RJ Mitte death: Bryan Cranston pays tribute to his Breaking Bad son

'I’ll miss you, son'

Cranston, who starred as Walter White, posted a tribute on Instagram, describing Mitte as his “sweet son on Breaking Bad” and admitting he was struggling to put his grief into words.

He recalled meeting Mitte when he was just 14, after being cast as Walter White Jr, and watching him grow both on and off screen.

“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,” he wrote.

Cranston also remembered how Mitte would take advice from his TV parents, Anna Gunn and himself, although he sometimes chose to learn things the hard way.

“Always listening to the advice that his TV parents (Anna Gunn and myself) gave him - but being a teenager, sometimes mischievously ignoring the counsel in order to learn the hard way… He was one of the stars of a hit TV show - but still a kid.”

Cranston spoke about how difficult it was to learn that Mitte had died by suicide.

“It is especially devastating to hear that he took his own life. Why?” he wrote.

“We were texting each other just a few weeks ago - figuring out when we could meet for lunch. 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…”

Cranston ended the post with the words “I’ll miss you, son,” and shared details of a suicide and crisis lifeline for anyone who might be struggling.

Aaron Paul says he is 'at a loss'

Other members of the cast have also shared their memories of Mitte. Dean Norris, who played Hank Schrader, said he had always looked out for the actor when he was a young teenager on set.

“Though RJ didn’t play my TV son, I always looked out for him as a young kid on set. He was a sweetheart of a young man and will be greatly missed,” Norris said.

“I can’t believe it. Thinking of him and his family.”

Aaron Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman, also paid tribute, with The Hollywood Reporter reporting that he was “at a loss” following the news.

“I am heartbroken over this news. RJ, I love you my friend. You will be missed,” Paul wrote.

He also shared a message for anyone reading his post who might be going through a difficult time.

“And to whoever happens to be reading this, please know you are loved, and you are not alone. Always remember that.”