Gretchen Schwartz
Vital statistics
Portrayed By	Jessica Hecht
Occupation(s)	Co-Owner of Gray Matter
Status	Alive
Episode Count	3
First Appearance	...and the Bag's in the River
Last Seen	Peekaboo
Images of Gretchen Schwartz

Gretchen Schwartz is Walter's old college chemistry assistant and now co-owner of Gray Matter, a successful pharmaceutical company. A former romantic interest of Walt's, she is currently married to Elliott Schwartz.

Character History

Season 1

Gretchen was introduced via a flashback. As Walt and Jesse are cleaning up the liquified remains of Emilio's corpse, Walt reflects to a moment back in his college days where he and Gretchen, alone in a dimly-lit classroom, attempt to break down the exact percentages of the components that make up the human body ("...and the Bag's in the River").

Walt and Skyler go to Elliott's birthday party, where they meet him and Gretchen for the first time in ages. Elliott, who is exceptionally wealthy thanks to Gray Matter, offers to pay for Walt to receive the best cancer treatment from Dr. Delcavoli. Afterward Gretchen urges Walt to take the money, but he lies by saying they won't require financial help because their insurance will cover it ("Gray Matter").

Season 2

Gretchen later discovers that Walter lied to his family about her and Elliott paying for his treatment, horrified when Walter angrily and bitterly blames her and Elliott for ruining his life. Although she claims that Walter sees it wrong, it is still unknown what transpired, only that Walter left her and his research behind suddenly and without explanation. Although Gretchen still keeps Walter's secret, she later tells Skyler that she and Elliott will stop paying for the "treatment" ("Peekaboo").

Later, after Skyler's suspicions of Walt having an affair with Gretchen is renewed, Skyler makes contact with her and Gretchen eventually tells her that they never paid for any of Walt's medical bills. ("ABQ")