Bryan Cranston shares a final tribute to Breaking Bad co-star RJ Mitte after his death at 34: ‘I’ll miss you, son’
Gone too soon.
The entertainment world is mourning the loss of RJ Mitte, who passed away at the age of 34. His death was confirmed as a suicide. This news has hit his former co-stars and the disability advocacy community incredibly hard. According to Variety, Bryan Cranston, who starred as Mitte’s father on Breaking Bad, shared a touching tribute to the late actor on Instagram. Cranston expressed his deep sorrow regarding the loss of his on-screen son.
In the caption on his post, Cranston wrote, “I’m in deep despair as I write this tonight. RJ Mitte, my sweet son on Breaking Bad has died.” Cranston and Mitte’s history began back in 2007. Cranston vividly recalls meeting Mitte when the young actor was only 14 years old. He was cast as Walter White Jr. and brought massive energy to the role. Cranston noted Mitte’s joy and enthusiasm during the early days of the show.
The two shared a genuine bond that extended far beyond the cameras. They were even texting just a few weeks ago to plan a lunch meeting. Cranston shared that he does not know if that lunch would have altered the future but he felt the weight of the loss quite heavily. He concluded his tribute by saying, “I’ll miss you, son.”
Dean Norris also shared his grief over the news
Norris played the DEA agent Hank Schrader on the same hit series. He posted his thoughts on X this past Monday. He wrote, “Oh my God! Was working just found out about RJ.” Norris described himself as completely heartbroken by the situation. He remembered Mitte as a sweetheart of a young man.
Mitte was born with cerebral palsy. He received this diagnosis at the age of three. Cerebral palsy is a condition caused by abnormal brain development or injury in early childhood. It affects how a person controls muscles, movement, and posture. The CDC notes that symptoms vary greatly between individuals. Some people face challenges with muscle coordination or strength. Others might require special equipment or lifelong assistance.
Mitte was incredibly open about his personal experiences with the condition. He underwent physical, occupational, and speech therapy as a child. He once described the difficult process of correcting his gait. Mitte said he had to wear casts that were adjusted every few weeks to flatten his feet. He often spoke about the grit required to navigate these medical hurdles.
The late actor credited his grandfather for instilling a strong sense of determination in him. His grandfather was a Marine who taught him to avoid negative language. Mitte once wrote that he was never allowed to say he could not do something. He adopted the mindset that he could and would achieve his goals. This drive clearly propelled his successful acting career.
Mitte appeared in 56 of the 62 episodes of Breaking Bad
He spent five seasons on the show between 2008 and 2013. He also appeared in Switched at Birth as Campbell Bingman. Later, he took on the role of Mind Master in the 2022 series The Guardians of Justice. He was actively promoting his new film, Talking to Strangers, right before his death.
Beyond acting, he was a massive advocate for the disability community. Mitte served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s Hospitals. He also led the Mitte Foundation, which is a family-founded nonprofit. He received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award in 2013 for his advocacy efforts. Shriners Children’s also posted a tribute to him on Instagram. They remembered him as a patient ambassador who fought against bullying.
Mitte initially did not want to be defined by his advocacy work but eventually realized the power of his platform. He wanted to show other young people that anything is possible. ABC News reports that he spoke to groups in London and various organizations about his experiences. Mitte wanted to use his fame to create a meaningful impact on the lives of others.
He recently spoke about this during an interview on the Joe Vulpis podcast. He stated that his time on Breaking Bad was a great gift. It allowed him to lend his voice to causes that truly change lives. His legacy as both an actor and a vocal advocate remains significant.
The loss of such a talented and determined individual is felt deeply by many. Mitte proved that labels do not define a person’s potential. He remains a source of inspiration for many people across the globe.
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