‘Breaking Bad’ Episode Dedicated To Teen Who Passed Away From Cancer
If you watch Breaking Bad, you may have noticed the dedication to Kevin Cordasco, a teen who lost his battle with neuroblastoma in March at 16 years of age.
The credit read: “Dedicated to our friend: Kevin Cordasco.”
Kevin’s mother, Melodie, says that her late son had a special relationship with the cast and crew of the popular AMC series.
Earlier in the year, a family friend asked Kevin what she could do to help him feel better, to which the boy said he would love to meet the stars of the show Breaking Bad, his favorite TV show.
Thanks to a coincidence, the friend was able to connect Kevin with the show. Shortly thereafter, the star of the show Bryan Cranston paid him a visit at the hospital.
Melodie Cordasco says that one Saturday afternoon in September, the Breaking Bad actor who plays Walter White, came to see Kevin and spent three hours talking with him.
“Kevin was just so thrilled.” says Melodie.
After that visit, the show’s producer Vince Gilligan and several of the other cast members came to visit Kevin at home. Melodie said they sat around her kitchen table and chatted with the teen, they stayed for over two hours.
In early March, Kevin had the chance to meet with the show’s writers and was invited to travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the show is filmed, so he could be written into an episode.
Unfortunately, by that time the teen was too sick to travel and never made it.
About a week after Kevin passed away, Gilligan sent a letter to his mom saying they would dedicate the episode to him.
According to Melissa Bernstein, Breaking Bad’s co-executive producer, AMC does very few dedications.
“Kevin was just one of those people who meant a lot to the show.” Berstein added.
Kevin impressed the cast members as very intelligent and insightful. “He actually lifted the spirits of Bryan and Vince when they met.” she said. “Vince even offered to tell Kevin how the show ends. But Kevin said he wanted to watch the show and find out like everyone else did, which really touched Vince.”
Melodie says she is honored that producers thought so highly of her son and the dedication meant a lot to her and her family. She says that Kevin would be smiling down and telling her, “Look, mom, I made it.”
Kevin Cordasco was diagnosed with the disease when he was 9-years-old an was a known activist for cancer fundraising and research and often spoke on behalf of several cancer foundations.
Breaking Bad is about a chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and turns to illicit activities to provide for his family.
