RJ Mitte was just 3 when his grandfather took him fishing. 3 years later they went on their first hunting trip. How the Breaking Bad actor learned that ‘can’t’ was never an option

RJ Mitte, who played the role of Walter White Jr. in Breaking Bad, passed away on Monday, October 12. He was 34. Mitte had been suffering from cerebral palsy, but that didn’t stop the actor from living his life. Long ago in an interview, Mitte credited his indomitable spirit to his grandfather, Poppa. According to the actor, it was his grandfather who took him on exciting adventures even though he was dealing with the condition. Mitte also shared the biggest life lesson he learnt from him.

RJ Mitte on going fishing with grandfather

RJ Mitte, in a 2016 interview with The Guardian, revealed that when he was 2 or 3 years old, his grandparents would take him fishing in their boat once a week. This was in Texas and Louisiana. Mitte admitted that he ‘loved’ the experience and recalled catching his biggest, first-ever fish — a 1,200lb marlin.

Mitte continued that although he didn’t go fishing as often later on in his life, the actor found the experience to be a ‘calming’ one. Remembering his childhood days, Mitte revealed that back in his younger days, he had casts on both feet, which led to an accident once.

RJ Mitte and grandfather’s boating mishap

‘I had casts on both my feet. So I was always falling in the boat and knocking things overboard. There was never a dull moment on that boat,’ he said. Recalling the incident, Mitte noted that on one occasion, he accidentally hooked his grandfather in the head while fishing.

Since Mitte’s grandfather was sitting at the back of the boat, Mitte continued pulling the fishing line and the hook got lodged in his grandfather’s head. It forced them to rush to the hospital. However, Mitte’s grandfather took the mishap in good humour, joking that Mitte had managed to catch the biggest fish of the day.

RJ Mitte on his grandfather’s lessons

Mitte even went on his first hunting trip with his grandfather when he was just 6. ‘We’d drive out in the woods, make a camp and wake up at about 3 am,’ he remembered, adding that although he had his own rifle, he only ever shot one deer in his whole life when he was about 8 or 9 years old.

In conclusion, RJ Mitte noted that saying no was never an option when he was with his grandfather. If he ever confessed that he couldn’t do something, Mitte’s grandfather would push him to do it. ‘He’d say: because you told me you couldn’t do it, I’m going to force you to do it,’ Mitte shared. The actor thanked his grandfather for helping him become who he is today.