Bryan Cranston’s Tribute To RJ Mitte: ‘I Loved Him’

U.S.NewsPoliticsAI PoliticsTechFact CheckSportsGlobalIran WarRussia-UkraineMiddle EastChina And AsiaLive BlogBetter PlanetAll World NewsLifestyleFamily & ParentingEntertainmentTravelPetsAutomotiveRelationshipsScienceHealthPersonal FinanceBetter WorkplacesReaders ChoiceOpinionMy TurnAll OpinionRankingsHealthCorporate ResponsibilityFinanceProductsEducationWorkAll RankingsWatchThe 1600The Royal ReportUnconventionalFrom The PaddockNewsmakersSocialFacebookInstagramYouTubeRedditTikTokTwitter/XExtraNewslettersDare to DreamEventsEssaysPodcastsVantageInsightsMagazineCEO CircleAnnouncementsLeadershipDev Pragad Bryan Cranston has paid an emotional tribute to his Breaking Bad co-star RJ Mitte, revealing the pair had been planning to meet for lunch just weeks before the 34-year-old's death. Cranston, who played Mitte's onscreen father Walter White in the acclaimed AMC drama, shared his heartbreak in a lengthy Instagram post following news that Mitte had died on Monday, October 12. The 70-year-old actor recalled watching Mitte grow from a teenager finding his feet in Hollywood into an accomplished performer, while revealing that their close relationship had continued long after the cameras stopped rolling. "We were texting each other just a few weeks ago – figuring out when we could meet for lunch," Cranston wrote. He went on to reflect on the meeting that would now never take place. "I don't know if that lunch would have changed his future," he wrote. Cranston's tribute came after Mitte's representative told People and Variety that the actor, best known for portraying Walter White Jr. throughout all five seasons of Breaking Bad, had died by suicide. Newsweek has reached out to Mitte's representatives for comment. Bryan Cranston Remembers His 'Sweet Son' Cranston opened his tribute by describing his grief over losing the young actor he had known for nearly two decades. "I'm in deep despair as I write this tonight," he said, before recalling their first meeting when Mitte was cast in Breaking Bad at just 14 years old. The two actors developed a close relationship while portraying father and son in the hit series, which ran from 2008 to 2013. Cranston remembered how he and Anna Gunn, who played Mitte's onscreen mother Skyler White, would offer the young star advice during filming. But Mitte, he recalled affectionately, wasn't always inclined to listen. "He was one of the stars of a hit TV show – but still a kid," Cranston wrote. The actor also reflected on watching Mitte develop his craft over the years, recalling that the teenager had relatively little acting experience when production began on the show's pilot in February 2007. What started as an onscreen family relationship became an enduring friendship that continued after the series ended. Cranston's most poignant memories, however, concerned their final communications. The pair had been exchanging messages and making plans to catch up shortly before Mitte's death. Cranston acknowledged the painful uncertainty surrounding the lunch they never shared, while making clear how much the younger actor had meant to him. "But I do know that I loved him," he wrote. He ended his personal tribute with four words: "I'll miss you, son." 'Breaking Bad' Stars Share Their Heartbreak Cranston was joined by other members of the Breaking Bad cast in remembering their former colleague. Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman in the series, described himself as heartbroken by the news. "RJ, I love you my friend. You will be missed," Paul said in a tribute. Dean Norris, who portrayed Walter White's brother-in-law Hank Schrader, also remembered looking out for Mitte during their years working together. Norris described the actor as a sweetheart and said he was struggling to comprehend his death. Was working just found out about RJ I am heartbroken," he wrote. "Though RJ didn’t play my TV son, I always looked out for him as a young kid on set. 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." The messages highlighted the friendships that developed among the cast of the critically acclaimed series, which concluded more than a decade ago. Matt Jones, who played Brandon "Badger" Matthew on the crime series, captioned a photo of the pair on Instagram: "I met you 19 years ago, you were only 15. I’m beyond devastated. You were a little brother to all of us." Mitte's character, Walter White Jr., also known as Flynn, remained a central part of the White family throughout the drama's five seasons. Outside the series, Mitte continued acting in television and film while maintaining his relationships with former colleagues. RJ Mitte's Career Beyond Breaking Bad While Breaking Bad made Mitte a household name, his career extended well beyond the award-winning show. He went on to appear in television series including Switched at Birth, Vegas, Now Apocalypse and Chance, as well as films such as Time Share, Dixieland and Westhampton. Mitte also made his mark outside acting, walking the runway for fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and helping present coverage of the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games for the U.K.'s Channel 4. His varied career included appearances in music videos for British rock band Nothing But Thieves and American group Hollywood Undead. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of three, Mitte became a passionate advocate for disability representation in entertainment. The condition affects movement and coordination and is caused by differences or damage to the developing brain, usually before, during or shortly after birth. Throughout his career, Mitte spoke openly about living with cerebral palsy and the importance of challenging stereotypes, using his public profile to encourage greater inclusion and understanding. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "988" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Tobias Meyjes and Tony Phillips.10Loading video…By Faye JamesUS news reporter

0ShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Bryan Cranston has paid an emotional tribute to his Breaking Bad co-star RJ Mitte, revealing the pair had been planning to meet for lunch just weeks before the 34-year-old’s death.

Cranston, who played Mitte’s onscreen father Walter White in the acclaimed AMC drama, shared his heartbreak in a lengthy Instagram post following news that Mitte had died on Monday, October 12.

The 70-year-old actor recalled watching Mitte grow from a teenager finding his feet in Hollywood into an accomplished performer, while revealing that their close relationship had continued long after the cameras stopped rolling.

“We were texting each other just a few weeks ago – figuring out when we could meet for lunch,” Cranston wrote.

He went on to reflect on the meeting that would now never take place.

“I don’t know if that lunch would have changed his future,” he wrote.

Cranston’s tribute came after Mitte’s representative told People and Variety that the actor, best known for portraying Walter White Jr. throughout all five seasons of Breaking Bad, had died by suicide.

Newsweek has reached out to Mitte’s representatives for comment.

Cranston opened his tribute by describing his grief over losing the young actor he had known for nearly two decades.

“I’m in deep despair as I write this tonight,” he said, before recalling their first meeting when Mitte was cast in Breaking Bad at just 14 years old.

The two actors developed a close relationship while portraying father and son in the hit series, which ran from 2008 to 2013.

Cranston remembered how he and Anna Gunn, who played Mitte’s onscreen mother Skyler White, would offer the young star advice during filming.

But Mitte, he recalled affectionately, wasn’t always inclined to listen.

“He was one of the stars of a hit TV show – but still a kid,” Cranston wrote.

The actor also reflected on watching Mitte develop his craft over the years, recalling that the teenager had relatively little acting experience when production began on the show’s pilot in February 2007.

What started as an onscreen family relationship became an enduring friendship that continued after the series ended. Cranston’s most poignant memories, however, concerned their final communications. The pair had been exchanging messages and making plans to catch up shortly before Mitte’s death.

Cranston acknowledged the painful uncertainty surrounding the lunch they never shared, while making clear how much the younger actor had meant to him.

“But I do know that I loved him,” he wrote.

He ended his personal tribute with four words: “I’ll miss you, son.”

Cranston was joined by other members of the Breaking Bad cast in remembering their former colleague. Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman in the series, described himself as heartbroken by the news.

“RJ, I love you my friend. You will be missed,” Paul said in a tribute.

Dean Norris, who portrayed Walter White’s brother-in-law Hank Schrader, also remembered looking out for Mitte during their years working together.

Norris described the actor as a sweetheart and said he was struggling to comprehend his death.

Was working just found out about RJ I am heartbroken,” he wrote. “Though RJ didn’t play my TV son, I always looked out for him as a young kid on set. 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.”

The messages highlighted the friendships that developed among the cast of the critically acclaimed series, which concluded more than a decade ago.

Matt Jones, who played Brandon “Badger” Matthew on the crime series, captioned a photo of the pair on Instagram: “I met you 19 years ago, you were only 15. I’m beyond devastated. You were a little brother to all of us.”

Mitte’s character, Walter White Jr., also known as Flynn, remained a central part of the White family throughout the drama’s five seasons. Outside the series, Mitte continued acting in television and film while maintaining his relationships with former colleagues.

While Breaking Bad made Mitte a household name, his career extended well beyond the award-winning show. He went on to appear in television series including Switched at Birth, Vegas, Now Apocalypse and Chance, as well as films such as Time Share, Dixieland and Westhampton.

Mitte also made his mark outside acting, walking the runway for fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and helping present coverage of the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games for the U.K.’s Channel 4.

His varied career included appearances in music videos for British rock band Nothing But Thieves and American group Hollywood Undead.

Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of three, Mitte became a passionate advocate for disability representation in entertainment.

The condition affects movement and coordination and is caused by differences or damage to the developing brain, usually before, during or shortly after birth.

Throughout his career, Mitte spoke openly about living with cerebral palsy and the importance of challenging stereotypes, using his public profile to encourage greater inclusion and understanding.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “988” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Tobias Meyjes and Tony Phillips.