Bryan Cranston biography
Bryan Cranston is an American actor, director, and producer who was born on March 7, 1956, in San Fernando Valley, California. He is best known for his role as Walter White in the AMC television series “Breaking Bad,” for which he won several Emmy Awards.
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Table of Contents
Cranston began his acting career in the late 1970s, appearing in small roles in television shows such as “CHiPs,” “Bay City Blues,” and “Airwolf.” He landed his first major role in 1994, playing Dr. Tim Whatley on the hit TV show “Seinfeld.”
In 2000, Cranston began playing Hal, the father of the popular TV show “Malcolm in the Middle,” which ran for seven seasons. He received three Emmy nominations for his role on the show.
After “Malcolm in the Middle” ended, Cranston was cast as Walter White in “Breaking Bad,” which premiered in 2008. The show was a critical and commercial success, and Cranston won four Primetime Emmy Awards for his performance.
In addition to his television work, Cranston has appeared in numerous films, including “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Drive,” and “Argo.” He has also done voice work for animated films, such as “Kung Fu Panda 3” and “Isle of Dogs.”
Cranston has also directed and produced television shows, including several episodes of “Malcolm in the Middle” and the crime drama “Sneaky Pete.”
Outside of acting, Cranston is an advocate for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and supports several other charities.
Overall, Bryan Cranston is considered one of the most talented and versatile actors of his generation, and his contributions to film and television have made him a beloved figure in the entertainment industry.
Early life
Bryan Cranston was born on March 7, 1956, in San Fernando Valley, California, to parents Peggy Sell and Joseph Louis Cranston. His father was an actor and a former amateur boxer, and his mother was a radio actress.
Cranston’s parents divorced when he was 11 years old, and he went to live with his grandparents. He attended Canoga Park High School, where he was a member of the school’s drama club.
After graduating from high school, Cranston attended Los Angeles Valley College, where he studied police science. He also became interested in acting and decided to pursue it as a career.
In the late 1970s, Cranston moved to New York City and studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He worked as a waiter and a security guard to support himself while he auditioned for acting roles.
Bryan Cranston Career
Bryan Cranston is an American actor and filmmaker who has had a successful career in both television and film. He was born on March 7, 1956, in San Fernando, California.
Cranston began his acting career in the late 1980s, with guest roles on various television shows such as “Baywatch,” “Murder, She Wrote,” and “Seinfeld.” He also had a recurring role in the soap opera “Loving” from 1983 to 1985. However, it was his portrayal of Hal, the bumbling dad on the sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle,” which aired from 2000 to 2006, that brought him widespread recognition and critical acclaim.
In 2008, Cranston began playing the role of Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher turned drug lord, on the hit AMC drama “Breaking Bad.” His performance on the show was widely praised and earned him four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. “Breaking Bad” ran for five seasons, from 2008 to 2013, and is considered one of the greatest television series of all time.
After “Breaking Bad,” Cranston continued his successful career with roles in various films such as “Drive,” “Argo,” and “Godzilla.” He also returned to television with a role in the series “Sneaky Pete” and the limited series “Your Honor.” In addition to his acting career, Cranston has also worked as a director, producer, and screenwriter.
Overall, Bryan Cranston has had a long and successful career in the entertainment industry, with numerous accolades and accomplishments to his name.
Career breakthrough and Malcolm in the Middle
Bryan Cranston’s career breakthrough was his role as Hal, the father of four unruly boys on the popular Fox sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle.” The show premiered in 2000 and ran for six seasons, ending in 2006. Cranston’s performance as Hal was widely praised and helped establish him as a comedic actor.
“Malcolm in the Middle” was a critical and commercial success and won several awards, including seven Emmy Awards. The show followed the daily life of the middle-class Wilkerson family, with Hal as the bumbling but loving dad. Cranston’s portrayal of Hal was notable for its physical comedy and the actor’s ability to infuse humor into even the most mundane situations.
Cranston’s performance on “Malcolm in the Middle” earned him three Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, but he did not win an Emmy for his work on the show. However, it paved the way for his later success in dramatic roles, particularly his iconic performance as Walter White on “Breaking Bad.”
In interviews, Cranston has credited his experience on “Malcolm in the Middle” with helping him develop his skills as an actor and filmmaker. He has also expressed gratitude for the opportunities and recognition that the show provided him.
Personal life
Marriages: Cranston has been married twice. He was married to Mickey Middleton from 1977 to 1982. In 1989, he married Robin Dearden, who is also an actress. They have one daughter together named Taylor Dearden Cranston.
Philanthropy: Cranston is a philanthropist and supports many charitable causes. He has supported organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Alzheimer’s Association, and the Amazon Conservation Team.
Hobbies: In his free time, Cranston enjoys writing, producing, and directing. He is also an avid pilot and owns a Cessna 206.
Health: In 2014, Cranston revealed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. However, he was successfully treated for the disease and has been cancer-free since.
List of all Bryan Cranston Movies and TV Shows
Here is a list of some of the most notable movies and TV shows featuring Bryan Cranston:
Movies:
- Macross Plus: Movie Edition (1995)
- That Thing You Do! (1996)
- Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
- Drive (2011)
- Argo (2012)
- Godzilla (2014)
- Trumbo (2015)
- The Infiltrator (2016)
- Power Rangers (2017)
- Isle of Dogs (2018)
- Last Flag Flying (2017)
- The One and Only Ivan (2020)
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1981 | The Call of the Wild: Howl Buck | Manuel / Pete (voice) | English dub |
1987 | Amazon Women on the Moon | Paramedic #1 | |
1988 | The Big Turnaround | Jim | |
1990 | Corporate Affairs | Darren | |
1991 | Dead Space | Dr. Frank Darden | |
1992 | Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnรชamise | Matti Tohn (voice) | English dub Credited as Lee Stone |
1994 | Erotique | Dr. Robert Stern | |
The Legend of Drunken Master | Additional Voices | English dub | |
Clean Slate | Club Official | ||
Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie | Fei Long (voice) | English dub Credited as Phil Williams | |
Macross Plus: International Version | Isamu Alva Dyson (voice) | English dub | |
1995 | Armitage III | Eddie Barrows (voice) | English dub Credited as Lee Stone |
1996 | That Thing You Do! | Gus Grissom | |
Street Corner Justice | Father Brophy | ||
1997 | Time Under Fire | Braddock | |
Strategic Command | Phil Hertzberg | ||
1998 | Saving Private Ryan | War Department Colonel | |
1999 | Last Chance | Lance | Also writer, director and producer |
2000 | The Big Thing | Roberto Montalban | |
Terror Tract | Ron Gatley | Segment: “Bobo” | |
2001 | Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama | Lord Rama (voice) | English dub Credited as Bryan Cranston |
2004 | Seeing Other People | Peter | |
Illusion | David | ||
2005 | Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D | Buzz Aldrin (voice) | Documentary |
2006 | Little Miss Sunshine | Stan Grossman | |
Intellectual Property | CSE Radio Host | ||
2007 | Hard Four | Lieutenant Bryce Baxter | |
2010 | Love Ranch | James Pettis | |
2011 | The Lincoln Lawyer | Detective Lankford | |
Drive | Shannon | ||
Detachment | Richard Dearden | ||
Leave | Eliot | ||
Larry Crowne | Dean Tainot | ||
Batman: Year One | James Gordon (voice) | Direct-to-video | |
Contagion | Rear Admiral Lyle Haggerty | ||
2012 | Red Tails | Major William Mortamus | |
John Carter | Colonel Powell | ||
Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted | Vitaly (voice) | ||
Rock of Ages | Mayor Mike Whitmore | ||
Total Recall | Chancellor Vilos Cohaagen | ||
Argo | CIA Deputy Director Jack O’Donnell | ||
2013 | Cold Comes the Night | “Topo” Topolewski | |
Writer’s Block | The Writer | Short film | |
2014 | Godzilla | Joe Brody | |
2015 | Trumbo | Dalton Trumbo | |
2016 | Kung Fu Panda 3 | Li (voice) | |
Get a Job | Roger Davis | ||
The Infiltrator | US Customs Special Agent Robert Mazur / Bob Musella | Also executive producer | |
Wakefield | Howard Wakefield | ||
In Dubious Battle | Sheriff | ||
Why Him? | Ned Fleming | ||
2017 | The Disaster Artist | Himself | Cameo |
Power Rangers | Zordon | ||
The Upside | Phillip Lacasse | ||
Last Flag Flying | Sal Nealon | ||
2018 | Isle of Dogs | Chief (voice) | |
2019 | El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie | Walter White | |
2020 | The One and Only Ivan | Mack | |
Ancient Caves | The Narrator (voice) | Documentary short | |
2022 | Sell/Buy/Date | Himself | Documentary |
Jerry & Marge Go Large | Jerry Selbee | ||
2023 | Asteroid City | ||
TBA | Argylle |
Television:
- Loving (1983โ1985)
- Raising Miranda (1988โ1989)
- Malcolm in the Middle (2000โ2006)
- Breaking Bad (2008โ2013)
- The Simpsons (guest appearance, various episodes)
- Curb Your Enthusiasm (2011)
- How I Met Your Mother (2013)
- Sneaky Pete (2015-2019)
- Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams (2017)
- Your Honor (2020-2021)
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | To Race the Wind | Quarterback | Uncredited Television film |
1982 | Crisis Counselor | Sam | Episode: “Bisexual Marriage” |
CHiPs | Billy Joe | Episode: “Return to Death’s Door” | |
1983โ1985 | Loving | Doug Donovan | Soap opera |
1985 | Cover Up | Frank Lawler / Tommy Maynard | Episode: “Who’s Trying to Kill Miss Globe?” |
One Life to Live | Dean Stella | Soap opera | |
1986 | Airwolf | Robert Hollis | Episode: “Desperate Monday” |
North and South: Book II | Colonel Austin | Episode: “March 1865โApril 1865” | |
1986โ1996 | Murder, She Wrote | Brian East / Jerry Wilber / Parker Foreman | 3 episodes |
1987 | The Return of the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman | Dr. Shepherd | Television film |
Hill Street Blues | PBA Counselor | Episode: “A Pound of Flesh” | |
1987โ1991 | Matlock | Brian Emerson / Dr. Harding Fletcher | 2 episodes |
1988 | Raising Miranda | Uncle Russell | 9 episodes |
1989 | Falcon Crest | Martin Randall | Episode: “Enquiring Minds” |
Baywatch | Tom Logan | Episode: “Cruise Ship” | |
I Know My First Name Is Steven | Officer Dickenson | Miniseries | |
1990 | Hull High | Mr. McConnell | Episode: “#1.8” |
Jake and the Fatman | Lyle Wicks / Jason Miller | Episode: “Exactly Like You” | |
Capital News | Congressman Marple | Episode: “Blues for Mr. White” | |
1991 | The Flash | Philip “Mark” Moses | Episode: “Be My Baby” |
Dead Silence | Professor Harris | Television film | |
1992 | L.A. Law | James Phillips | Episode: “All About Sleaze” |
1993 | The Disappearance of Nora | Police Detective | Television film |
Prophet of Evil: The Ervil Lebaron Story | Lawyer | ||
Moldiver | Tech | English dub | |
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers | Twinman / Snizard | Voice 2 episodes | |
Super Dimension Century Orguss 02 | Imperial Officer | English dub | |
1994 | Tekkaman Blade | Sergeant Miles O’Rourke | English dub |
Macross Plus | Isamu Dyson | English dub | |
Viper | Garrett Berlin | Episode: “Wheels of Fire” | |
Walker, Texas Ranger | Hank | Episode: “Deadly Vision” | |
Days Like This | Benny | Pilot | |
Men Who Hate Women & the Women Who Love Them | David | Television film | |
The Companion | Alan | Television film | |
1994โ1997 | Seinfeld | Dr. Tim Whatley | 5 episodes |
1995 | Touched by an Angel | Dr. Tom Bryant | Episode: “The Hero” |
Brotherly Love | Russell Winslow | Episode: “Such a Bargain” | |
Land’s End | Matt McCulla | 2 episodes | |
Nowhere Man | Sheriff Norman Wade | Episode: “The Alpha Spike” | |
Extreme Blue | Ned Landry | Pilot | |
Kissing Miranda | Special Agent Falsey | Television film | |
1996 | The Louie Show | Curt Sincic | 6 episodes |
The Rockford Files: Punishment and Crime | Patrick Dougherty | Television film | |
1996โ1997 | Eagle Riders | Joe Thax (voice) | English dub |
1996โ1998 | Diagnosis: Murder | Walter Mason / Martin Rutgers | 2 episodes |
1997 | Moloney | Unknown Role | Episode: “Clarity Begins at Home” |
Babylon 5 | Ericsson | Episode: “The Long Night“ | |
Dogs | Unknown Role | Pilot | |
Goode Behavior | Record Executive | Episode: “Goode Music” | |
Sabrina the Teenage Witch | Witch Lawyer | Episode: “Troll Bride” | |
Pearl | Isaac Perlow | Episode: “My So-Called Real Life” | |
Total Security | Jason Nichols | Episode: “Wet Side Story” | |
Alright Already | Robert | Episode: “Again with the Pilot” | |
1998 | Brooklyn South | IAB Lieutenant Gordon Denton | 2 episodes |
From the Earth to the Moon | Buzz Aldrin | 2 episodes | |
V.I.P. | Colt Arrow | Episode: “Beats Working at a Hot Dog Stand” | |
The X-Files | Patrick Crump | Episode: “Drive“ | |
Chicago Hope | Jesus | Episode: “Tantric Turkey” | |
Working | Larry Prince | Episode: “The Consultant” | |
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show | Ronald “Cheesy” Meezy | Episode: “Honey, I’m the Sorcerer’s Apprentice” | |
1999 | 3rd Rock from the Sun | Neil Diamond Impersonator | Episode: “Paranoid Dick” |
The Pretender | Neil Roberts | Episode: “PTB” | |
1999โ2001 | The King of Queens | Tim Sacksky | 4 episodes |
2000โ2001 | Clerks: The Animated Series | Various Roles | Voice 3 episodes |
2000โ2006 | Malcolm in the Middle | Hal | 151 episodes |
2001 | Gary & Mike | Mr. Newton / Senator Howard Bilson | Voice 4 episodes |
‘Twas the Night | Nick Wrigley | Television film | |
The Santa Claus Brothers | Santa Claus | Voice Television film | |
2003 | National Lampoon’s Thanksgiving Family Reunion | Woodrow Snider | Television film |
2003โ2005 | Lilo & Stitch: The Series | Mr. Jameson | Voice 4 episodes |
2005โ2010 | American Dad! | Bill Publisherman / Mr. Winthrop | Voice 2 episodes |
2006โ2020 | Family Guy | Hal / Dr. Jewish / Himself (live-action) / Bert | Voice 10 episodes |
2006โ2013 | How I Met Your Mother | Hammond Druthers | 3 episodes |
2007 | Fallen | Lucifer / The Light Bringer | 3 episodes |
Thank God You’re Here | British Rock Star / Alien Superhero | Episode: “#1.1” | |
2008 | The Hollywood Quad | Burton Melrose | Pilot |
2008โ2013 | Breaking Bad | Walter White | 62 episodes Also producer |
2010โ2011 | Glenn Martin, DDS | Drake Stone | Voice 2 episodes |
2010โ2016 | Saturday Night Live | Himself (host) / Walter White | 2 episodes |
2011 | The Handlers | Jack Powers | 8 episodes Also writer and executive producer |
2011โ2018 | Robot Chicken | Various roles | Voice 5 episodes |
2012 | Archer | Commander Tony Drake | Voice 2 episodes |
30 Rock | Ron | Episode: “Governor Dunston“ | |
2012โ2013 | The Simpsons | Stradivarius Cain / Walter White (live-action) | Voice 2 episodes |
The Cleveland Show | Dr. Fist / Various roles | Voice 9 episodes | |
2013 | Big History | The Narrator | Voice 17 episodes |
2015โ2019 | Sneaky Pete | Vince Lonigan | 10 episodes Also co-creator, writer and executive producer |
2015โ2019 | SuperMansion | Titanium Rex | Voice 46 episodes Also executive producer |
2016 | All the Way | Lyndon B. Johnson | Television film Also executive producer |
2017 | Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams | Silas Herrick | Episode: “Human Is” Also executive producer |
Curb Your Enthusiasm | Dr. Lionel Templeton | Episode: “Running with the Bulls” | |
2018 | The Dangerous Book for Boys | 6 episodes Co-creator, writer and executive producer | |
2019 | Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | Richard Sackler | Episode: “Opioids II” |
2020 | Home Movie: The Princess Bride | Count Rugen | Episode: “To The Pain!” |
The Stand | The President of the United States | Uncredited voice Episode: “The End” | |
2020โpresent | Your Honor | Judge Michael Desiato | 10 episodes Also executive producer |
2021 | Animal | The Narrator | Voice Episode: “Dogs”[1] |
2022 | Better Call Saul | Walter White | 2 episodes: “Breaking Bad“, “Saul Gone“[2] |
2022 | America’s Game: The Super Bowl Champions | Narrator (voice) | Episode: “2021 Rams“ |
2023 | Jimmy Kimmel Live | Himself | Episode: Season 20, Episode 221 ยท Bryan Cranston |