‘RJ, I Love You My Friend’: Aaron Paul Mourns ‘Breaking Bad’ Co-Star RJ Mitte

Hollywood is grieving a young star who brought authentic disability representation to one of TV's most celebrated dramas. Those who knew him best are remembering his warmth, kindness, and advocacy.

Aaron Paul is mourning the loss of his former "Breaking Bad" co-star and friend, RJ Mitte, who passed away on Monday, October 12, 2026. His team confirmed the heartbreaking news that same day. He was just 34.

Paul, who portrayed Jesse Pinkman on the show, wrote in a statement shared 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."

According to People, the Brownsville Police Department said it received a call at 12:50 p.m. on Monday. Officers responded to Mitte's home, where he was found dead.

"The cause and manner of death are still pending, as there is currently an ongoing investigation," the authorities said. Mitte's representative has since confirmed to Variety that he died by suicide.

Like his on-screen character, Walter White Jr., Mitte lived with cerebral palsy. He appeared in all five seasons of the hit AMC series as the son of Walter (Bryan Cranston) and Skyler White (Anna Gunn).

The acclaimed drama ran from 2008 to 2013, winning 16 Primetime Emmy Awards from a total of 58 nominations.

His portrayal of Walter White's son earned him the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award in 2013. Beyond his work on "Breaking Bad," Mitte also appeared in ABC Family's "Switched at Birth" and the superhero series "The Guardians of Justice."

Dean Norris, who played Hank Schrader, Walter Jr.'s uncle, also remembered Mitte fondly in a statement shared with THR. He wrote:

"Though RJ didn't play my TV son, I always looked out for him as a young kid on set. He was a sweetheart of a young man and will be greatly missed. This is so heartbreaking, I can't believe it. Thinking of him and his family."

Bryan Cranston, who played Walter White, revealed he was in "deep despair" following the news. "It is especially devastating to hear that he took his own life. Why?" Cranston wrote.

"We were texting each other just a few weeks ago — figuring out when we could meet for lunch. I don't know if that lunch would have changed his future," he continued. "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."

Away from the cameras, Mitte was a passionate advocate. In an interview with Love-It Film published in February, he emphasized how the show had only helped him "be a greater advocate" in his life.

He worked as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children's and served as president of The Mitte Foundation.

The Mitte Cultural District paid tribute as well, remembering the actor as a "friend, a partner and someone who genuinely believed in the power of arts and culture to bring people together."

"He believed that the Mitte Cultural District could serve as a bridge connecting generations, cultures, abilities, and communities through shared experiences and creative expression," an official statement from the organization read.

The statement continued, "His commitment to Brownsville and his family's philanthropic legacy helped shape an extraordinary chapter in our cultural history, including our recent designation as a Texas Cultural District."