Aaron Paul is fondly remembering his late Breaking Bad costar RJ Mitte.
“RJ, You have always been an inspiration for so many,” Paul, 47, wrote in a heartfelt tribute via Instagram on Wednesday, October 14. “I am so sorry you were hurting my friend. I wish we knew.” (Mitte died by suicide on Monday, October 12. He was 34.)
Paul — who played Jesse Pinkman alongside Mitte’s Walter “Flynn” White Jr. on the hit AMC series — paid homage to the late actor who he said “constantly had a smile on your face and you took every single challenge that was given to you with such confidence and grace.”
“I met you when you were a little boy and watched you grow into a beautiful young man. Taking on every challenge head on,” the actor recalled. “The last time we saw each other I kept calling you Superman. You reminded me of him. You reminded me of him because you always led with kindness and strength. It was blinding.”
Paul noted that Mitte was “born into a world with challenges,” referring to him being diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age 3, but said his late friend “never let any of that stand in your way.”
“I’m so sorry RJ. What an absolute tragic loss. I love you my friend,” Paul continued. “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.”
The Westworld alum also used his tribute to Mitte to remind anyone else struggling with mental health issues they are not alone.
“I hope whoever is reading this note that feels lost or sad or uncertain about the future please say something. Life is so damn special,” Paul wrote. “It’s impossible that we exist, but yet we all are here.”
He reminded his followers, “There is so much going on in all of our lives but far too much beauty in this world to ignore. We need to focus on that. We must suffocate the noise and focus on each other. Hold each other up. That’s what this life is all about.”
Paul asked his fans to “connect with someone you care about and say I love you,” before circling back to Mitte.
“RJ, love you my friend. I’m so sorry. AP,” he concluded.
Alongside his sentimental message, Paul shared a video of Mitte talking about mental health prior to his death.
“I hope y’all are doing well today in these time of uncertainties, but I would like to talk to you a little about mental health,” Mitte said in the clip. “It’s very important to take care of one’s physical health, but it’s equally as important to take care of one’s mental health.”
The Guardians of Justice (Will Save You!) star confessed, “More often than not, we hide that. We hide what we’re truly feeling, what we’re truly of.”
Mitte then asked, “Are you OK? Are you good? Mm-hmm, not always. It’s OK to be not always good. But it’s not OK to harbor that feeling, harbor those emotions.”
Mitte’s rep confirmed his death on Monday, telling Us in a statement, “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte.”
A spokesperson for Mitte later confirmed that the actor had died by suicide in Texas earlier that day.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
