Breaking Bad star RJ Mitte reflected on his ‘most complicated’ scene in heartbreaking final interview just days before his death by suicide at 34

Breaking Bad star RJ Mitte reflected on his iconic role as Walter White Jr in his final interview, which was filmed just two weeks before his death by suicide at 34. 

Mitte, who died on Monday in Texas, was featured on The Joe Vulpis Podcast on October 5, where he discussed starring alongside Bryan Cranston, 70, in the hit TV show, admitted that watching himself on screen would make him ‘spiral’ and shared his thoughts on where his character would be today.

Breaking Bad, which ran for five seasons, centered on Walter White (Cranston) a high school chemistry teacher who turns to producing methamphetamine after being diagnosed with cancer. 

Mitte played Walter’s teenage son, who has cerebral palsy, a condition the actor also had in real life.

In his final interview, Mitte shared that the ‘most complicated’ scene he had to film came during a phone call with his onscreen father. 

‘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.’

He went on: ‘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 realization 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.’ 

Mitte also said that he didn’t like watching himself onscreen because any mistake would make him ‘spiral.’

‘I find for me it doesn’t help me. 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?’

He said he had only watched the first episode of every season and the last episode of the last season. 

Vulpis also asked Mitte where he thought Walt Jr and the rest of Walter’s family would be today.

Mitte said: ‘I don’t think it’s a good place. I really don’t see Skyler, Walt Jr and Holly are in the best position now. I would like to think what everyone wants: Walt Jr got the money and Walt Jr is following in the footsteps and all these things.’

‘In reality, I see it more like a sadness and a despair, and that they don’t get the money. Because you know when DEA comes in, especially to a man like Walter White, like Heisenberg, who isn’t just some small nobody but a global distributor destroying millions of lives, they don’t just let the family go. They don’t just go, “Okay, well he’s dead, or he’s gone. Y’all have a great life now.”‘

‘It’s like, no, you’re under lock and key. They’re watching you. They’re making sure that none of his aliases come back.’

He said his audition for Breaking Bad was ‘one of the longest auditions of my life’ adding that it lasted ‘over six months.’ 

Mitte also said that playing Walt Jr was ‘unbelievable’ and that the role was ‘truly a life-changing.’ 

‘You know, back then we really didn’t realize how impactful the show was going to be. And you know, I spent my teenage life in Breaking Bad.’ 

Elsewhere in the interview, Mitte said that he believed that wasn’t the end of the story for his character and White’s family: ‘I don’t think it was the end. That was really the end of Heisenberg’s journey but I don’t think that was the end of Skyler, Walt, and Holly’s journey.’

‘I think there’s a lot of unanswered questions there that for them, will probably never be answered. And so I think there’s still a big step for the White family.’

‘There’s more to be told,’ the interviewer said.

‘There’s always more to be told,’ he added. ‘But you got to tell it right!’ he said. ‘Again, if something happens in the future with the show… the fans control that, really, truly, like, the fans control what continues to get made.’

‘I think it’d go right to the top,’ the interviewer said. ‘Top of Netflix, top of wherever it’s streaming.’

‘I want to top Breaking Bad,’ he said. ‘That’s the hardest… I set a bar for myself as a young man that is kind of unobtainable. And I tell people, I say, look, it’s a long way down from the top of the mountain.’

He also gave advice to other aspiring young actors, stating: ‘Make sure you like it, because in this industry, everyone sees the final product. Everyone sees the final like, “oh it’s amazing.” But like no one realizes how strenuous it is and how much actually goes into it, and the long hours, and especially when you’re not doing anything.’ 

Vulpis told TMZ on Monday that he was stunned to learn about Mitte’s death, as he was making plans for the future when he last saw him to film the podcast two weeks prior.

He described the actor as ‘so positive’ and ‘one of the most kind and genuine people [he] got to speak with.’

‘His passing is super surprising because he was so grounded and down to earth,’ he added.

Vulpis said the two spent more time together after filming the podcast and that Mitte talked about what was coming next and was focused on his charitable efforts and future projects. He told the podcast host that he had just signed on for another film and was promoting his project Talking to Strangers.

A county official confirmed to TMZ that Mitte died on Monday in Texas – and that a death investigation is ongoing. The publication reported that Mitte died by suicide.  

Mitte appeared in 56 episodes of Breaking Bad from 2008 to 2013 and had also appeared in The Recall and The Guardians of Justice (Will Save You.).

He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy aged three and advocated for actors and those working in the entertainment industry with disabilities.

His representative told the publication: ‘It is with profound sadness we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte.

‘RJ Mitte was best known for his role as Walter ‘Flynn’ White Jr. on AMC’s critically acclaimed, award-winning series Breaking Bad.’

‘Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion. Beyond entertaining friends and family around the world, he served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s.’

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Mitte and the Brownsville Police Department for further comment.

Emmy-winning Breaking Bad – which also starred Aaron Paul as White’s former inept student turned collaborator Jesse Pinkman – ran from 2008 to 2013 and garnered widespread acclaim from both fans and critics around the world.

Mitte’s shock death comes a year after the actor got engaged to his girlfriend Kennedy Suarez on her 30th birthday.

‘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,’ Mitte told People.

He gushed: ‘Kennedy is my everything and I can’t wait to officially start our life together and see what adventures life takes us on next.’

Mitte proposed at the 56th annual Dia del Sol 2025 benefit in Carlsbad, California. The fundraising event benefitted United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of San Diego, for which he is an ambassador.

Following the engagement, Suarez took to Instagram to write: ‘My 30th felt like a fairytale…. I have the man of my dreams by my side & we are doing what we love most — helping others.’

The pair lived in Brownsville, Texas, and the actor was president of The Mitte Foundation, his family’s Austin-based charity.

The Foundation rejuvenates and funds South Texas-based marginalized communities.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders affecting movement, posture and balance due to abnormal brain development or damage.

Symptoms range from muscle stiffness and poor motor control to difficulties with balance and coordination.

During his life, Mitte called for larger representation of disabled actors on television and said he ‘utilized everything’ he knew about his disability for Breaking Bad.

‘I wouldn’t be in the position I am in today without my disability,’ he told the Irish Examiner in 2016. ‘I utilized everything I know about living with cerebral palsy for my role in Breaking Bad.’

‘We know lots of progress is being made but the industry must do more to help disabled people work both in front of and behind the camera,’ he said. ‘During the Paralympics there will be more disabled people than ever before on TV but this shouldn’t be something that just happens every four years.’

‘I would love to switch on my TV and see a disabled person talking about something they are genuinely interested in or acting out a part that doesn’t just focus on their impairment.’

In 2019, five years after Breaking Bad, Mitte admitted he still missed being a part of the show’s cast.

‘That’s going to follow me ’til the day I die,’ he told The Sydney Morning Herald as he reflected on his time on the hit AMC series.

The role took Mitte’s career to a whole new level and ‘opened a lot of doors’ for him.

‘Breaking Bad put me on the map,’ he told The Independent in 2021. ‘You’re only talking to me today because of it. None of my projects would exist without that show and the opportunity it gave me. It really opened a lot of doors for me. I wouldn’t have the media profile and the following that I have today without Walter White Jr. I would just be some kid who lives in Texas.’

Mitte hails from Mississippi and was six years old when he found out he was adopted.

‘I was about six when I was told that I was adopted.,’ he told the Sydney Morning Herald in 2019. ‘My stepbrother heard my mom and my then-stepdad talking and said to me, “You are adopted. They don’t love you.” I didn’t believe him but my parents confirmed that I was. I was like, “Okay.”’

‘I’ve never felt the need to track my birth mother,’ he said. ‘Medically, I’d like to know my family history, but until I feel that need, I have enough family and friends. I don’t need any more.’

Mitte’s mother chose to adopt him as she believed she would be unable to have her own children due to an ovarian cancer diagnosis.

‘The reason Mom adopted me was because she’d had ovarian cancer and was told she couldn’t have children. Then, magically, 11 years later, my sister Lacianne came along.’

If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org