Bob Odenkirk joined a growing list of “Breaking Bad” colleagues mourning RJ Mitte this week, calling the actor’s death at 34 “simply, deeply sad.” Mitte died Monday in Brownsville, Texas. A representative confirmed to People that he died by suicide.
Odenkirk, who played the lawyer Saul Goodman, said in a statement to the magazine that Mitte shared his personal story and gave his time to help others. Whenever they met, Odenkirk said, Mitte greeted people with positivity and a wish to connect.
Bryan Cranston, who played Mitte’s on-screen father, wrote on Instagram that he felt deep despair. He remembered a young actor born with cerebral palsy who never treated the condition as an excuse and met a punishing shooting schedule with determination. The two had traded texts a few weeks ago and tried to set up a lunch. Cranston wrote that he could not say if it would have changed anything, but that he loved Mitte. Dean Norris, who played Hank Schrader, called the death heartbreaking and said he watched over Mitte on set when the actor was a boy. Aaron Paul also posted a tribute.
Mitte played Walter White Jr., known as Flynn, in all five seasons of the AMC drama, which ended in 2013. The character has cerebral palsy and was based on a real person, a college friend of creator Vince Gilligan. Mitte said that origin made the role feel genuine to him. His representative credited him with bringing authenticity to the part. Later credits included “Switched at Birth” and “The Guardians of Justice.”
Away from the screen, Mitte worked as a disability rights advocate. He served as president of The Mitte Foundation and as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s. His representative said he used his platform to build awareness and inclusion and to challenge stereotypes about people with disabilities.
Anyone in the United States having thoughts of suicide can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
