Breaking Bad actor RJ Mitte's heartbreaking final interview days before death

Breaking Bad actor RJ Mitte's heartbreaking final interview days before death Breaking Bad star RJ Mitte has died aged just 34, with a spokesperson for the late actor sharing that he took his own life. Just days before his death, the late actor opened up in his final interview Breaking Bad star RJ Mitte took his own life, his representative said. The Breaking Bad actor was just 34. The Brownsville Police Department recieved a call at 12:50pm local time, and sadly, Mitte was found dead upon arrival. "The cause and manner of death are still pending, as there is currently an ongoing investigation," they said. Cameron County Justice of the Peace Cyndi Hinojosa later declared Mitte dead at his home at 1:32pm local time. A medical examiner will now determine the official cause of death, following an autopsy. However, there was no sign of foul play. The actor, who starred as Walter White Jr. in the hit show alongside Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, died in Texas. In a statement, his spokesperson said: "It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte. Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion." In the days before his death, RJ opened up in his final interview about one of the most complicated scenes he had to film during his time on the show. The programme followed Walter White as he was diagnosed with stage-three lung cancer, before producing and selling methamphetamine to pay for his treatment and leave behind money for his family, with RJ playing his son. He said: "It's the last time he talks to him. In reality, I didn't understand it as much as I do now. But I still had a lot of pressure and felt a lot of pressure in trying to make sure that was right." Over the course of his career, it was rumoured that RJ had a net worth of between $3million and $5million. However, this was far from the case. RJ previously revealed: "I think it's what I've earned in my entire life." But the amount he earned from Breaking Bad saw the actor becoming "the main breadwinner" for his family. If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or visit their site to find your local branch Key Events RJ's heartbreaking comment on family life In a 2016 interview, RJ opened up about his life outside work, growing up with his mother and his sister, Lacey, who was 12 at the time. He had been looking after his mother, who was paralysed due to a road accident, the month after Lacey was born. Speaking to The Guardian, RJ said: "She was in a car accident – a car ploughed into her at 40mph – and ruptured her spine. Afterwards, she couldn't lift Lacey because of the operations she'd had. So I took care of Lacey. "There's a 12-year gap between us and her dad wasn't really around, so I guess I was a bit of a father figure to her as well as a brother. I changed her diapers, made up her bottles, fed her, rocked her, bathed her – everything, I did it." Poignant comments on living life to the fullest' In his final interview, the late actor opened up about living life to the "fullest". During his final interview on The Joe Vulpis podcast, he was asked how he dealt with the pressures of filming Breaking Bad. "I live life to the fullest," he commented. He went on to add: "I always try. I have a very finite amount of time." He later revealed that he planned to "keep pushing forward" in life and do things he "loves". RJ said: "I would like to try to find some time in the next couple of years to myself. But you know, I think just keep living the dream, you know? And I tell people, every dream could be a nightmare too. But just keep living it, keep pushing forward." Who is RJ Mitte's fiancée? RJ and his fiancée, Kennedy Suarez, had been in a relationship since 2018. Prior to this, the pair had been long-term friends for some years. The couple announced their engagement to one another on October 16 last year. Speaking to People magazine, the actor said: "I'm thrilled to have found my person, my partner in life who makes me want to be better, no matter what we're doing. Kennedy is my everything, and I can't wait to officially start our life together and see what adventures life takes us on next." Kennedy, who works in HR, often appeared alongside RJ at events and helped him with film projects as and when she was required. RJ's charity work RJ launched the non-profit organisation, The Mitte Foundation, to support philanthropic efforts and community projects. He continually used his platform to "challenge stereotypes and promote greater representation for people with disabilities," his representative, Sean Reilly, said. Aaron Paul's tear-jerking tribute Aaron, who played drug user turned drug dealer Jesse Pinkman, said in a statement to 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." RJ's Breaking Bad co-star Matt Jones shares tribute Matt, who played Brandon 'Badger' Matthew on the show, shared a photo of the pair on Instagram alongside the caption: I met you 19 years ago, you were only 15. I'm beyond devastated. You were a little brother to all of us." RJ used struggles to push himself Mitte told the AP in 2014 that his disability and the surrounding struggles with physical therapy, family problems and exorbitant medical bills — all key subjects on the show — made him better at his job. "You develop a different mentality, and you develop a different look at how the world sees you and how you see the world," he said. "You're able to use that. And I think it's an asset instead of something that would hinder." RJ's heartbreaking Breaking Bad admission After starring as Walter White Jr. between 2008 and 2013, RJ said he could never top this role. "I want to top Breaking Bad," he said. He went on to add: "See, that's, that's the hardest. That is literally, I set a bar for myself as a young man that, that, that is kind of unattainable. I tell people, I say, 'Look, it's a long way down from the top of the mountain.'" Final Instagram post RJ's final Instagram post featured his appearance on The Joe Vulpis podcast, shared just five days before his death. "I don't think it was an end. I think that was, I, it was really the end of, of Heisenberg's journey, but I don't think that was the end of, of Skyler, Walt, and Holly's journey," he said. He went on to add: "And, you know, I think there's a lot of unanswered questions there that for them, uh, will probably never be answered. Uh, and, and so I think, uh, there's still a, a big step for, for the, the White family. There's always more to be told, but you gotta tell it right. You can't, you know, we, we, again, if, if something happens in the future with the show, um, you know, now that, you know, the fans control that, really, truly. Like, the fans control what continues to get made." Shocking confession about Breaking Bad pay Just under a year before he died, RJ made a shocking admission about just how much he had earned from his role in Breaking Bad. He explained that he had "paid more in taxes" than he racked up for his role on the show. Speaking on The Iced Coffee Hour podcast, he explained that he was far from becoming a millionaire. A Coogan Account, a trust set up to protect a minor's earnings, was created, meaning 15 per cent of his earnings would be set aside until he reached the age of majority. He said: "Just the name of the game with it, you know. I was paying to keep pushing forward and to keep doing that ... and everything went back into the business." When asked if he made a profit from the show or earned any "excess" after paying his bills, he shook his head. RJ said he was paid "minimum" as it was his "first speaking job, ever." He commented: "Breaking Bad was not, like, very lucrative as far as like across the board. "Every season, we were told that we were cancelled. We just did not have the viewership until streaming. You know that was our big moment, when streaming came in and people binge-viewed Breaking Bad,' he added. 'But up until that point, it was a struggle every year. It wasn't much." When asked if the rumours that he was worth between $3million and $5million were true, he confirmed this was just pure speculation. "I think it's what I've earned in my entire life," he said. RJ's health battle RJ was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at just three. At the time, doctors put his legs in casts for six months to straighten his feet. He was later fitted with leg braces and used crutches throughout his early years. Over the years, RJ built up strength through sports and exercises and by the time he reached his teens, he no longer required any walking assistance devices. When he was born, via emergency caesarean, he was not breathing, which sadly resulted in brain damage. Life after Breaking Bad After his final appearance in Breaking Bad back in 2013, RJ continued to land a string of high-profile roles on both the small and big screens. In the same year his final scene aired, RJ appeared as Tim in the movie House of Last Things. He later landed roles such as Who's Driving Doug, Rivers Run Red, and Standing Up for Sunny on the big screen. In 2021, he portrayed Mike in Triumph, for which he also served as an executive producer. Meanwhile, although he had recurring roles and appeared in several episodes of various TV shows, his last small screen credit came in 2022, playing the role of Mind Master in the live-action animated series, The Guardians of Justice. RJ never liked watching himself on TV The actor previously said he didn't enjoy watching himself on TV, admitting: "It doesn't help me." He commented: "I dwell in it. I'm someone that when I mess up or like something happens, I dwell and I spiral. Where it's like, what could I have done differently? How could I have done that differently?" Final heartbreaking interview Just weeks before his death, RJ Mitte spoke about his role in Breaking Bad. The actor made an appearance on The Joe Vulpis Podcast just a week ago and spoke of his "most complicated" scene on the show. The American show followed high school teacher Walter White as he was diagnosed with stage-three lung cancer, before producing and selling methamphetamine to pay for his treatment and leave behind money for his family. RJ played Walter's son. Reflecting on a difficult scene, he recalled Walter's final call with his dad, during which RJ said he felt "a lot of pressure". He said: "I really think for me one of the most complicated scenes that I've had to do was that final phone call. "It's the last time he talks to him. In reality, I didn't understand it as much as I do now. But I still had a lot of pressure and felt a lot of pressure in trying to make sure that was right. And where it set, and the tones, and the confusion, and the different levels of that. Because he's now hearing this in his school. He's hearing it from people. He's been stained by this reputation of Heisenberg. And it's like, I don't know who Heisenberg is. Wait, that's my dad. That's my father, and he killed my uncle. Like he's a murderer. "And so that realisation for him was something that I really wanted to make sure that I met those criteria. And you know, listening to the directors, listening to Vince [Gilligan], and really Bryan [Cranston] was there that day as well. He was in the room when we did that scene. So really kind of figuring out how to do that scene justice." Read the full story here. RJ's final public appearance before death Just days before his death, RJ walked the red carpet for the premiere of Talking To Strangers on September 30. The actor posed for photographs at the premiere, held at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills. Co-star Bryan Cranston leads tributes His on-screen father, Bryan Cranston, shared his heartbreak at the news, revealing that the pair had been texting in recent weeks and had arranged to meet for lunch. The actor wrote: “I’m in deep despair as I write this tonight. RJ Mitte, my sweet son on Breaking Bad, has died. I met him when he was only 14 years old, when he was cast as Walter White Jr., a part he played with such joy and enthusiasm. Born with Cerebral Palsy, he never – ever – allowed that challenge to be an excuse for anything. He met the demanding shooting schedule head-on with great determination.” Cranston addded: “Always listening to the advice that his TV parents (Anna Gunn and myself) gave him – but being a teenager, sometimes mischievously ignoring the counsel in order to learn the hard way… He was one of the stars of a hit TV show – but still a kid. "That kid was pretty raw when we started shooting the pilot in February of 2007, but little by little we watched him grow into a really fine actor. He parlayed his experience on the show to be a vocal advocate for performers with disabilities, and was the head of a philanthropic organization with a focus on helping the disabled community. All that promise and potential now is such a loss.” The actor added: “It is especially devastating to hear that he took his own life. Why? 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… 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.” What we know so far A spokesperson for RJ confirmed tha the actor had sadly taken his own life, aged just 34. Police were called at 12:50pm local time and the actor was sadly dead upon arrival. A judge later declared him dead at 1:32pm local time.