Bryan Cranston has shared a tribute to RJ Mitte, the actor who played his son on Breaking Bad.
Mitte died on October 12 in Brownsville, Texas, at 34. His publicist confirmed that he died by suicide, Reuters reported.
Cranston, 70, shared his tribute on Instagram that evening, describing his reaction to the news as “deep despair.”
Mitte portrayed Walter White Jr., also known as Flynn, throughout the drama’s five-season run.
Cranston and Mitte Had Been Texting About Lunch
View this post on Instagram
“We were texting each other just a few weeks ago,” Cranston wrote, explaining that they had been trying to arrange lunch. Cranston said he had enjoyed Mitte’s company throughout their years on the show and afterward, ending his remembrance with, “I’ll miss you, son.”
He remembered meeting Mitte at 14, shortly after he was cast. The pilot began filming in February 2007, and Cranston recalled the teenager approaching its demanding schedule with determination.
He and Anna Gunn, who played Mitte’s mother, Skyler White, offered advice as the young actor learned the job. Cranston remembered that Mitte listened, but sometimes ignored their guidance and learned the hard way.
Cranston watched his inexperienced co-star become what he called a “really fine actor,” according to Rolling Stone. He also praised Mitte for using his success to advocate for performers with disabilities. Cranston ended his post by urging anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts to seek support.
Matt Jones Remembers an Outing He Skipped
View this post on Instagram
Matt Jones, who played Badger, shared a photograph from January 2025 and identified it as the last time he saw Mitte. They had stood at the back of a group picture, making jokes and discussing their lives, TMZ reported.
Jones recalled Mitte describing his plans and said he had intended to visit his friend in Texas. He also remembered an outing planned for the night they were together, to a club associated with fellow cast member Steven Michael Quezada.
Jones said he backed out of that night’s outing because he was tired. “You were a little brother to all of us,” Jones wrote.
Aaron Paul, Dean Norris and Bob Odenkirk Share Their Memories
Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman, described himself as heartbroken in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. He expressed his love for Mitte and said he would miss his friend.
Dean Norris, who learned the news while working, recalled looking out for Mitte as a young cast member. The Hank Schrader actor called him a “sweetheart of a young man” and offered condolences to his family.
In an October 13 statement to PEOPLE, Bob Odenkirk, who played Saul Goodman, praised Mitte for sharing his experiences and giving his time to help others. “Whenever I saw him, he was meeting the world with positivity and a strong desire to connect,” Odenkirk said.
Mitte’s Colleagues Remember His Work Beyond ‘Breaking Bad’
Mitte, who lived with cerebral palsy, continued acting after the series concluded in 2013. He appeared in Switched at Birth and The Guardians of Justice and played an aspiring high school wrestler with cerebral palsy in the film Triumph.
His Switched at Birth co-star Marlee Matlin shared a photograph of herself with Mitte and Ryan Lane. Lea Thompson, who also worked on the series, remembered his kindness, professionalism and joy and praised the effect his work had on others.
Filmmaker Michael D. Coffey, who worked with Mitte on Triumph, recalled their close friendship and Mitte’s hospital visits to support people with disabilities, The Independent reported.
Mitte served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s and as president of the Mitte Foundation. His representatives highlighted those roles when announcing his death and asked that his family’s privacy be respected.