In a heartbreaking tribute, Bryan Cranston mourned his on-screen son RJ Mitte’s death.
On Monday, October 12, it was reported that the Breaking Bad star Mitte, who played Walter “Flynn” White Jr. on the show, died by suicide at the age of 34.
The actor’s shocking passing left his Breaking Bad dad Cranston in “deep despair” as he mourned Mitte’s death in an extremely emotional tribute on Instagram.
‘I’m in deep despair as I write this tonight. RJ Mitte, my sweet son on Breaking Bad has died,” he began, continuing, “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.”
The 70-year-old American actor wrote, “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. 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,” he emotionally penned.
In the tribute, Cranston, devastated by the loss, questioned “why” Mitte took his life, sharing that he spoke to him just a few weeks ago and they were planning to meet at lunch.
“It is especially devastating to hear that he took his own life. Why? We were texting each other just a few weeks ago - figuring out when we could meet for lunch. I don’t know if that lunch would have changed his future,” he shared.
Concluding his tribute, The Sheep Detectives actor stated, “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.”
About RJ Mitte death
RJ Mitte died by suicide at the age of 34, PEOPLE reported on Monday, October 12.
In a statement released by his representative, it was stated, “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte.”
According to the Brownsville Police Department, officers were dispatched to Mitte’s home at 12:50 p.m. local time, where they found him dead.
His cause and manner of death are still pending as the case is currently under investigation.
