Bryan Lee Cranston
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Awards
Bryan Cranston won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series four times for his portrayal of Walter White on Breaking Bad. He also earned a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for playing Lyndon B. Johnson in All the Way 2014. Cranston has starred in films such as Trumbo 2015, Argo 2012, and Drive 2011. He is also known for his comedic role as Hal on Malcolm in the Middle 2000-2006.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Bryan Cranston — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Bryan Cranston by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Bryan Cranston — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Bryan Cranston was born on March 7, 1956 in Hollywood, California to Audrey Peggy Sell, a radio actress, and Joe Cranston, an actor and former amateur boxer. He spent part of his youth on his grandparents’ poultry farm in Yucaipa after his family lost their home in foreclosure. When he was eleven, his father left the family, and they did not see each other again for eleven years. He attended Los Angeles Valley College, earning an associate degree in police science in 1976.
Cranston’s first notable television role came as Dr. Tim Whatley on five episodes of Seinfeld in the early 1990s. He gained widespread recognition as the bumbling father Hal on the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle 2000-2006, for which he was twice nominated for an Emmy. His career-defining role came as Walter White on AMC’s Breaking Bad 2008-2013, a high school chemistry teacher turned methamphetamine manufacturer. For that performance, he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series four times, tying the record set by Dennis Franz. The role led to him becoming a producer on the show; he won two Emmys for Outstanding Drama Series. In 2014, he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his portrayal of Lyndon B. Johnson in All the Way on Broadway. He reprised the role in the 2016 television adaptation. His performance as Dalton Trumbo in Trumbo 2015 earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. His other notable film roles include Saving Private Ryan 1998, Little Miss Sunshine 2006, Drive 2011, Argo 2012, and Godzilla 2014.
Cranston met actress Robin Dearden on the set of the TV movie Desperate Monday in 1986, where he played a villain holding her hostage. They married in 1989 and have one daughter, Taylor Dearden, who studies theater at the University of Southern California. He has a dog named Sugar, rescued from a Los Angeles pound. In his younger years, he spent two years traveling the United States by motorcycle with his brother. He enjoys playing the drums and traveling to Hawaii. He has run four marathons.
Cranston’s performance as Walter White on Breaking Bad is considered one of the greatest in television history. He has been praised by peers such as Helen Mirren, who called him one of the greatest American actors. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for television on July 16, 2013. His stage work won him a Tony and a Laurence Olivier Award for his role in Network in London. His influence extends to voice acting; the Blue Ranger on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was named Billy Cranston after him. He is remembered as the actor who turned television into art, as named by the New York Times magazine in 2011.
The complete filmography of Bryan Cranston — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Bryan Cranston — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Bryan Cranston — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
I’ve Got a Whole Mantel Just Waiting for Those Awards to Come, a Whole Big Mantel. There’s Just so Much Available Space. I’ve Got the Light Fixtures Hanging from the Ceiling, All Ready to Shine on Them. I Dust It off Every Day.
The Only Thing I Say a Prayer for Is for Health and Safety for My Family. Some People Even Include Happiness and a Hope for Something Else. Not Me. I Think Everything Else Is on Your Own. That’s the Way I Look at It. If You Can Just Maintain Health and Safety, You’re in Good Shape. and Anything Else, You Have to Create.
My Wife, Robin Dearden, Is the Cook, Really. I’m a Good Helper and I Clean Like Nobody’s Business. I Can Load a Dishwasher Like Nobody Else.
You Know, This Business Is Pure Luck. It Truly Is. There Is a Tangible Amount of Luck That Is Necessary for a Successful Career, and the Only Way That Luck Happens Is If You’re Prepared for It and You Stick with It. If You Drop Out of the Scene, Your Opportunity for Luck Diminishes Greatly. No One’s Going to Say, Hey You’re an Insurance Salesman. Come and Do This Movie..
I Love Playing Pompous Asses. I Think I Would Like That on My Tombstone: He Was the Definitive Pompous Ass.
I Don’t Even Think About the Money When I Consider Roles, I Turn It Over to My Agency. Money Will Come. I Respect It but I Don’t Thirst for It. I Wish Americans Thought More Like Europeans When It Comes to Money and Work. They Take Time Off, They Do What They Love. We Think Work Is the Most Valued Commodity. Really, the Most Valued Commodity Is Time.
. . . I Don’t Really Relax. When I Sleep I Relax. I Don’t Have Hobbies, I Don’t Collect Things. I Enjoy Creating.
I Don’t Need to Work, but I Love to Work and I Will Make the Movie If I Would Want to Go and See It. but If I Hear About a Story That You Could Do in a Sketch – and a Lot of Films Should Be Just Sketches – Then I Am Not Interested in It. I Think Too Many Movies Attempt to Stretch a Very Small Idea. They Will Make Something About a Kid Trying to Lose His Virginity While Going to College. It’s Like, Really, There Is a Whole Movie About That? You Are Asking Me to Spend Almost Two Hours to See Some Kid Trying to Get His Rocks Off?.
My Face, in Repose, Is Mean. I Scare People. You Know How Some People Have a Built-in Smile? I Look Like I’m Going to Eat Children.
The Thing Is, Everyone Needs a Champion. You Get That from Your Family Members or Your Wife, but Everyone Needs That. and Along with That, You Need Someone Who’s Going to Hold the Door Open for You.
Little-known facts about Bryan Cranston — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
Named one of the Eight Actors Who Turn Television into Art by the New York Times magazine cover story on September 11, 2011 for his role on Breaking Bad.
Cranston spent six weeks learning to roller-skate for his favorite Malcolm in the Middle episode Rollerskates from season one.
The Blue Ranger on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was named Billy Cranston after him because he did voice work for the show.
He met his wife Robin Dearden on the set of Desperate Monday where he played a villain holding her hostage.
Cranston always grew a beard and mustache during his hiatuses from Malcolm in the Middle.
In his younger years, he spent two years traveling the United States by motorcycle with his brother.
His wife threw him a surprise 40th birthday party at Dodger Stadium because he is a huge baseball fan.
Became an ordained minister as a part-time job while in college.
Was singled out by Malcolm in the Middle director Todd Holland during his Emmy speech in 2001, leading to Cranston’s first nomination the next year.
Under the alias Lee Stone, he did voice acting for English dubs of Japanese anime such as Armitage III.
When asked his favorite thing about his wife, he said she still gets giddy when she sees a firefly.
Received an associate degree in police science from Los Angeles Valley College in 1976.
Has a dog named Sugar saved from a Los Angeles pound.
Did not seriously pursue acting until his late 20s because his actor parents discouraged him.
Saw his daughter Taylor Dearden’s face projected onto Krysten Ritter in a pivotal scene on Breaking Bad, which made him cry.
Impersonated Brad Garrett’s voice from Everybody Loves Raymond at the 2004 Emmys after losing to him, making the audience laugh.
His acting heroes are Dick Van Dyke, Jack Lemmon, Rod Steiger, and Spencer Tracy.
Wrote recommendation letters for Erik Per Sullivan’s college applications when he played his father on Malcolm in the Middle.
Has run four marathons.
His Trumbo co-star Helen Mirren called him one of the greatest American actors.
Spent part of his youth on a poultry farm with his grandparents in Yucaipa after his family lost their home.
Is a part-owner of the independent theater Cinemas Palme d’Or in Palm Desert, California.
His daughter Taylor Dearden studies theater at the University of Southern California.
With his fourth Emmy for Breaking Bad, he tied Dennis Franz’s record for most wins in the category.
At one point he considered becoming a police officer.
Produced his KidSmartz safety video with his Malcolm in the Middle crew during a week off.
Won the 2018 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performance in Network at the National Theatre in London.
Enjoys playing the drums and traveling to Hawaii.
Named On the Waterfront 1954 as his favorite movie in a 2015 interview.
Honored as Grand Marshal of the 2006 Sherman Oaks Street Fair for his community leadership and child protection work through KidSmartz.
Appeared in three films nominated for Best Picture Oscar: Saving Private Ryan, Little Miss Sunshine, and Argo, the latter winning.
Would most like to delete Amazon Women on the Moon from his filmography, according to a Hollywood Reporter interview.
Attended and graduated from Canoga Park High School in 1974.
Called Mark Rylance a major influence; both won Tony Awards in 2014.
Both Cranston and Breaking Bad co-star Jonathan Banks played James Gordon in Batman projects: Cranston in Batman: Year One and Banks in video games.
His paternal grandfather was of Irish ancestry; his maternal grandparents were German emigrants from Rendsburg and Danzig.
Second of three children, with younger brother Kyle Edward Cranston.
In Armitage III: Poly-Matrix home video, he was credited as Lee Stone; in the movie edition he used his real name.
Has one daughter, Taylor Dearden, with Robin Dearden.
Presented Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series at the 2004 Emmys with Malcolm in the Middle co-star Jane Kaczmarek.
Got his start at the Granada Theatre in the San Fernando Valley.
Was roommates with actor Javier Grajeda early in their careers.
Won the 2017 Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Best Actor for Network in London.
The Newhart-inspired alternate ending to Breaking Bad was based on a joke Cranston made to producers.
Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1717 Vine Street on July 16, 2013, with guests Aaron Paul and Jane Kaczmarek.
Began his acting career in commercials for Preparation H, Shield Deodorant, and Coffee-Mate.
Appeared in Saving Private Ryan, selected for the National Film Registry.
Born at 10:52 AM PST.
Second cousin once removed of actress Arielle Kebbel through shared German ancestors.
Of Clan Cranstoun.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Bryan Cranston.
Celebrities similar to Bryan Cranston — same craft, ranked by reach.
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