Bryan Cranston Says He’s in ‘Deep Despair’ Over Death of ‘Breaking Bad’ Costar RJ Mitte

Breaking Bad actors Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul have led the tributes to their costar RJ Mitte after he died age 34.

Mitte rose to fame playing Walter “Flynn” White Jr. in the Emmy-winning show, which ran for five seasons from 2008 to 2013.

He also used his platform to advocate for disability rights, drawing on his experience living with cerebral palsy.

Cranston, who played his onscreen father and drug kingpin Walter White, said he was in “deep despair” following the news.

In a post on Instagram, he wrote: “I’m in deep despair as I write this tonight. RJ Mitte, my sweet son on Breaking Bad has died.”

Cranston said the pair had exchanged text messages in recent weeks and tried to arrange a time when they could catch up.

He added, “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.

“Always listening to the advice that his TV parents (Anna Gunn and myself) gave him – 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.”

Cranston concluded, “All that promise and potential now is such a loss…I’ll miss you, son.”

“I am at a loss. I am heartbroken over this news,” Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman, said in a statement with The Hollywood Reporter. “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.”

Mitte first appeared in Breaking Bad at age 15 and had a recurring role until its conclusion in 2013, appearing alongside Hollywood stars such as Cranston and Paul, as well as Bob Odenkirk and Dean Norris.

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