Aaron Paul Honors RJ Mitte: The Final Superman Moment and a Lasting Legacy of Strength

The entertainment industry mourned the passing of RJ Mitte, whose death was met with an outpouring of grief from his Breaking Bad co-stars.

Mitte, best known for portraying Walter White Jr. on the Emmy-winning series, passed away on Monday in Brownsville, Texas, at the age of 34. His representative confirmed that the cause of death was suicide.

Aaron Paul, who portrayed Jesse Pinkman on the series, paid tribute describing Mitte as ‘an inspiration to so many.’ Reflecting on their final encounter, Paul shared, ‘I am so sorry you were hurting my friend. I wish we had known.’ He added, ‘You constantly had a smile on your face and met every challenge with such confidence and grace.’

Paul recalled meeting Mitte as a child, watching him grow into ‘a beautiful young man’ who faced ‘every challenge head-on.’ The last time they met, Paul called him ‘Superman,’ explaining, ‘You reminded me of him—the kindness and strength were blinding. You were born into a world with challenges, yet you never let any of that stand in your way.’

Mitte, diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy at age three, earned rave reviews for his performance as Walter White Jr., a character who shared the condition, though portrayed more pronouncedly. He remained a staple of Breaking Bad throughout its celebrated run from 2008 to 2013. In 2013, he received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award, honoring Russell, the first actor with a disability to win an Oscar.

Paul mourned the ‘absolute tragic loss,’ recalling, ‘I loved your laugh and the fun we were all blessed to experience riding the wave together on Breaking Bad.’

Paul extended a message of connection, hoping ‘whoever is reading this who feels lost, sad, or uncertain about the future would please speak up.’ He urged, ‘Hold each other up. That’s what this life is all about. Connect with someone you care about and say ‘I love you.” His note concluded, ‘RJ, I love you my friend. I’m so sorry.’