Luis Moncada is remembering his last visit with RJ Mitte, describing how he tried to support his longtime Breaking Bad costar during their time together in New Mexico.
Moncada discussed the reunion during an Oct. 13 appearance on TMZ Live. He said they had talked about personal matters but declined to disclose the details of those conversations.
Mitte died Oct. 12 in Brownsville, Texas, at age 34. His representative confirmed to PEOPLE that he died by suicide.
The actors met while filming the AMC drama in 2009, Moncada recalled in a written tribute. Mitte played Walter “Flynn” White Jr., while Moncada portrayed Marco Salamanca, a role he later reprised in Better Call Saul.
Moncada Says Mitte Seemed “Really Tired and Sad”
The friends reunited at a charity golf tournament and also attended a comedy show with fellow cast member Steven Michael Quezada, who played DEA agent Steven Gomez. Moncada said Mitte seemed different from the friend he was accustomed to spending time with.
He described Mitte as “really tired and sad” and said he appeared overwhelmed by pressures pulling him in different directions. Hoping to cheer him up, Moncada invited him to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
Mitte had supported Moncada through a difficult period a few months earlier. Moncada recalled that help while discussing the reunion, remembering his friend as someone who had made time for him when he was struggling.
The Balloon Ride Was Something Mitte Had Wanted to Try for Years
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On Oct. 4, the two joined StrangeKind Ballooning for a flight at the festival. Photographs of the outing appeared in a collaborative Instagram post involving Mitte, Moncada, New Mexico United and the balloon company, according to PEOPLE.
Moncada recorded their time in the basket, joking with Mitte and encouraging him to enjoy the view. StrangeKind said Mitte had told its crew that he previously helped launch balloons while living in Albuquerque during Breaking Bad. According to the company’s account, his acting contract had prevented him from taking a flight himself.
After landing, Mitte posed for photographs with fans and stayed to help pack up the balloon. StrangeKind also remembered him greeting passengers and laughing with its team, according to TMZ‘s report on the company’s tribute.
The crew had hoped to fly with him again. One member described the morning as feeling like an outing with a relative, not the celebrity guest.
Moncada Offered Him a Place to Stay Before the Flight Home
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The actors had lunch after the balloon ride. The following day, Moncada collected Mitte from his hotel and drove him to the airport, where their conversation continued for approximately 45 minutes.
Moncada said he invited Mitte to stay at his home with his family for a few days. He hoped the visit would give his friend time to rest and think away from the pressures they had discussed.
Mitte declined because he had already spent more than a month traveling and wanted to return home to Texas, Moncada recalled. Before they parted, he asked Mitte to call whenever he needed someone to talk to.
In his subsequent written tribute, reproduced by Extra, Moncada remembered the warmth and respect Mitte showed other people. He also addressed readers directly: “Please check on one another. Please listen. Please show compassion.”
Bob Odenkirk Remembered Mitte’s Desire to Connect With People
Bob Odenkirk, who played Saul Goodman, shared his own remembrance in an Oct. 13 statement to PEOPLE. He 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.
Bryan Cranston had also described their continuing friendship in his tribute the previous day. He and Mitte had exchanged text messages in recent weeks about arranging lunch, according to TODAY. Cranston remembered watching his television son grow up during the series and remaining close after it ended.
A Director Has Paused Mitte’s Next Film
Writer-director Nik Tizekker told TMZ that Mitte had been preparing to star in Forgotten Outlaw. The film was in pre-production, and the team was still seeking additional financing when he died.
Tizekker said the project was on hold and that another actor would eventually need to take the lead role. He described Mitte as a strong fit for both the character’s outlook and the physical resemblance to the person he would have portrayed.
The collaborators had also been making Like It Was Yesterday, a limited series exploring near-death experiences. Mitte had already filmed scenes with Catherine Carlen, who played his mother, and Tizekker said approximately half the project was complete. He hopes to finish and release it if further financing becomes available.
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