Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul has shared a heartbreaking video of his co-star RJ Mitte talking about mental health, following the actor's suicide on Monday. Mitte, best known for playing Walter White Jr on the drama, died on 12 October aged 34. His representatives said in a statement that he took his own life. Police were called at 12:50pm local time and the actor was sadly dead upon arrival.
Video message on mental health
In an Instagram post, Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad, shared a video of Mitte talking about the importance of taking care of your mental health. He said: “I hope y’all are doing well today in this time of uncertainty but I would like to talk to you a little about mental health. Its very important to take care of ones physical health but its equally as important to take care of one’s mental health.”
He added that people can often hide how they are feeling but that it was "okay to not always be good" and "not okay to harbour that feeling" and bury your emotions. "I am hoping to inspire each and everyone that sees this video," Mitte ended.
Aaron Paul's tribute and last meeting
In the caption, Paul apologised to his friend for not realising how much he was suffering before his death. "You have always been an inspiration for so many," the actor wrote. "I am so sorry you were hurting my friend. I wish we knew."
Paul also revealed what happened the last time he and Mitte saw each other. He said that he kept calling the star, who had cerebral palsy, "superman", because he reminded Paul of the comic book hero. He said: "You reminded me of him because you always led with kindness and strength. It was blinding. You were born into a world with challenges but you never let any of that stand in your way."
Apologising again, Paul called Mitte's death an "absolute tragic loss" and said he loved him and his family. "We were all blessed to be on with Breaking Bad," Paul added, before pleading with fans to say something if they were struggling.
Tributes from co-stars
Following his death, tributes have poured in for Mitte from his co-stars. Bryan Cranston, who played Breaking Bad's protagonist and Mitte's onscreen father Walter White, said: “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 added that he and Mitte had been texted a few weeks prior to the actor's death and were trying to find a time to go to lunch together. "I don’t know if that lunch would have changed his future…" Cranston wrote. "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."
