The RJ Mitte memorial drew the actor’s Breaking Bad colleagues and friends to Hope Lutheran Church in Hollywood on Saturday for a celebration of life. Aaron Paul, Bryan Cranston, and Bob Odenkirk were photographed attending the service, along with Jonathan Banks and Raymond Cruz. Other friends, including Gilles Marini, also joined the gathering.
Inside the venue, a large portrait of Mitte was displayed among floral arrangements, according to photos from the event. The service began at 1:30 p.m., and a reception followed at The Remix Room in Hollywood from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Attendees were invited through a notice that specified the times and locations.
A Cast Reunited in Grief
Cranston, who played Walter White, appeared somber as he left the church. Paul, Odenkirk, and Banks were also seen outside the service. Cruz was photographed holding a program from the ceremony, while Marini wore all black. The gathering marked a rare public appearance for the former co-stars under painful circumstances.
Mitte, who was 34, died by suicide in Texas on Oct. 12. His spokesperson described him in a statement as a beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate. The spokesperson noted that Mitte was best known for playing Walter “Flynn” White Jr. on AMC’s Breaking Bad, a role he portrayed for five seasons from 2008 to 2013. Drawing on his own experience with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the character and used his platform to advance disability awareness and inclusion.
Cranston's Public Mourning
Cranston also paid tribute to Mitte on Instagram, writing that it was especially devastating to learn that he had taken his own life. The 70-year-old actor recalled that the two had been texting just weeks earlier to arrange a lunch. He wondered whether that meeting might have altered what followed.
Weeks before his death, Mitte appeared on the “Brownsville in Motion” podcast and described the kind of person he hoped to be at 50. He said he wanted to remain true to his beliefs and goals rather than become a grumpy or curmudgeonly middle-aged man. Mitte, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age 3, also mentioned that he had a lot of hip pain and expected his body to change as he aged.
He further expressed hopes for The Mitte Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on helping people with disabilities. The foundation and his advocacy work were central to the legacy his spokesperson highlighted in the statement.
A Life Remembered
The service brought together those who knew Mitte through his work and those who knew him personally. His Breaking Bad role as the son of Cranston’s character gave him a lasting place in television history, while his advocacy gave that visibility a purpose beyond acting. The celebration of life in Hollywood offered family, friends, and former colleagues a space to remember both sides of his public and private life.
For those affected by the issues raised in this story, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or by texting the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
