‘Breaking Bad’ Star Recalls RJ Mitte’s Final Days

Brendon Geoffrion (0:08)

Hey, welcome to The TMZ Podcast Afternoon Edition. I'm Branson Cork.

Nettie Anvar (0:12)

I'm Nettie Anvar.

Brendon Geoffrion (0:13)

And it has not got any easier in the last 24 hours dealing with this very heartbreaking death of RJ Mitte, Breaking Bad fans around the world, fans of anything else that he started as well are really having a tough time because, man, he was an icon. He really was and he was so young. It's just heartbreaking.

Nettie Anvar (0:35)

I feel like everyone's heartbroken.

Brendon Geoffrion (0:37)

Yeah. I mean, this is something that you just didn't see coming, especially from someone so positive, so in the conversation of mental health, so in the conversation of dealing with a disability and advocating for that here in casting and everything. And we're learning a little bit more, you know, about the struggles that RJ Mitte had faced, but I'm sure you're actually here because you saw on the thumbnail or in the title that we actually had one of the other iconic Breaking Bad characters inside TMZ's office today, Luis Moncada, who plays one of the Salamanca twins, Marco Salamanca to be specific.

Have you seen the show? No, that's okay to be honest. I know you haven't.

Nettie Anvar (1:27)

No, but I'm going to watch it in honor of RJ.

Brendon Geoffrion (1:30)

I think that's amazing. I think that's great. And I think it's gonna lead a lot of people who haven't seen it. And there's a lot of people in this office who haven't seen it to actually watch it. Well, he actually came in today, the day after his beloved friend passed away because he wanted to speak on his behalf and talk about how much he loved him. And he sat right in your seat right here just a couple hours ago and spoke with Harvey Levin and Charles on TMZ Live. And the reason also we wanted him to come in is because, and we'll get to the video in just a minute here, is because he was one of the people who last saw RJ alive. He went on a balloon ride with him just recently in the last couple weeks here. And he knew that RJ was struggling and actually had a conversation with him.

And he talks all about those final days. So let's play that now for you. It's a little long. It's about four and a half minutes. But I wanted you guys to hear the full words from him.

So here we go.

Harvey Levin (2:33)

Joining us now to talk about RJ's life is his former co-star and his friend Luis Moncada. Luis, welcome to TMZ Live.

Luis Moncada (2:42)

Thank you for having me.

Charlie Cotton (2:44)

First of all, we're so sorry. Why don't you tell us a little bit about that Albuquerque balloon ride and just your interaction with him?

Luis Moncada (2:55)

Look, we got to Albuquerque over a week ago for a golf charity tournament. And we did the tournament. We went to a comedy show with Steven Casada, another co-star, and the whole time, you know, talk to RJ, see how he's doing. You know, we always have a good time with him.

I want to say this time, though, he was a little different. You know, I can tell he was different. So to try to cheer him up, I invited him to come to the balloon the next day.

And that's how the balloon happened. We brought him on the balloon. We tried to cheer him up, joke around like we always do. And I mean, I'm sure you guys can tell by the video that he seemed really tired and sad. And he was, he was.

Charlie Cotton (3:46)

Did you talk to him about what was bothering him?

Luis Moncada (3:51)

Yes.

Charlie Cotton (3:52)

Could you share some of it?

Luis Moncada (3:55)

Nah, that, it's, no, that one's too personal. But let me just tell you, he was being pulled in all kinds of directions. He was very conflicted with that.

I can't say what it is that it's not my place to do. I'm not going to say that. But yeah, he was just struggling with that.

Harvey Levin (4:21)

Luis, were you aware, did you, were you aware of that, that issue for him at the moment? There's a moment in the video that when you're in the balloon, and you said to him, and I don't know, when watching it, it seemed like maybe he was just afraid of heights or afraid of the balloon. But you turned to him and you said, go ahead, put your head right here on my shoulder.

Were you aware at that moment that he was going through this issue, as you described it, being pulled in different ways?