he was cast as Walter White Jr., a part he played with such joy and enthusiasm,” said Cranston.
“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.”
How Breaking Bad’s RJ Mitte changed the way we see cerebral palsy
Cranston praised Mitte’s advocacy for performers with disabilities, and noted that he never allowed his cerebral palsy to “be an excuse for anything”.
“All that promise and potential now is such a loss,” wrote the actor, adding that he “thoroughly enjoyed being with him throughout the years on the series, and after the spotlight on Breaking Bad dimmed”.
He said “it is especially devastating to hear that he took his own life.”
Cranston added: “I’ll miss you, son.”
Mitte’s representative, Sean Reilly, said in a statement to the BBC: “Mitte brought authenticity
to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion.”
The star also served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s.
He created The Mitte Foundation to support philanthropic efforts and community initiatives, using his platform “to challenge stereotypes and promote greater representation for people with disabilities”, Reilly said.
In a statement shared with the Hollywood Reporter, Aaron Paul, who played Breaking Bad’s Jesse Pinkman, said he was at a loss and heartbroken.
