Anna Gunn will always have a special place in her heart for her Breaking Bad son, RJ Mitte, following his death by suicide.
“I’ll never forget meeting RJ when he was only 14 years old,” Gunn, 58, said in a statement to Us on Wednesday, October 14. “I was immediately struck by the depth and complexity of someone so young.”
After playing his TV mom, Skyler White, for five seasons on the hit AMC series, Gunn called Mitte a “gentle and bold, exceedingly kind, and wickedly funny” person who was “a bit rebellious (like any teenager) yet eager to learn and hone his craft” as an actor.
Mitte, for his part, portrayed Walter “Flynn” White Jr., the son of Skyler and Bryan Cranston’s Walter White. (Mitte died by suicide on Monday, October 12, at the age of 34.)
“Above all, he was doggedly determined that his disability would not impede him, but would instead give him the opportunity to enlighten and educate others through his nakedly truthful portrayal of Walt ‘Flynn’ Jr.,” Gunn said, referring to Mitte’s diagnosis with cerebral palsy at age 3.
Gunn noted that the entire Breaking Bad family was “lucky” that Mitte “lit up our lives” for so long.
“How lucky I was to play his TV mom, to watch him evolve and expand as an actor and human being as the seasons went by, and for all the years after as he continued to serve his community with tireless advocacy and philanthropic work,” she gushed. “I was so proud of him; we all were.”
She continued, “There truly are no words to express the heartbreak of a loss this profound, the loss of a beautiful young man who had such an impact upon this world, with still so much ahead of him.”
The Emmy winner explained that in the wake of her former costar’s death and amidst so much profound sadness, she is deciding to focus on the positive.
“What I choose to remember and cherish today are the quiet, personal moments I shared with my beloved TV son,” she continued. “Moments of mutual support and understanding, of belly-aching laughter and silliness, of care and deep love. You live in my heart forever, my dearest RJ.”
Gunn’s heartfelt tribute comes just days after Mitte’s rep confirmed his death by suicide in Texas.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte,” his rep said in a statement to Us on Monday.
He added, “Beyond entertaining friends and family around the world, he served as an ambassador for 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.”
Since his death, the Breaking Bad cast has shared sweet messages of sympathy while reminiscing on their time with Mitte, including tributes from Cranston, 70, and Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman.
“We were texting each other just a few weeks ago — figuring out when we could meet for lunch,” Cranston wrote via Instagram. “I don’t know if that lunch would have changed his future… 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.”
Paul, 47, penned his own social media tribute, writing, “I’m so sorry RJ. What an absolute tragic loss. I love you my friend. I loved your mother. Your sister. I loved your laugh and how much fun you had riding the wave we were all blessed to be on with Breaking Bad.”
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