Jerod Harris/Getty Images | Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Aaron Paul and Giancarlo Esposito remembered RJ Mitte
Breaking Bad stars Aaron Paul and Giancarlo Esposito became visibly emotional while remembering their late co-star RJ Mitte, who tragically died at the age of 34 last month. The pair were speaking at L.A. Comic Con over the weekend.
RJ Mitte, who played Walter White’s son Walter Jr. on the acclaimed AMC series, died by suicide on October 12 in Brownsville, Texas. During a recent appearance at LA Comic Con, Paul and Esposito paid tribute to their former co-star while reflecting on the shock of his passing.
Aaron Paul and Giancarlo Esposito emotionally remembered late ‘Breaking Bad’ co-star RJ Mitte during Comic Con panel
Aaron Paul and Giancarlo Esposito get emotional while remembering their late Breaking Bad co-star RJ Mitte at #LAComicCon. https://t.co/3aMlHBCdJ9
— Pop Tingz (@PopTingz) October 31, 2026
“You know, I mean, he really was just such a happy, loving, grateful, gracious, inspiring human being,” Paul said before becoming overwhelmed with emotion. “And it’s just… sorry guys, it’s just so, so hard, you know? It’s just so, so shocking.”
Esposito, who played Gus Fring on Breaking Bad and its prequel Better Call Saul, then recalled spending time with Mitte in Colorado about a month before his death.
“He was just such a special guy,” Esposito said, explaining that Mitte made a habit of checking in on the people around him and asking how they were doing.
“He had a way about him that made you feel good and made you smile and always appealed to your heart.”
Esposito also shared a heartbreaking account of calling Mitte’s mother, Dana, shortly after learning of his death, recalling that she was standing outside her home waiting for the coroner to arrive. The 68-year-old actor concluded his tribute by encouraging the audience to reach out to people who may be struggling, even if they aren’t sure what to say.
“If you can read in someone that they might need a good word, a kind word… don’t feel like you’re imposing. Do it. Because we’re all in this together, and we have to love and help each other.”
Mitte, who lived with cerebral palsy, appeared in all five seasons of Breaking Bad and became a prominent advocate for disability awareness and inclusion.
Following his death, numerous former co-stars paid tribute to the actor, including Bryan Cranston, who played his father on the series. Cranston said he was in “deep despair” over the loss of Mitte, whom he had watched grow from a teenager into an adult during their years working together.