RJ Mitte, the actor best known for playing Walter White Jr in Breaking Bad, gave his final interview just two weeks before his death at 34 on Monday. He appeared on The Joe Vulpis Podcast on October 5 and discussed what he called his "most complicated" scene in the acclaimed AMC drama.
Mitte starred alongside Bryan Cranston in the series from 2008 to 2013. The show, created by Vince Gilligan, followed high school chemistry teacher Walter White, who, after being diagnosed with stage-three lung cancer, began producing and selling methamphetamine to secure his family's financial future. Mitte played Walter's teenage son, who also has cerebral palsy.
Reflecting on the Final Phone Call Scene
During the podcast, Mitte spoke about the pressure he felt filming Walter's final phone call with his father. He admitted he did not fully understand the character at the time.
"I really think for me one of the most complicated scenes that I've had to do was that final phone call," he said. "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 described the character's realization during the scene: "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."
Mitte said he wanted to ensure he "met those criteria" and credited the directors, Vince Gilligan, and Bryan Cranston, who was present in the room during filming, for helping him navigate the scene.
Thoughts on the White Family's Fate
Mitte also revealed he never enjoyed watching himself on television, saying it "never helped him" because he tends to dwell on mistakes and spiral.
When asked where he thought the White family would be today, he expressed a bleak view. "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," he said. "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."
Tributes and Investigation
Mitte's representatives confirmed his death on Monday in Brownsville, Texas. In a statement, they said: "It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte. Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion."
The Brownsville Police Department received a call at 12:50pm local time, and Mitte was found dead upon arrival. A judge declared him dead at 1:32pm local time. The cause and manner of death are pending an ongoing investigation, with a medical examiner to determine the official cause following an autopsy. There was no sign of foul play.
Bryan Cranston, who played his on-screen father, shared his grief, revealing the pair had been texting recently and had arranged to meet for lunch. He wrote: "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. 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."
