Bryan Cranston Mourns 'Breaking Bad' Son RJ Mitte, 34, Says Co-Star 'Never Allowed' Cerebral Palsy 'To Be an Excuse'

Bryan Cranston is mourning RJ Mitte after the 34-year-old Breaking Bad actor died on Monday. Cranston described his former co-star as his 'sweet son' and praised the determination with which he lived with cerebral palsy.

Mitte played Walter White Jr, the son of Cranston's character, Walter White, throughout all five seasons of the hit AMC drama. The show aired from 2008 to 2013.

Bryan Cranston Mourns RJ Mitte

'I'm in deep despair as I write this tonight. RJ Mitte, my sweet son on Breaking Bad has died,' Cranston wrote in a post. Cranston recalled meeting Mitte when he was just 14 after he was cast as Walter White Jr. He said the teenager gradually developed into 'a really fine actor' while handling the show's demanding filming schedule with determination.

'Born with Cerebral Palsy, he never - ever - allowed that challenge to be an excuse for anything,' Cranston wrote. He also remembered Mitte as a teenager who sometimes ignored advice from his on-screen parents, describing those moments affectionately as part of watching him grow.

RJ Mitte's Cerebral Palsy Advocacy

Mitte drew on his own experience with cerebral palsy when portraying Walter White Jr. He later used his public profile to advocate for disability awareness and representation.

He served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children's and as president of The Mitte Foundation, which supported philanthropic and community initiatives. Cranston highlighted that legacy, writing that Mitte 'parlayed his experience on the show to be a vocal advocate for performers with disabilities.'

RJ Mitte's Death Confirmed At 34

Mitte died in Brownsville, Texas, on Monday, 12 October, aged 34. His representatives initially announced his death without disclosing a cause. His representative later confirmed to PEOPLE that he died by suicide.

Cranston said he and Mitte had been texting just weeks earlier while trying to arrange lunch. 'I don't know if that lunch would have changed his future,' he wrote. '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. I'll miss you, son.'

Breaking Bad Cast Pays Tribute

Cranston was among several Breaking Bad cast members to remember Mitte following his death, with Aaron Paul and Dean Norris also paying tribute to their former co-star. Paul said he was 'heartbroken' over the news, while Norris remembered Mitte as 'a sweetheart of a young man'.

Mitte appeared in all five seasons of Breaking Bad, which ran from 2008 to 2013. He later appeared in Switched at Birth, The Guardians of Justice and The Oak Room.

His work included Talking to Strangers, in which he played Joshua, a reclusive man with cerebral palsy. He had also remained active in disability advocacy and representation before his death.

Mitte's representatives asked the public to respect the privacy of his family and loved ones. His legacy extended beyond Breaking Bad through his acting, philanthropy and advocacy for people with disabilities.

If you or someone you know is experiencing mental or emotional distress or is considering self-harm, please reach out for help.

You can contact 988 in the US and Canada to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7. In the UK, you can contact Samaritans on 116 123.