Culture 4 min read By Trevor Kendall
Anna Gunn, Bob Odenkirk and Aaron Paul Pay Tribute to 'Breaking Bad' Co-Star RJ Mitte After His Death at 34
Anna Gunn, Bob Odenkirk and Aaron Paul have paid tribute to RJ Mitte, who played Walt Jr. on 'Breaking Bad' and died by suicide at 34. Gunn said he lives in her heart forever, while Paul shared a video of Mitte advocating for mental health awareness.
Anna Gunn has shared an emotional tribute to RJ Mitte, the actor who played her son for all five seasons of AMC's «Breaking Bad» and who died this week at 34. The cause of death was suicide, according to the actor's official record. Gunn's statement, released after the news broke, was brief and personal: «You live in my heart forever.»
Mitte portrayed Walter White Jr., the son of Bryan Cranston's Walter White and Gunn's Skyler White, across the series' entire run. The role made him a familiar face in one of television's most acclaimed dramas, and his character's arc — a teenager navigating a disability while his family unraveled — became one of the show's quieter emotional anchors. Gunn's tribute centered on that on-screen bond, which lasted from the pilot through the 2013 finale.
Bob Odenkirk, who played Saul Goodman on «Breaking Bad» and later led the spin-off «Better Call Saul,» also mourned Mitte. In his statement, Odenkirk called Mitte «a good person who shared his personal story and his time to help out others.» He added that whenever he saw Mitte, the younger actor was «meeting the world» — a phrase that echoed the warmth of their encounters on set and beyond. Odenkirk described the loss as «simply, deeply sad.»
Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman, honored Mitte by posting to Instagram one of Mitte's many videos advocating for mental health awareness. In his post, Paul wrote: «I'm so sorry you were hurting.» The gesture underscored a theme that ran through the tributes: Mitte's public work on mental health, which he pursued alongside his acting career. His advocacy videos, in which he spoke directly to audiences about coping and seeking help, became a significant part of his public identity after «Breaking Bad» ended.
Mitte died Oct. 12 at 34. His death was confirmed as suicide, a detail that gave added weight to Paul's decision to share the mental health video. The tributes from Gunn, Odenkirk and Paul arrived within days of each other, forming a collective remembrance from the core cast of a series that remains a cultural touchstone more than a decade after its final episode.
«Breaking Bad» ran for five seasons on AMC and won multiple Emmy Awards, including several for its lead actors. Mitte's Walt Jr. — known to fans as Flynn for part of the series — was a recurring presence whose relationship with his father and mother shaped some of the show's most human moments. The character's cerebral palsy, which mirrored Mitte's own condition, was written into the role and handled with a matter-of-factness that drew praise from disability advocates.
Beyond the series, Mitte worked as a model and continued acting in film and television. He also became a sought-after speaker on disability rights and mental health, using his platform to discuss his own experiences. That dual legacy — as a performer and as an advocate — was reflected in the tributes, which balanced grief with recognition of the help he offered others.
The cast's statements did not include details about funeral arrangements or additional public memorial plans. Gunn's message, Odenkirk's reflection and Paul's video post stand as the primary public reactions from Mitte's «Breaking Bad» family, each emphasizing different aspects of a life that extended well beyond the screen.
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