Bryan Cranston says he is in 'deep despair' after Breaking Bad co-star RJ Mitte dies at 34

Death confirmed in Brownsville, Texas

RJ Mitte, the actor who played Walter White Jr. on AMC's Breaking Bad, died on Monday at age 34 at what authorities said was his home in Brownsville, Texas, representatives and local officials said. Cameron County Justice of the Peace Cyndi Hinojosa told The Associated Press she declared Mitte dead at about 1:30 p.m. and said she was unable to provide a cause, adding that an autopsy would be performed. His representatives later confirmed that Mitte died by suicide. A statement from his publicist described the loss of "beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte," noting that he drew on his own experience living with cerebral palsy and "built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion."

Bryan Cranston describes 'deep despair'

Bryan Cranston, who played Mitte's on-screen father Walter White across the series, said in an Instagram post that he was in "deep despair" and reflected on meeting Mitte at age 14 when he was cast as Walter White Jr. "He met the demanding shooting schedule head on with great determination," Cranston wrote. "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." Cranston said he and Mitte had been texting "just a few weeks ago," trying to arrange a lunch meeting, and wrote that it was "especially devastating to hear that he took his own life." He concluded, "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." Cranston also identified Mitte in a separate Facebook post Monday night, reiterating that "deep despair" and recalling that the younger actor was "only 14 years old" when production began in February 2007 and was "pretty raw" but grew into "a really fine actor."

Co-stars add their own tributes

Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad, said in a statement to 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." Dean Norris, who played Mitte's on-screen uncle Hank Schrader, wrote on X that Mitte "didn't play my TV son" but that he "always looked out for him as a young kid on set," adding, "He was a sweetheart of a young man and will be greatly missed. This is so heartbreaking, I can't believe it." Coverage noted that Mitte, Cranston, Paul and Anna Gunn last appeared together at the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards, where they presented the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series award.

Career and disability advocacy

Mitte, whose full name is Roy Frank Mitte III, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age three and lived with the condition, as did his Breaking Bad character. He began his career in entertainment with small roles on sitcoms such as Everybody Hates Chris and Hannah Montana before being cast in Breaking Bad in 2007. The role, on the Vince Gilligan-created series that ran from 2008 to 2013, brought him to audiences in nearly every episode of the five-season run. Following the series, he appeared in Switched at Birth, The Guardians of Justice, Who's Driving Doug, Time Share and Triumph, the last of which he also executive-produced. He became a Screen Actors Guild spokesman for actors with disabilities and later fronted the Mitte Foundation, a philanthropic organization focused on supporting the disabled community.

Pending next steps and source gaps

An autopsy is scheduled to be performed in the coming days by Cameron County officials, and no further official cause has been released beyond the family and representative's confirmation that Mitte died by suicide. Several outlets that reported his age at death as 34 did not specify a date of birth, and the reports reviewed did not disclose a planned funeral, memorial or family statement beyond the publicist's announcement.