RJ Mitte, who played Walter White Jr. in AMC’s “Breaking Bad,” died by suicide Monday in Texas. He was 34.
Mitte’s former girlfriend, Portland-based photographer Saint Sasha, posted a tribute on Instagram the same day, sharing two old photos of the couple together.
“I fell in love for the first time when I was 18. RJ was the first person to show me how a man is supposed to treat a woman,” Sasha wrote. “He was the first partner to build me up and make me feel unstoppable. He had one of the kindest and rarest hearts I’d ever had the privilege to experience and he was still a friend. I can’t believe this is real.”
She added: “Never in any lifetime could I forget him and how he made me feel. He was the first and last of his kind. Thank you for everything, endlessly, RJ. I love you, homie.”
Mitte’s death comes roughly a year after he got engaged to his girlfriend of five years, Kennedy Suarez, on her 30th birthday. He proposed at a charity event in Carlsbad, California, that benefited United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego, an organization where Mitte served as an ambassador. Mitte himself had cerebral palsy.
“I’m thrilled to have found my person, my partner in life who makes me want to be better, no matter what we’re doing,” Mitte told People after the proposal in October 2025. “Kennedy is my everything, and I can’t wait to officially start our life together and see what adventures life takes us on next.”
Suarez marked the engagement on Instagram at the time, writing, “My 30th felt like a fairytale…. I have the man of my dreams by my side & we are doing what we love most – helping others.”
A co-star noticed a change
Mitte appeared in all five seasons of “Breaking Bad” as the son of Bryan Cranston’s Walter White. His co-star Luis Moncada, who played Marco Salamanca on the series, said Tuesday he had noticed Mitte seemed unusually down in the days before his death.
Moncada told “TMZ Live” he had reunited with Mitte at a charity golf tournament more than a week earlier and described Mitte’s demeanor as “different,” saying he seemed “tired and sad.” Moncada said he invited Mitte to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta the following day, hoping to lift his spirits.
“He was being pulled in all kinds of directions,” Moncada said, adding that Mitte seemed “very conflicted,” though he did not share further details about what was troubling him.
In what turned out to be his final interview, recorded Oct. 5 on “The Joe Vulpis” podcast, Mitte said he intended to keep auditioning and pursuing his career.
“I tell people, you know, every dream could be a nightmare, too … but just keep living it, just keep pushing forward,” Mitte said.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 800-273-TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line at 741741. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is also available 24/7 at SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
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