Brian Cranston Mourns RJ Mitte; Breaking Bad Father Says on Air: "I Loved Him... I Will Miss You. My Son"

Nearly 20 years after the start of Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston tonight expressed grief over the death of the man who played his son in the acclaimed series. Posting on his Instagram feed today, Cranston said: "As I write this tonight, I am in deep despair. RJ Mitte, my beloved son on Breaking Bad, has passed away." The actor and disability rights advocate […]

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Almost 20 years after Breaking Bad began, Bryan Cranston tonight mourned the death of the man who played his son on the acclaimed series.

"I am in deep sadness as I write this tonight. RJ Mitte, my sweet boy on Breaking Bad has passed away," Cranston said on his Instagram feed today. Actress and disability rights activist Mitte died on Monday at the age of 34 at her home in Brownsville, Texas.

In his post, Cranston evoked Mitte, who played Walter White Jr., in mourning for the fictional father who sometimes went by the last name of German physicist Werner Heisenberg. Related Stories RJ Mitte's Death Remembered by 'Breaking Bad' Cast: 'This Is So Heartbreaking' RJ Mitte Dies: 'Breaking Bad' Actor Was 34

For most of the five-season run of the Vince Gilligan-created series, the cerebral palsy-stricken Mitte had no idea that his science teacher was one of the biggest drug dealers in the Southwest. The younger White only found out at the end of the final season in the heartbreaking episode "Ozymandias," watch on Deadline.

Hailed as one of the best series on television, Breaking Bad ran from 2008 to 2013.

As Cranston wrote tonight, Mitte was "just 14 years old" when the series began production.

"The kid was pretty raw when we started shooting the pilot in February 2007, but we've seen him develop into a really good actor," Cranston said of his co-star. She spoke about her experience on the show as an advocate for the voices of performers with disabilities, and the head of a charity focused on helping the disabled community.

"All that promise and potential is such a waste now."

Referring to the cause of his son's death on television, Cranston added: "It is very devastating to hear that he has lost his life." why Just a few weeks ago we were texting each other - figuring out when we could meet for lunch. I don't know if that lunch would have changed his future..."

But I do know that I loved him and thoroughly enjoyed being with him throughout the show's years and after the spotlight faded from Breaking Bad...

Cranston and Mitte, along with Anna Gunn and Aaron Paul, were on stage at the 2024 SAG Awards. The quartet was presenting an award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Breaking Bad actually won that particular SAG award in 2014.

Cameron County officials said Monday that an autopsy will be performed on the body in the coming days.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

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