RJ Mitte’s mother thought she was bringing her son lunch. Instead, she arrived at his home to find he had died. Dyna Mitte is now speaking publicly about the loss of the “Breaking Bad” actor, sharing her memories of his final days and her hope that telling their story might help another family. Alongside her grief, she wants people to remember the son she knew, a devoted performer and disability advocate whose impact reached well beyond his role as Walter White Jr.
RJ Mitte’s Mother Says She Went To His Home With Lunch
According to PEOPLE’s coverage of her NBC News interview, published October 15, Dyna said RJ had spent the preceding weekend with family and spoken with several friends. When she called him Monday morning and received no answer, she wasn’t initially alarmed. He often slept until noon. “So I called him at 11,” Dyna said. “He didn’t answer, so I picked up lunch and went to take it to him, and that’s when I discovered him.”
RJ was found dead at his Brownsville, Texas, home on October 12. He was 34. His representative previously confirmed to PEOPLE that he died by suicide. The Brownsville Police Department had separately said his manner of death remained undetermined and under investigation.
Dyna Says She Had Encouraged Her Son To Seek Therapy
Dyna told NBC News that a close friend later shared that RJ had disclosed issues “that he was very hurt over.” She also recalled encouraging him to speak with a therapist in the months before his death. “For the last three months, I’d been offering for him to go to therapy, trying to get him to go there, but he was like, ‘No, I’ve got it. It’s OK. I’m handling it,’ ” Dyna said.
Looking back, she said she wished she had taken him “screaming and yelling” to therapy. Dyna described her belief that his death was a “spur of the moment” decision and said he did not leave a note. That is her personal understanding of what happened, while police have continued their investigation.
- RJ Mitte’s private messages reveal a painful Hollywood struggle before his death.
- Mitte died two days after his engagement anniversary with the fiancée he called “my everything.”
- The actor used his “Breaking Bad” fame to challenge Hollywood’s treatment of disabled actors.
- In his final interview before his death, Mitte reflected on his “finite amount of time.”
- Mitte’s final interview and remarks about “Breaking Bad” have left fans heartbroken following his tragic death.
She Hopes Speaking Out Can Help Another Family
Despite the pain of discussing her son’s death, Dyna said she wants her experience to help others. “If me speaking out today might save someone else from going through the same situation, because a mother should never have to find their child this way,” she said. “If I can say one person is helped, I think that’s what RJ would expect.”
She also spoke about how differently people respond to difficult experiences and how much she wishes she could have changed the outcome. “We all go through some heartbreak in our life and, and we all deal with it differently,” Dyna said. “If I had known anything and could have done anything different, I truly would have. I would have given my life for his life.”
Beyond the circumstances of his death, she wants attention paid to the life he lived. Remembering him as a “special soul” and a “great actor,” Dyna emphasized his philanthropy and the people he helped. “I just want him to be remembered for all the wonderful things he’s done in life, and all the people he’s impacted.”
‘Breaking Bad’ Gave RJ Mitte An Experience His Mother Treasured
RJ portrayed Walter “Flynn” White Jr. throughout “Breaking Bad’s” five seasons, which aired from 2008 to 2013. For Dyna, the show was “an incredible, incredible experience for my son.”
“He truly, truly loved each and every cast member, each and every crew member,” she said. “I couldn’t have asked for him to learn from anyone better.”
Bryan Cranston, who played his father, also remembered the enthusiasm RJ brought to the role. “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,” Cranston wrote on Instagram. “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.”
His career also included “Switched at Birth,” “The Guardians of Justice” and early appearances in “Hannah Montana” and “Everybody Hates Chris.” In 2013, he received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award.
His Family Remembers A Passionate Disability Advocate
RJ’s family also highlighted the work he pursued away from acting. “Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion,” they said in the statement announcing his death.
His advocacy included ambassador roles with United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s. “He also served as president of The Mitte Foundation, supporting philanthropic efforts and community initiatives, while using his platform to challenge stereotypes and promote greater representation for people with disabilities,” the family said.
They also asked for privacy for his loved ones.