Bryan Cranston mourns RJ Mitte’s tragic death, sharing an emotional farewell: "I’ll Miss You, Son"
Bryan Cranston is honoring RJ Mitte with a heartfelt note after his sudden death, and the way he remembers him is what you’ll want to read.
In a personal Instagram post, Bryan Cranston shared that he and RJ Mitte had been texting just weeks ago, trying to lock down a lunch. He looked back to their first meeting — Mitte was only 14 when he was cast as Walter White Jr. — and said the young actor soaked up advice from his TV parents, even when he insisted on learning a few lessons the hard way.
Cranston praised Mitte’s determination on set, noting that while he lived with cerebral palsy, he never used it as an excuse and pushed himself as a performer. Cranston said he watched him grow into a confident actor who used his visibility to advocate for inclusion and opportunities for performers with disabilities.
“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 years on the series, and after the spotlight on Breaking Bad dimmed. I’ll miss you, son.”
Mitte died on October 12, 2026 , at 34, in Brownsville, Texas. His representative confirmed his death, and authorities initially said an investigation was underway.
Career and advocacy
Mitte played Walter White Jr. across all five seasons of Breaking Bad (2008–2013), drawing on his own experience with cerebral palsy to shape the character. After the series, he kept acting and broadened his off-screen work around disability representation.
Selected screen credits after Breaking Bad:
- Switched at Birth
- The Oak Room
- The Recall
- The Guardians of Justice
Advocacy and leadership:
- Worked with United Cerebral Palsy
- Worked with Shriners Children’s
- Served as president of the Mitte Foundation