was his revelation that he and Mitte had been in contact only weeks earlier.
“It is especially devastating to hear that he took his own life.”
Cranston then shared that their last conversations had involved plans to meet in person, making the news even harder for him to process.
“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…”
Although Cranston admitted he could not know whether their planned meeting would have made any difference, he made clear how much Mitte meant to him throughout their years working together and the time that followed.
“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 ended the tribute with a short but deeply emotional message to the actor he had come to regard as a son.
“I’ll miss you, son.”
Bryan Cranston Shares a Message for Anyone Struggling
Cranston concluded his post by urging anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts to seek support, emphasizing that help is available.
“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 (
). There is hope.”
Mitte was widely known for playing Walter White Jr. across 56 episodes of Breaking Bad. Beyond his acting career, he became a prominent advocate for disability awareness and inclusion, drawing on his own experience with cerebral palsy.
Cranston’s tribute offers a personal glimpse into their relationship away from the cameras, remembering Mitte not only as a talented actor and advocate, but as a young man he loved and remained close to long after the series ended.
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