The entertainment world is mourning RJ Mitte, and his Breaking Bad family is leading the tributes. Following the news of the 34-year-old actor’s death on October 12, 2026, co-stars, colleagues, and friends have taken to social media to share their heartbreak — and to celebrate the man behind Walter White Jr.
Here is what they said, in their own words.
Bryan Cranston: “I’ll Miss You, Son”
Bryan Cranston — Walter White himself, RJ’s on-screen father — posted the most heartbreaking tribute of all on Instagram, sharing a photo of himself with a teenage Mitte:
Cranston recalled meeting Mitte when he was just 14, cast as Walter White Jr., and praised his determination: born with cerebral palsy, he “never — ever — allowed that challenge to be an excuse for anything.” He remembered watching the “pretty raw” kid from the February 2007 pilot grow into a fine actor, and revealed the two had been texting just weeks ago trying to arrange lunch. He closed with: “I’ll miss you, son.”
Aaron Paul: “I Am Heartbroken Over This News”
Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman opposite Mitte for all five seasons of Breaking Bad, shared an emotional statement with The Hollywood Reporter:
“I am at a loss. I am heartbroken over this news. 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.”
Though their characters famously never shared a scene, the two were close off camera. Mitte revealed in a podcast interview posted just a week before his death that he and Paul “hung out on set quite a few times over the years and played Halo.” He called Paul “awesome” and “a cool dude.”
Dean Norris: “He Was a Sweetheart of a Young Man”
Dean Norris, who played Hank Schrader — Walt Jr.’s on-screen uncle — was among the first co-stars to react, posting on X shortly after the news broke:
Norris, who watched Mitte grow up on the Breaking Bad set from the age of 15, described looking out for him “as a young kid on set” — a testament to the family bond the cast shared behind the scenes.
Marlee Matlin: “My Heart Is Shattered”
Oscar winner Marlee Matlin, who worked with Mitte on ABC Family’s Switched at Birth, shared a photo of the two together alongside a heartbreaking message:
J.B. Blanc: “He Was Lovely”
Actor J.B. Blanc, who appeared in Breaking Bad, remembered the brief time they shared on set:
Micah Fowler: “Your Legacy Will Endure”
Micah Fowler, star of ABC’s Speechless who also lives with cerebral palsy, credited Mitte as a pioneer who paved the way for his own career — and for disability representation across Hollywood:
Fowler’s tribute underscores what so many have said about Mitte: he was not just a talented actor, but a trailblazer who used his platform to challenge stereotypes and open doors for performers with disabilities.
A Legacy Beyond the Screen
Mitte, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age three, became one of Hollywood’s most visible disability rights advocates — serving as a Screen Actors Guild spokesman for actors with disabilities, a celebrity ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy, and president of The Mitte Foundation. In 2013, he received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award for his advocacy.
He is survived by his family and his fiancée, Kennedy Suarez. Rest in peace, RJ.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day.
Screenshots: X / Instagram, via the authors’ verified accounts.
