American actor RJ Mitte, best known for playing Bryan Cranston’s mild-mannered, cerebral palsy-afflicted teenage son in Breaking Bad, has died. He was 34.
While Mitte’s representative did not disclose the cause of death in an initial statement, subsequent reports said that the actor died by suicide.
Cranston, who played Mitte’s onscreen father Walter White in the AMC series, paid tribute to the actor on Instagram. “I’m in deep despair as I write this tonight. RJ Mitte, my sweet son on Breaking Bad has died,” he wrote on Instagram.
In Breaking Bad (2008-2013), Mitte played Walter White Jr., the unsuspecting son of an Albuquerque chemistry teacher who turns to manufacturing methamphetamine after being diagnosed with cancer. Mitte was among the show’s most lovable and sympathetic characters, his performance bringing warmth to the White family’s increasingly troubled world. Cranston and Anna Gunn, who played Walter and Skyler White, formed the centre of the family alongside Mitte and toodler Holly White, played by Moira Bryg MacDonald and Eleanor Anne Wenrich.
“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,” Cranston added In his tribute. He also recalled Mitte’s determination while working on the show, writing that he “never — ever — allowed that challenge to be an excuse for anything.”
Cranston remembered watching Mitte develop as an actor over the course of the series. “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 wrote
Beyond acting, Mitte became a vocal advocate for performers with disabilities and worked to promote disability awareness and inclusion. Cranston described the loss of his former co-star’s promise and potential as devastating.
“We were texting each other just a few weeks ago — figuring out when we could meet for lunch,” Cranston wrote. “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.”
“I’ll miss you, son,” he concluded.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, help is available. Contact a mental health professional, a trusted friend or family member, or reach out to a crisis helpline. In India, you can call Tele-MANAS at 14416 or 1-800-891-4416 (24×7 mental health support). If there is an immediate risk to life or safety, contact emergency services or seek urgent medical assistance.