Breaking Bad “superfan” Kevin Cordasco was honored this week on the show with a mention at the conclusion of the first episode of the last season.
The words on a screen were the first time many Breaking Bad fans heard Kevin Cordasco’s name — and the shoutout would had undoubtedly thrilled the 16-year-old, a massive fan of the acclaimed AMC drama.
Sadly, Cordasco didn’t live to see the show’s final season. The teen passed away in March after fighting cancer for nearly half of his short life — something that likely in part forged his connection to the show and its similarly afflicted lead character Walter White.
Before he died, Cordasco was able to meet and even spend time with creator Vince Gilligan, series star Bryan Cranston, and several other of the hit’s cast members. His mom said that the opportunity was a massive deal to the dying teen, and the dedication after this week’s first episode was another big deal.
Per Melissa Bernstein, Breaking Bad’s co-executive producer, AMC rarely dedicates shows to individuals. But Bernstein admits that Cordasco was very important to the cast and crew, adding:
“Kevin was just one of those people who meant a lot to the show.”
Cordasco spent a significant amount of time during visits with the show’s people — Cranston and his wife stayed for three hours at the hospital with the teen, and a home visit with other cast and crew members lasted more than two hours.
Sometime during those visits, Gilligan made another big offer to the ailing teen — promising to reveal the show’s hugely anticipated resolution to him. But Cordasco resisted, Gawker reports:
“Before Kevin passed on, Gilligan offered him the world’s most sought-after spoiler: How Breaking Bad ends… Gilligan told listeners of the Breaking Bad Insiders Podcast that his only condition was that Kevin not tell anyone else.”
Watch above as Kevin Cordasco discusses his illness last November.