Bryan Cranston shares a tribute following the death of RJ Mitte, who died at the age of 34 on Monday in Brownsville, Texas. A representative confirmed this People That the actor died by suicide.
Mitte was best known for playing Walter White Jr. – the son of Cranston and Anna Gunn’s characters, Walter and Skylar White – on the Emmy-winning series. breaking bad. This famous show ran for five seasons from 2008 to 2013. Along with his castmates, Mitte won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
Mitte, who was diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy when he was three years old, received praise for his performance as Walt Jr. The character’s situation was similar to Mitte’s, although more pronounced. In 2013, he received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award, given in honor of Russell, the first disabled actor to win an Oscar.
“I am in deep despair as I write this tonight. RJ Mitte, my beloved son on Breaking Bad, has died,” Cranston wrote in a post shared on social media along with a photo of Mitte and himself. “Born with cerebral palsy, he never let that challenge be an excuse for anything. He met the demanding shooting schedule with great determination.”
Cranston continued, “The kid was very raw when we started shooting the pilot in February 2007, but gradually we watched him develop into a very good actor. He showcased his experience in being a vocal advocate for disabled performers on the show, and was the head of a charitable organization focused on helping the disabled community.”
The actor lamented that “all that promise and potential is now a huge loss.” He said, “It’s especially devastating to hear that he took his own life,” before asking, “Why?” Cranston said that just a few weeks before Mitte’s death they were messaging each other to find a time to have lunch. “I don’t know whether that lunch would have changed his future,” he wondered.
Cranston said, “But I know I loved her, and thoroughly enjoyed being with her over the years on the series, and after the spotlight dimmed on Breaking Bad… I’m going to miss you, son.” Before concluding his tribute, Cranston urged people who are struggling to reach out 988 lifeline And said, “There is hope.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Dial 988 or chat here 988lifeline.org to reach till National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. trevor projectwhich provides support and suicide-prevention resources for LGBTQ+ youth, can be contacted at 1-866-488-7386. Find other international suicide helplines on BayFriends Worldwide (befrienders.org).