Bryan Cranston asks gut-wrenching question over Breaking Bad son RJ Mitte's death
Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
Bryan Cranston has been left with one heartbreaking unanswered question following the death of his co-star RJ Mitte.
The Breaking Bad actor, 70, shared an emotional tribute to Mitte on Instagram last night (12 Oct) after news broke that the star - best known for playing his on-screen son, Walter White Jr - had died, aged 34.
Mitte's representative confirmed his death in a statement, describing him as a beloved actor, philanthropist and passionate disability rights advocate. His death was later confirmed as suicide.
Advert
In a devastating social media post, California-born Cranston reflected on the years they spent working together, their close bond and the conversation they never got to have.
Cranston's devastating tribute
"RJ Mitte, my sweet son on Breaking Bad has died," he began. "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.
"Born with Cerebral Palsy, he never - ever - allowed that challenge to be an excuse for anything. He met the demanding shooting schedule head on with great determination.
Cranston went on, describing Mitt as 'always listening to the advice that his TV parents (Anna Gunn and myself) gave him', adding, '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. 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."
Cranston celebrated Mitte’s activism, noting that he was a 'vocal advocate for performers with disabilities', adding that Mitte 'was the head of a philanthropic organisation with a focus on helping the disabled community'.
"All that promise and potential now is such a loss," the Malcolm in the Middle actor continued.
One gut-wrenching question
And amid his grief, one question continues to haunt Cranston.
"It is especially devastating to hear that he took his own life. Why?" he asked.
He went on to reveal that he and Mitte had exchanged text messages just weeks before the star's death and had been trying to arrange lunch together.
Now, Cranston is left wondering whether meeting up might have made a difference.
"I don’t know if that lunch would have changed his future…" he admitted. "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."
Concluding his post, before urging anyone contemplating suicide to contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Cranston penned: "I’ll miss you, son.”
He was not the only member of the Breaking Bad family left heartbroken by Mitte's death, however.
Other co-stars pay tribute
Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman alongside Cranston's Walter White on the gritty drama, said he was at a loss for words following the news.
Paul shared his love for Mitte and said he would be missed, before turning his message towards anyone reading it who might be struggling.
"I am at a loss," the 47-year-old wrote. "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 portrayed Hank Schrader, Walter Jr's uncle, shared his own memories of looking out for Mitte when he was a young actor.
"Though RJ didn’t play my TV son, I always looked out for him as a young kid on set," Norris, 63, penned. "He was a sweetheart of a young man and will be greatly missed.
"This is so heartbreaking, I can’t believe it. Thinking of him and his family."
Podcast host Joe Vulpis also paid tribute after recently interviewing Mitte, describing him as a kind, incredible and gentle soul.
Mitte's final interview
The interview, released just six days before his death, saw Mitte reflect on his experience playing Walter White Jr, which he described as life-changing.
He also claimed he could see the show being revived someday.
"I don’t think it was an end; I think it was really the end of Heisenberg’s journey," Mitte confessed. "But I don’t think that was the end of Skyler and Walter and Holly’s journey.
"You know I think there’s a lot of unanswered questions there, that for them will probably never be answered. I think there’s still a big step for the White family. There’s always more to be told. But you got to tell it right."
During the same interview, Mississippi-born Mitte also discussed Breaking Bad having 'set the bar' for his career.
"I just want to top Breaking Bad, that’s the hardest," he explained. "That is literally like I set a bar for myself as a young man that is kinda unattainable.
"I tell people, 'Look, it’s a long way down from the top of the mountain'."
Mitte became a familiar face to millions through Breaking Bad, appearing throughout the AMC drama's five-season run between 2008 and 2013.
As Walter White Jr, the son of Cranston's chemistry teacher-turned-drug kingpin, he brought his own experience of cerebral palsy to a character who also lived with the condition.
His performance helped bring disability representation to a mainstream audience, while his work away from the screen became an important part of his legacy. His contributions to the industry were recognised in 2013 when he received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award.
Beyond Breaking Bad, Mitte appeared in shows including Hannah Montana, Everybody Hates Chris, Switched at Birth, Vegas, Now Apocalypse and Chance. He also worked in film, including his final project, Talking to Strangers, released in 2026.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123 or contact Harmless by visiting their website https://harmless.org.uk.
Topics: Celebrity, TV And Film, US News, Entertainment, News
Rhianna Benson