Breaking Bad star RJ Mitte made poignant comment about having 'finite amount of time' in final interview
Breaking Bad star RJ Mitte made poignant comments about living life to the ‘fullest’ in his final interview before his tragic death.
Mitte - whose full name was Roy Frank Mitte III - passed away on Monday in Brownsville, Texas, at just 34.
A representative for the actor, who’s best-known for playing Walter White Jr. in Breaking Bad, confirmed the tragic passing in a statement.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte,” the rep said.
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A cause of death has not been confirmed.
Following his death, Mitte's recent appearance on The Joe Vulpis podcast has resurfaced.
During the interview, Mitte - who had cerebral palsy - was asked how he dealt with intense scenes while filming Breaking Bad.
He explained that he channeled his life experiences while working in such scenes.
“I live life to the fullest,” he said.
“I always try. I have a very finite amount of time.”
Later on in the interview, Mitte said that he planned to just ‘keep pushing forward’ in life and ‘doing the things that [he] loves’.
“I would like to try to find some time in the next couple of years to myself,” he said.
“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.”
Reflecting on what made him happiest, Mitte said he loved to give back to others.
“When you get to see someone’s life change, and you get to see a child’s life change, there’s no feeling like it in the world,” he said.
“You can watch a kid go from not being able to walk and not being able to talk to walking and talking, or finding that confidence, finding whatever it is – that, to me, is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Mitte was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at just three and after moving to Hollywood in 2006 used his fame to raise awareness about the condition.
He was an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and a Screen Actors Guild spokesman for actors with disabilities
Mitte moved to Hollywood in 2006 and sought out acting roles where his disability could educate viewers.
He was also the president of his own charity, the Mitte Foundation, which supported various philanthropic efforts and aimed to change perceptions about people living with disabilities.
Bryan Cranston paid tribute
Following his death, Bryan Cranston paid a touching tribute to his on-screen son.
“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,” he wrote.
“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.
“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.”
Cranston went on to say that Mitte had been ‘pretty raw’ when filming the show’s pilot back in 2007 but that ‘little by little’ he saw 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,” he continued. “All that promise and potential now is such a loss.”
Cranston said the pair had been texting each other just a few weeks ago and were arranging to meet up for lunch and expressed his sadness that they hadn’t been able to meet up sooner.
He wrote: “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.”
Topics: Celebrity, Breaking Bad
Claire Reid