Bryan Cranston

{{short description|American actor (born 1956)}}

{{protection padlock|small=yes|blp}}

{{Use American English|date=August 2019}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Bryan Cranston

| image = Bryan Cranston 2022 (3x4 cropped).jpg

| caption = Cranston in 2022

| alt = Head shot of Cranston wearing glasses

| birth_name = Bryan Lee Cranston

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|3|7}}

| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| alma_mater = Los Angeles Valley College (AS)

| occupation = {{flatlist|

  • Actor
  • filmmaker}}

| years_active = 1980–present

| spouse = {{ubl|{{marriage|Mickey Middleton|1977|1982|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|Robin Dearden|1989|}}}}

| children = Taylor Dearden

| father = Joseph Cranston

| works = Full list

| awards = Full list

}}

Bryan Lee Cranston (born March 7, 1956) is an American actor. After taking minor roles in television, he established himself as a leading actor in both comedic and dramatic works on stage and screen. He has received several accolades, including six Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a Laurence Olivier Award and two Tony Awards, as well as nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award.

Cranston first gained prominence playing Hal in the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006) for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He gained stardom for his dramatic leading role playing Walter White in the AMC crime drama series Breaking Bad (2008–2013) for which he won the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series four times (2008, 2009, 2010, and 2014). He was Emmy-nominated for All the Way (2016) and Curb Your Enthusiasm (2018). Cranston co-developed and appeared in the crime drama series Sneaky Pete (2015–2019), and has also starred in the drama series Your Honor (2020–2023).

On stage, he earned a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his portrayal of President Lyndon B. Johnson in the Broadway play All the Way (2014), a role he reprised in the 2016 HBO film of the same name. He received the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor and his second Tony Award for portraying Howard Beale in the play Network on the West End and Broadway, respectively.{{Cite news |date=9 April 2018 |title=Bryan Cranston opens up about Olivier win |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-43699975 |access-date=June 8, 2023 |work=BBC News}}{{cite magazine|url= https://ew.com/tony-awards/2019/06/09/bryan-cranston-dedicates-tony-network-real-journalists/|title= Bryan Cranston dedicates his Tony for Network to 'real journalists around the world'|magazine= Entertainment Weekly|accessdate= June 8, 2023}}

Cranston earned nominations for the Academy Award and the BAFTA Award for Best Actor for portraying Dalton Trumbo in the Hollywood blacklist drama Trumbo (2015). Other notable films include Saving Private Ryan (1998), Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Drive (2011), Contagion (2011), Argo (2012), Godzilla (2014), The Infiltrator (2016), The Upside (2017), Last Flag Flying (2017), Isle of Dogs (2018), Asteroid City (2023), and The Phoenician Scheme (2025). He has also voiced roles in Madagascar 3 (2012), Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016), and Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024).

Early life and education

Bryan Lee Cranston was born in Hollywood, Los Angeles,{{cite news|title=Monitor|newspaper=Entertainment Weekly|date=March 8, 2013|issue=1249|page=20}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fe1bpCRlFw&t=1m25s|title=Who Do You Think You Are? US – Bryan Cranston|website=YouTube|access-date=September 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028093315/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fe1bpCRlFw&t=1m25s|archive-date=October 28, 2017|url-status=live}} on March 7, 1956,{{cite book |last1=Cranston |first1=Bryan |title=A Life in Parts |date=2016 |publisher=Scribner |page=144 |quote=On March 7, 1986, I ran in the first Los Angeles Marathon. It was also my thirtieth birthday...}} the second of three children born to Annalisa "Peggy" (née Sell), a radio actress, and Joseph Cranston, an actor and former amateur boxer.{{cite news|title=Bryan Cranston interview|work=GQ Magazine|date=May 2014}}{{cite news|last=Reichardt|first=Nancy M.|title=Soap star loves his craft|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ophOAAAAIBAJ&pg=3158,1234963|access-date=February 8, 2014|newspaper=The Prescott Daily Courier|date=October 5, 1983|page=3|archive-date=October 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022031143/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ophOAAAAIBAJ&pg=3158%2C1234963|url-status=live}} His father was of half Irish, quarter Austrian Jewish, and quarter German descent, while his mother was the daughter of German immigrants.{{cite news|last=Brady|first=Tara|title=The many lives of Bryan|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=September 26, 2011|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/the-many-lives-of-bryan-1.609634|access-date=April 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017085214/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2011/0926/1224304750618.html|archive-date=October 17, 2011|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}}{{cite web|title=Joseph Louis Cranston, "California, County Marriages, 1850–1952"|url=https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K869-YB7|work=familysearch.org|access-date=October 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208075237/https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K869-YB7|archive-date=December 8, 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/interview-bryan-cranston-flying-flag-after-breaking-bad-1433196|title=Interview: Bryan Cranston on flying the flag after Breaking Bad|website=scotsman.com|date=January 22, 2018 |access-date=April 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312205052/https://www.scotsman.com/news/interview-bryan-cranston-on-flying-the-flag-after-breaking-bad-1-4668267|archive-date=March 12, 2018|url-status=live}} He has an older brother, Kyle, and a younger sister, Amy. Cranston was raised in Canoga Park, Los Angeles.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ10N-ZQtOw|title=Tough Love – Bryan Cranston The Mortified Sessions|publisher=The Sundance Channel|date=February 3, 2012|access-date=December 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001051424/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ10N-ZQtOw|archive-date=October 1, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Clark|first=Charles|title=10 Things About... Bryan Cranston|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/10-things-about/a516478/10-things-about-bryan-cranston/|access-date=April 10, 2022|newspaper=Digital Spy|date=September 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222065809/http://www.digitalspy.com.au/showbiz/news/a516478/10-things-about-bryan-cranston.html|archive-date=February 22, 2014|url-status=live}} His father held many jobs before deciding to become an actor, but did not secure enough roles to provide for his family. He eventually walked out on the family when Cranston was 11 years old, and they did not see each other again until a 22-year-old Cranston and his brother Kyle decided to track him down. Cranston later starred in a film directed by his father entitled The Big Turnaround in 1988.{{cite AV media|title=The Big Turnaround|year=1988|people=Joe Cranston (Director) Bryan Cranston (Actor)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0204165/?ref_=adv_li_tt|type=film}} He then maintained a relationship with his father until the latter's death in 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2015/06/10/bryan-cranston-panda-father-li-kung-fu-panda/28748811/|title=Bryan Cranston puts fun in 'Panda 3' dad|website=USA Today|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808040249/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2015/06/10/bryan-cranston-panda-father-li-kung-fu-panda/28748811/|archive-date=August 8, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=August 25, 2017}}

Cranston has claimed that he based his portrayal of Walter White on his own father, who had a slumped posture "like the weight of the world was on his shoulders". After his father left, he was raised partly by his maternal grandparents{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/09/16/the-one-who-knocks|title=The One Who Knocks|magazine=The New Yorker|last=Friend|first=Tad|date=September 16, 2013|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=December 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206023038/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/09/16/the-one-who-knocks|url-status=live}} and lived on their poultry farm in Yucaipa, California. He has called his parents "broken people" who were "incapacitated as far as parenting" and caused the family to lose their house in a foreclosure.{{cite magazine|last=Hiatt|first=Brian|title='Breaking Bad' Q&A: Bryan Cranston on Walter White's Morality|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=September 13, 2013|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/breaking-bad-qa-bryan-cranston-on-walter-whites-morality-68218/|access-date=April 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916233229/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/breaking-bad-q-a-bryan-cranston-on-walter-whites-morality-20130913|archive-date=September 16, 2013}} In 1968, when he was 12 years old, he encountered Charles Manson while riding horses with his cousin at the Spahn Ranch.[http://nerdist.com/nerdist-podcast-bryan-cranston-returns/ Nerdist Podcast: "Bryan Cranston Returns"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151128015254/http://nerdist.com/nerdist-podcast-bryan-cranston-returns/ |date=November 28, 2015 }} August 10, 2015. This happened about a year before Manson ordered the Tate-LaBianca murders.[http://breakingbadfunfacts1.tumblr.com/post/97018222480/cranston-and-manson-fun-freaky-family-fact-80 breakingbadfunfacts: "Cranston and Manson? FUN FREAKY "FAMILY" FACT: 80"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222135212/http://breakingbadfunfacts1.tumblr.com/post/97018222480/cranston-and-manson-fun-freaky-family-fact-80 |date=December 22, 2015 }}, September 29, 2014. Cranston graduated from Canoga Park High School, where he was a member of the school's chemistry club,{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/bryan-cranston-high-school-chemistry-club-photo-revealed-article-1.1431814|title='Breaking Bad' star Bryan Cranston's high school yearbook reveals chemistry club past: Long before he played meth kingpin Walter White on 'Breaking Bad,' the actor was part of his high school science club|first=Margaret|last=Eby|work=New York Daily News|date=August 20, 2013|access-date=February 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204184844/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/bryan-cranston-high-school-chemistry-club-photo-revealed-article-1.1431814|archive-date=February 4, 2015|url-status=live}} and earned an associate degree in police science from Los Angeles Valley College in 1976.{{cite web|title=Breaking Bad – Bryan Cranston Interview |url=http://www.ugo.com/tv/breaking-bad-bryan-cranston-interview |work=UGO |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc. |access-date=February 8, 2014 |date=March 2, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214082405/http://www.ugo.com/tv/breaking-bad-bryan-cranston-interview |archive-date=December 14, 2013 }} While at Los Angeles Valley College he took an acting class for an elective, which inspired him to pursue a career in acting, saying "And at 19 years old, all of a sudden, my life changed."{{cite news|last1=Engel|first1=Allison|title=Oscar nominee Bryan Cranston: Charming, thoughtful and very funny|url=https://news.usc.edu/91883/oscar-nominee-bryan-cranston-charming-thoughtful-and-very-funny/|work=USC News|publisher=University of Southern California|date=February 12, 2016|access-date=June 26, 2021|archive-date=June 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626083707/https://news.usc.edu/91883/oscar-nominee-bryan-cranston-charming-thoughtful-and-very-funny/|url-status=live}}

Career

=1980–1993: Career beginnings =

File:Bryan Cranston in Loving (1983-1984).jpg, 1983]]

After college, Cranston began his acting career in local and regional theaters, getting his start at the Granada Theater in the San Fernando Valley. He had performed as a youth, but his show-business parents had mixed feelings about their son being involved in the profession, so he did not act until years later. Cranston was ordained as a minister when he was 19 by the Universal Life Church, and performed weddings for $150 a service to help with his income. Cranston noted "I think I was 19-years-old when I first started doing that on Catalina Island, where I was spending my summers working. Unbeknownst to me, I didn't realize how easy it was to do that. You simply fill in the application, send it to the Secretary of State of whatever state you're in, and you are ordained ... Bless you."{{Citation |title=Bryan Cranston Answers Your Questions {{!}} Actually Me |date=June 22, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhEIWzD-pmU |access-date=2023-06-23 |publisher=British GQ |language=en}}[http://www.universallifechurchministers.org/bryan-cranston/ "Hollywood's Hall of Famous ULC Ministers: Bryan Cranston"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510015524/http://www.universallifechurchministers.org/Bryan-Cranston/ |date=May 10, 2015 }}, Universallifechurchministers.org{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/film/bryan-cranston|title=The Hot Seat: Bryan Cranston|last=Halle|first=Howard|date=March 4, 2009|work=TimeOut|access-date=April 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110151139/http://www.timeout.com/newyork/film/bryan-cranston|archive-date=January 10, 2016|url-status=live}} He also worked as a waiter, night-shift security guard at the gates of a private LA community, truck loader, camera operator for a video dating service, and a CCTV security guard at a supermarket.Bryan Cranston: A Life in Parts, p. 202.

Cranston started working regularly in the late 1980s, mostly doing minor roles and advertisements.{{cite news| title = 'Breaking Bad' star Bryan Cranston was 'always hustling' as a young a young actor – The Washington Post | newspaper = The Washington Post | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/breaking-bad-star-bryan-cranston-was-always-hustling-as-a-young-actor/2016/09/28/2930c2b0-8101-11e6-a52d-9a865a0ed0d4_story.html | date = April 10, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161005000116/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/breaking-bad-star-bryan-cranston-was-always-hustling-as-a-young-actor/2016/09/28/2930c2b0-8101-11e6-a52d-9a865a0ed0d4_story.html | archive-date = October 5, 2016 | access-date = April 10, 2018 | url-status=live | df = mdy-all }} He was an original cast member of the ABC soap opera Loving, where he played Douglas Donovan from 1983 to 1985. Cranston starred in the short-lived series Raising Miranda in 1988. Cranston played Tom Logan in an episode of the first season of the TV series Baywatch in 1989. Cranston's voice acting includes English dubbing of Japanese anime (for which he primarily used the non-union pseudonym Lee Stone),Plunkett, Luke (October 3, 2013). [https://kotaku.com/walter-whites-secret-history-of-nerd-acting-1440924784 "Walter White's Secret History Of Nerd Acting"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221100728/http://kotaku.com/walter-whites-secret-history-of-nerd-acting-1440924784 |date=December 21, 2016 }}. Kotaku. including Macross Plus and Armitage III: Poly-Matrix, and most notably, Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie as Fei-Long, and the children's series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Cranston did voice work for the 1993–94 first season of that series, playing characters such as Twin Man and Snizzard, for which he was paid about $50 an hour for two or three hours of daily work. The Blue Power Ranger, Billy Cranston, was thought to be named for him but this has since proven false.Hinman, Michael (January 16, 2017). [http://geeknation.com/history-brought-bryan-cranston-back-to-power-rangers/ "History Brought Bryan Cranston Back To 'Power Rangers'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118140723/http://geeknation.com/history-brought-bryan-cranston-back-to-power-rangers/ |date=January 18, 2017 }}. GeekNation.Goldman, Eric (September 26, 2013). [https://ign.com/articles/2013/09/27/before-breaking-bad-looking-back-at-bryan-cranstons-power-rangers-past "Before Breaking Bad: Looking Back at Bryan Cranston's Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Past"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170117151245/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/09/27/before-breaking-bad-looking-back-at-bryan-cranstons-power-rangers-past |date=January 17, 2017 }}. IGN.{{Cite web |last=Hemenway |first=Megan |date=2023-02-21 |title=Did Bryan Cranston REALLY Inspire A Power Rangers Character Name? |url=https://screenrant.com/power-rangers-bryan-cranston-billy-name-inspire/ |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=Screen Rant}}

=1994–2006: Breakthrough and ''Malcolm in the Middle''=

In 1994, Cranston got the recurring role of Dr. Tim Whatley, Jerry's dentist, on Seinfeld. He played the role until 1997. In 1996, he played the first of his two biographical roles as an astronaut when he portrayed Gus Grissom in the film That Thing You Do!. In 1997, he played a supporting role in the Michael Dudikoff action film Strategic Command, alongside Richard Norton, Paul Winfield, and Stephen Quadros.{{Cite web|title=Executive Command AKA Strategic Command (1997) Review|url=https://theactionelite.com/executive-command-aka-strategic-command-1997-review/|website=theactionelite.com|access-date=February 24, 2019|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308035440/https://theactionelite.com/executive-command-aka-strategic-command-1997-review/|url-status=dead}} Later that year he had a small role in Babylon 5 as Ericsson, a starship captain who sacrifices himself as part of a plan to save the galaxy.

File:Bryan Cranston by Gage Skidmore.jpg]]

In 1998, Cranston appeared in the episode "Drive" of The X-Files written by Vince Gilligan. That same year, he played his second astronaut role when he portrayed Buzz Aldrin in the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon. In 1999, Cranston wrote and directed the film Last Chance.{{cite news|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/06/02/an-interview-with-bryan-cranston |title=An Interview with Bryan Cranston |last=P. |first=Ken |date=June 2, 2003 |publisher=IGN |access-date=April 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525060206/http://movies.ign.com/articles/422/422101p1.html |archive-date=May 25, 2009}} That same year he made his second appearance for a recurring role on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens, playing Doug Heffernan's neighbor, Tim Sacksky. In 1998, he appeared in Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan, as one-armed War Department Colonel I.W. Bryce, who reported to General George Marshall that Private Ryan was the last survivor of his brothers, and his assumed location. His theatrical credits include starring roles in The God of Hell, Chapter Two, The Taming of the Shrew, A Doll's House, Barefoot in the Park, Eastern Standard, Wrestlers and The Steven Weed Show, for which he won a Drama-Logue Award.{{cite web|url=http://www.amctv.com/shows/breaking-bad/cast/walter-white/bryan-cranston |title=Bryan Cranston as Walter White |publisher=AMC Network Entertainment |access-date=July 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613040748/http://www.amctv.com/shows/breaking-bad/cast/walter-white/bryan-cranston |archive-date=June 13, 2014 }}

In 2000, Cranston landed a leading role as Hal on the comedy series Malcolm in the Middle. He remained with the show until its end in 2006. Cranston ultimately directed several episodes of the show and received three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his performance.{{cite episode | title = Anytime with Bob Kushell feat. Bryan Cranston | series = Anytime with Bob Kushell | airdate = March 31, 2009 | season = 2 | number = 3}} Cranston reprised his role in a cutaway gag during the Family Guy episode "I Take Thee Quagmire", killing Lois (his wife on Malcolm in the Middle) with a refrigerator door, and in an alternate ending of Breaking Bad with Jane Kaczmarek reprising her role as Lois.{{cite news|url=https://thewrap.com/breaking-bad-malcolm-in-the-middle-gag-reel-bryan-cranston|title='Breaking Bad' Gets 'Malcolm in the Middle' Alternative Ending, Blooper Reel (Video)|last=M.|first=Maglio|date=November 17, 2013|publisher=The Wrap|access-date=May 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508030621/http://www.thewrap.com/breaking-bad-malcolm-in-the-middle-gag-reel-bryan-cranston|archive-date=May 8, 2014|url-status=live}}

He has had guest roles in many television series, including a white-collar criminal searching for his estranged wife and daughter on The Flash, and a lawyer attempting to free the title character from a contract in Sabrina the Teenage Witch. He also had a guest role in late 2006 on the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, playing Ted Mosby's obnoxious co-worker and former boss Hammond Druthers. He played Lucifer in the ABC Family miniseries Fallen and appeared as Nick Wrigley, an irresponsible uncle who accidentally brings Christmas close to destruction when he steals Santa's sleigh to have a crazy ride, in the 2001 Disney Channel Original Movie 'Twas the Night. In that same year, he provided the voice of Gary's father in Gary & Mike. He appeared as the more successful business colleague of Greg Kinnear's character in the film Little Miss Sunshine (2006). In September 2008, Cranston narrated a pre-teen adventure/fantasy audiobook called Adventures with Kazmir the Flying Camel.{{cite web |url = http://www.kazmirtheflyingcamel.com |title = Adventures with Kazmir the Flying Camel Audiobook |access-date = April 5, 2009 |year = 2008 |publisher = Camel Back Publishing |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100512165511/http://kazmirtheflyingcamel.com/ |archive-date = May 12, 2010 |url-status=live |df = mdy-all }}

=2008–2013: Stardom with ''Breaking Bad''=

File:Aaron Paul, Vince Gilligan and Bryan Cranston cropped.jpg and Vince Gilligan in 2010]]

From 2008 to 2013, Cranston starred in the AMC series Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, in which he played the show's protagonist, Walter White, a high-school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Walter teams up with former student Jesse Pinkman (played by Aaron Paul), to manufacture and sell methamphetamine to ensure the financial well-being of Walter's family after he dies. Cranston's work on the series was met with widespread critical acclaim, winning him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in each of the show's first three seasons and being nominated in 2012 and 2013 for seasons four and five (winning again in 2014 for the second half of season 5). Cranston and Bill Cosby are the only actors to have won the award three consecutive times. Cranston was also a producer for the fourth and fifth seasons of the series, and directed three episodes of the show during its run.

In 2011, Cranston had supporting roles in three successful films, the drama The Lincoln Lawyer, as well as the thrillers Drive and Contagion. He voiced James "Jim" Gordon in the animated film Batman: Year One (2011).{{cite news|last=Kit|first=Borys|title='Batman: Year One' Lines Up Voice Cast, Sets Comic-Con Premiere (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/batman-year-one-lines-up-179942/|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 20, 2011|access-date=April 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721213402/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/batman-year-one-lines-up-179942|archive-date=July 21, 2011|url-status=live}} In 2012, he had supporting roles in John Carter, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted as Vitaly the tiger, and Rock of Ages, and a major role in the hostage drama Argo. He also lent his voice to several episodes of the animated series Robot Chicken.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/07/robot.chicken/index.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701143036/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-01-07/entertainment/robot.chicken_1_robot-chicken-cnn-buffy|archive-date=July 1, 2012|title=Seth Green talks 'Robot Chicken,' Lucas and 'Buffy'|last=Hoevel|first=Ann|date=January 7, 2011|publisher=CNN|access-date=April 10, 2022|url-status=live}} In 2012, he starred in the remake of the 1990 film Total Recall, as Chancellor Vilos Cohaagen, the corrupted president of a fictional war-ravaged United Federation of Britain. In the same year, he made a guest appearance as Kenneth Parcell's step-father, Ron, on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock, and was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.{{cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2012/20120629a.html |title=Academy Invites 176 to Membership |publisher=Oscars.org |date=June 29, 2012 |access-date=January 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702000236/http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2012/20120629a.html |archive-date=July 2, 2012 |url-status=live }}

= 2013–present: Broadway roles and acclaim =

File:Bryan Cranston - 2016.jpg, Austin in 2016]]

From September 2013 to June 2014, Cranston played U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson in the American Repertory Theater and Broadway productions of All the Way. The play depicted President Johnson's efforts to maneuver members of the 88th United States Congress to enact, and civil rights leaders including Martin Luther King Jr. to support, the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The performance has received widespread acclaim with Charles Isherwood of The New York Times writing, "Mr. Cranston strides onto the Broadway stage with an admirable confidence, meeting the challenge of animating Mr. Schenkkan's sprawling civics lesson as if he's thoroughly at home...Mr. Cranston's heat-generating performance galvanizes the production".{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/theater/reviews/all-the-way-stars-bryan-cranston-as-lyndon-b-johnson.html | title=An Arm-Twister in the Oval Office: 'All the Way' Stars Bryan Cranston as Lyndon B. Johnson | work=The New York Times | date=September 25, 2013 | access-date=March 15, 2014 | author=Isherwood, Charles | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314172454/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/theater/reviews/all-the-way-stars-bryan-cranston-as-lyndon-b-johnson.html | archive-date=March 14, 2014 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all }} He went on to win the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for the role.{{cite news | url=https://variety.com/2014/legit/reviews/broadway-review-bryan-cranston-lbj-all-the-way-1201127585/ | title=Bryan Cranston owns the role of LBJ in this beautifully built dramatic piece. | work=Variety | date=March 7, 2014 | access-date=March 14, 2014 | author=Stasio, Marilyn | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313001633/http://variety.com/2014/legit/reviews/broadway-review-bryan-cranston-lbj-all-the-way-1201127585/ | archive-date=March 13, 2014 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all }}{{cite news | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/sc-ent-0309-all-way-broadway-review-2-20140310-column.html| title='Breaking Bad' star Bryan Cranston gets his hooks into LBJ | work=The Chicago Tribune | date=March 10, 2014 | access-date=April 10, 2022| author=Jones, Chris | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314120946/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/sc-ent-0309-all-way-broadway-review-2-20140310,0,3692603.column | archive-date=March 14, 2014 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://allthewaybroadway.com/ |title=All The Way Broadway |publisher=American Repertory Theater |year=2014 |access-date=February 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140208082826/http://allthewaybroadway.com/ |archive-date=February 8, 2014 |url-status=live }}

He also played scientist Joe Brody in the 2014 reboot of Godzilla.{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/can-bryan-cranston-resurrect-godzilla-20140226-33h8l.html|title=Can Bryan Cranston resurrect Godzilla?|last=Thomas|first=Sarah|date=February 26, 2014|work=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=March 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302232602/http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/can-bryan-cranston-resurrect-godzilla-20140226-33h8l.html|archive-date=March 2, 2014|url-status=live}} From 2015 to 2019 he played Vince Lonigan in the Amazon Prime Video series Sneaky Pete. Cranston also served as a co-creator, writer and executive producer on the project.{{cite web|url= https://deadline.com/2017/01/bryan-cranston-sneaky-pete-amazon-giovanni-ribisi-1201878968/|title= Bryan Cranston's Amazon Series 'Sneaky Pete': A Bad Guy Breaking Good – TCA|website= Deadline Hollywood|date= January 5, 2017|accessdate= February 9, 2024}}

Cranston has produced an instructional DVD called KidSmartz, which is designed to teach families how to stay safe from child abductors and Internet predators. KidSmartz raises money for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children by donating half the proceeds from sales. Also, following the success of Breaking Bad, the year 2014 saw reports of Cranston developing new TV projects in collaboration with Sony Pictures Television.{{cite web|last=Jeffery|first=Morgan|title='Breaking Bad' star Bryan Cranston 'developing new TV projects'|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a455494/breaking-bad-star-bryan-cranston-developing-new-tv-projects/|publisher=Digital Spy|access-date=April 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225200008/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/s166/breaking-bad/news/a455494/breaking-bad-star-bryan-cranston-developing-new-tv-projects.html|archive-date=February 25, 2013|url-status=live|date=February 2013}} In 2016, it was announced that he would star in an episode of the Channel 4/Amazon Video series Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams, and would also serve as an executive producer on the series.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/philip-k-dick-bryan-cranston-electric-dreams-anthology-series-1201987470/|title=Amazon Grabs U.S. Rights to Bryan Cranston's 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams' Anthology Series|author=Cynthia Littleton|work=Variety|access-date=December 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424234338/http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/philip-k-dick-bryan-cranston-electric-dreams-anthology-series-1201987470/|archive-date=April 24, 2017|url-status=live|date=February 14, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/02/philip-k-dicks-electric-dreams-anthology-series-amazon-ron-moore-bryan-cranston-1201911194/|title='Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams' TV Series From Ron Moore, Michael Dinner & Bryan Cranston Picked Up By Amazon|author=Nellie Andreeva|work=Deadline|access-date=February 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215121202/http://deadline.com/2017/02/philip-k-dicks-electric-dreams-anthology-series-amazon-ron-moore-bryan-cranston-1201911194/|archive-date=February 15, 2017|url-status=live|date=February 14, 2017}}

Cranston reprised his role as Johnson in an HBO adaptation of All the Way (2016), executive produced by Steven Spielberg.Bacle, Ariana (January 17, 2015) [https://ew.com/article/2014/07/16/bryan-cranston-all-the-way-broadway-hbo/ "Bryan Cranston to star in HBO adaptation of Broadway's 'All the Way' "] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718164855/http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/07/16/bryan-cranston-all-the-way-broadway-hbo/ |date=July 18, 2014 }}, Entertainment Weekly. Cranston's performance was widely praised earning the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie as well as nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Critics' Choice Television Award.{{cite magazine|url= https://ew.com/sag-awards/2017/01/29/sag-awards-2017-bryan-cranston-limitedactor/|title= SAG Awards 2017: Bryan Cranston imagines what LBJ would say to Donald Trump|magazine= Entertainment Weekly|accessdate= February 9, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/68th-primetime-emmy-awards-presented-tonight|title=68th Primetime Emmy Awards Presented Tonight|website=Playbill|access-date=April 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328111031/http://www.playbill.com/article/2016-emmy-nominees-announced|archive-date=March 28, 2017|url-status=live|date=September 18, 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/television-nominees-for-2016-critics-choice-awards-unveiled-1201853806/ |title=Critics' Choice TV Nominations Unveiled |last=Lincoln |first=Ross A. |date=November 14, 2016 |work=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=February 9, 2024}} In 2015, Cranston starred as screenwriter Dalton Trumbo in the biopic Trumbo, for which he received his first Academy award nomination.{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2015/11/26/trumbos-bryan-cranston-furiously-watchable-review.html|title=Trumbo's Bryan Cranston furiously watchable: review|newspaper=The Toronto Star|date=November 26, 2015|access-date=June 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813083117/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2015/11/26/trumbos-bryan-cranston-furiously-watchable-review.html|archive-date=August 13, 2016|url-status=live|last1=Howell|first1=Peter}} In 2016, Cranston voiced Li, the biological father of Po, in Kung Fu Panda 3.{{cite press release|title=DreamWorks Animation Packs A Powerful Punch With New Cast Additions For Kung Fu Panda 3|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dreamworks-animation-packs-a-powerful-punch-with-new-cast-additions-for-kung-fu-panda-3-202219191.html|agency=PR Newswire|access-date=June 23, 2016|author=DreamWorks Animation|date=April 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201203620/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dreamworks-animation-packs-a-powerful-punch-with-new-cast-additions-for-kung-fu-panda-3-202219191.html|archive-date=February 1, 2014|url-status=live}} Also that year, he appeared in the films The Infiltrator and Wakefield. Cranston's memoir, A Life in Parts, was published on October 11, 2016, became a New York Times bestseller, and received positive reviews.{{cite book|url=http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/A-Life-in-Parts/Bryan-Cranston/9781476793856|title=A Life in Parts|access-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201153356/http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/A-Life-in-Parts/Bryan-Cranston/9781476793856|archive-date=February 1, 2017|url-status=live|isbn=9781476793856|last1=Cranston|first1=Bryan|date=October 11, 2016|publisher=Simon and Schuster }}{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-life-in-parts-by-bryan_b_12060036|title='A Life in Parts' by Bryan Cranston|first=Phil|last=Simon|website=HuffPost|date=September 17, 2016|access-date=April 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202234914/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/phil-simon/a-life-in-parts-by-bryan_b_12060036.html|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/a-life-in-parts-review-how-bryan-cranston-was-destined-for-breaking-bad-20161121-gstsjk.html|title=A Life in Parts review: How Bryan Cranston was destined for Breaking Bad|first=Steven|last=Carroll|date=November 25, 2016|via=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203002308/http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/a-life-in-parts-review-how-bryan-cranston-was-destined-for-breaking-bad-20161121-gstsjk.html|archive-date=February 3, 2017|url-status=live}} In 2017, he voiced Zordon in Lionsgate's Power Rangers, which marked his return to the franchise after providing voices for the first season.{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/movies/news/power-rangers-bryan-cranston-cast-as-zordon/|title=Power Rangers: Bryan Cranston Cast As Zordon|publisher=Comicbook.com|last=Viscardi|first=James|date=June 21, 2016|access-date=April 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623142828/http://comicbook.com/2016/06/21/power-rangers-bryan-cranston-cast-as-zordon/|archive-date=June 23, 2016|url-status=live}}

File:Isle of Dogs - Press Conference.jpg, Bob Balaban, Bill Murray, Greta Gerwig, and Cranston at the Isle of Dogs press conference at Berlinale 2018|left]]

Cranston portrayed the news anchor Howard Beale in the play Network, an adaptation of the 1976 film of the same name, in November 2017.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38770216|title=Breaking Bad star heading for UK stage|first=Tim|last=Masters|date=October 2, 2018|access-date=October 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002215159/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38770216|archive-date=October 2, 2018|url-status=live|work=BBC News}} The play, with Cranston as star, transferred to Broadway, opening at the Belasco Theatre on December 6, 2018.Franklin, Marc J. [http://www.playbill.com/article/a-first-look-at-bryan-cranston-in-network-on-broadway "A First Look at Bryan Cranston in 'Network' on Broadway"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505132004/http://www.playbill.com/article/a-first-look-at-bryan-cranston-in-network-on-broadway |date=May 5, 2019 }} Playbill, November 28, 2018. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that "the volcanic Bryan Cranston giving a gut-wrenching performance" as Beale and that "Cranston's magnetic presence has more than enough electricity to surge through the play's weak spots".{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/network-theater-1167200/|title= 'Network': Theater Review|website= The Hollywood Reporter|date= December 6, 2018|accessdate= February 9, 2024}} Cranston received numerous accolades for his performance including his second Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play as well as the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor and the Drama League Award, Distinguished Performance Award.McPhee, Ryan. [https://www.playbill.com/article/networks-bryan-cranston-hadestown-among-2019-drama-league-award-winners "Network's Bryan Cranston, Hadestown Among 2019 Drama League Award Winners"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517185058/http://www.playbill.com/article/networks-bryan-cranston-hadestown-among-2019-drama-league-award-winners |date=May 17, 2019 }} Playbill, May 17, 2019.[https://people.com/theater/tony-awards-2019-bryan-cranston-wins-best-actor-play/ "Bryan Cranston Wins His Second Tony Award"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610144506/https://people.com/theater/tony-awards-2019-bryan-cranston-wins-best-actor-play/ |date=June 10, 2019 }} People.com, June 9, 2019.{{cite news|url= https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-43699975|title= Bryan Cranston opens up about Olivier win|website= BBC News|accessdate= February 9, 2024}}

He acted in the role of Phillip Lacasse, a wealthy paraplegic in the movie The Upside (2017) along with Kevin Hart and Nicole Kidman.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/stx-kevin-hart-bryan-cranston-comedy-drama-upside-january-1202931229/|title=Kevin Hart-Bryan Cranston Drama 'The Upside' Gets January Release Date|website=Variety|first=Dave|last=McNary|date=September 6, 2018|access-date=September 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907125148/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/stx-kevin-hart-bryan-cranston-comedy-drama-upside-january-1202931229/|archive-date=September 7, 2018|url-status=live}} He was part of the ensemble cast of the 2018 animated film Isle of Dogs, by Wes Anderson, which premiered at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival, where he played the lead dog Chief.{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/bryan-cranston-isle-dogs-stars-talk-stop-motion/story?id=53144110|title=Bryan Cranston and other 'Isle of Dogs' stars talk the stop-motion animation film|date=March 7, 2018|website=ABC News|access-date=March 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315163346/http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/bryan-cranston-isle-dogs-stars-talk-stop-motion/story?id=53144110|archive-date=March 15, 2018|url-status=live}} Cranston appeared in the ninth season of the HBO comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm, playing Larry David's therapist. In October 2018, Cranston became the voice for a new series of Ford commercials featuring the tagline 'Built Ford Proud'.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-19/ford-tries-breaking-bad-image-with-ads-starring-bryan-cranston|title=Can Bryan Cranston Fix Ford's Image Issues?|last=Naughton|first=Keith|date=October 19, 2018|website=Bloomberg|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216061104/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-19/ford-tries-breaking-bad-image-with-ads-starring-bryan-cranston|archive-date=December 16, 2018|access-date=December 12, 2018}} In 2019, his production company Moonshot Entertainment signed a deal with Warner Bros. Television.{{cite web |last1=Haring |first1=Bruce |last2=Andreeva |first2=Nellie |title=Bryan Cranston's Moonshot Entertainment Inks Deal With Warner Bros. TV Group |url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/bryan-cransto-moonshot-entertainment-warner-bros-television-group-production-deal-1202654502/ |website=Deadline |access-date=April 10, 2022 |date=July 26, 2019}}

In 2020, he starred as the lead human, Mack, in the Disney film The One and Only Ivan. From 2020 to 2023 he had the lead role in the miniseries Your Honor, playing a judge and the father of a boy who accidentally kills someone. In 2022, Cranston reprised the role of Walter White during the final season of the Breaking Bad prequel series Better Call Saul.{{cite web |last1=Shanfeld |first1=Ethan |date=April 10, 2022 |title='Better Call Saul': Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul Will Guest Star in Final Season |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/bryan-cranston-aaron-paul-better-call-saul-1235229217/ |access-date=April 10, 2022 |website=Variety}} In 2023, Cranston had another appearance as Walter White, alongside Aaron Paul's Jesse, and Raymond Cruz as Tuco Salamanca in a Super Bowl LVII commercial for PopCorners. He has stated this could be his final appearance as the character.{{Cite web |date=February 10, 2023|title=Super Bowl ads keep it light by using nostalgia and stars |url=https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-super-bowl-983612eaf218a1725078cc68594f414e |access-date=February 12, 2023 |work=Associated Press |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=McRae |first=Andrew |date=February 11, 2023|title=Breaking Bad Super Bowl Ad Might Be Bryan Cranston's Last Time Playing Walter White |url=https://gamerant.com/breaking-bad-super-bowl-ad-bryan-cranston-last-time-playing-walter-white/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Game Rant |language=en}} In 2025 it was announced that Cranston would return to the stage in a Ivo van Hove directed production of Arthur Miller's All My Sons acting opposite Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Paapa Essiedu at the West End's Wyndham's Theatre.{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn058qlpr09o|title= Cranston and Jean-Baptiste to return to West End|website= BBC|date= April 10, 2025|accessdate= April 10, 2025}}

Charity work

In April 2014, Cranston presented at Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Easter Bonnet Competition with Idina Menzel, Fran Drescher, and Denzel Washington, after raising donations at his Broadway show All the Way.[http://www.queerty.com/photos-james-franco-idina-menzel-and-fran-drescher-get-into-the-easter-bonnet-competition-20140428 "PHOTOS: James Franco, Idina Menzel, and Fran Drescher Get Into the Easter Bonnet Competition"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021183416/http://www.queerty.com/photos-james-franco-idina-menzel-and-fran-drescher-get-into-the-easter-bonnet-competition-20140428 |date=October 21, 2014 }}, Queerty.com.

Influences

Cranston has stated, "Dick Van Dyke influenced me a lot... you know, his physical comedy and his ability to be loose in his body."{{cite web|url= https://bleeckerstreetmedia.com/editorial/actors-we-love-Bryan-Cranston|title= Actors We Love: Bryan Cranston|website= Bleecker Street|access-date= April 25, 2020|archive-date= July 27, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200727054040/https://bleeckerstreetmedia.com/editorial/actors-we-love-Bryan-Cranston|url-status= live}} In a 2016 interview with Larry King, he said that he would love to work with Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, and Dustin Hoffman.{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG1Ju5B280Q|title= If You Only Knew: Bryan Cranston|website= YouTube|date= July 13, 2016|access-date= April 25, 2020|archive-date= April 30, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200430230406/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG1Ju5B280Q|url-status= live}}

Personal life

= Marriage and family =

File:Bryan Cranston (1).jpg in September 2008]]

From 1977 to 1982, Cranston was married to writer Mickey Middleton.{{cite news|title=Bryan Cranston|url=http://hollywoodlife.com/celeb/bryan-cranston/ |access-date=October 26, 2013|newspaper=HollywoodLife|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131017074204/http://hollywoodlife.com/celeb/bryan-cranston/ |archive-date=October 17, 2013|url-status=live}} On July 8, 1989,Bryan Cranston: A Life in Parts, p. 241. he married Robin Dearden whom he met on the set of the series Airwolf in 1984; he was playing the villain of the week and she played a hostage he held at gunpoint. Both Dearden and her daughter with Cranston, actress Taylor Dearden, (b. February 12, 1993)Bryan Cranston: A Life in Parts, p. 249. appeared in the Breaking Bad episode "No Más", directed by Cranston.{{Cite web |title=Breaking Bad season 3 No Más |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/breaking-bad/season-3/episode-1-no-mas/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=www.metacritic.com |language=en}}

= Interests =

Cranston played baseball when he was a student and remains a collector of baseball memorabilia. His collection includes pennants, signed cards and jerseys. A notable item in his collection is an Atlanta Braves jersey signed by numerous players in the 500 home run club.{{Cite web |title=The Celebrity Collector - Bryan Cranston collects baseball (and Dodgers) memorabilia |url=http://www.go-star.com/antiquing/cranston.htm |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=www.go-star.com}} He is an avid fan of both the Los Angeles Dodgers{{cite web|url= https://www.mlb.com/news/bryan-cranston-on-dodgers-ohtani-kershaw|title=Brian Cranston talks All Star predictions, Shoehei Ohtani, and being a lifelong Dodgers Fan|website=MLB.com }} and the Los Angeles Rams.{{cite web|url= https://www.nfl.com/videos/bryan-cranston-on-how-los-angeles-rams-won-him-over-head-coach-sean-mcvay-380741|title=Brian Cranston on how the Los Angeles Rams won him back|website=NFL.com }} During the 2022 MLB Celebrity Softball Game, Cranston was the first celebrity to be ejected after being struck by a pitch and jokingly throwing a bucket of bubble gum at an umpire.{{cite web | last=Weisholtz | first=Drew | title=Bryan Cranston Hit By Ball, Ejected From All-Star Celebrity Softball Game | website=Yahoo! Life | date=2022-07-18 | url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/bryan-cranston-hit-ball-ejected-141344232.html | access-date=2024-09-16}}

When he accepted his third Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Cranston thanked his wife and daughter and told them he loves them "more than baseball". The family lived in a Ventura County, California beach house which Cranston designed.{{cite web |url=https://www.mensjournal.com/entertainment/bryan-cranston-breaking-badass-20120717/ |title = Bryan Cranston, Breaking Badass |publisher = Men's Journal |last = Higginbotham |first = Adam |access-date = April 10, 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120922012943/http://www.mensjournal.com/magazine/bryan-cranston-breaking-badass-20120717 |archive-date = September 22, 2012 |df = mdy-all }}{{cite web |author=Amanda Dameron |url=http://www.dwell.com/my-house/article/actor-bryan-cranstons-green-beach-house-renovation |title=Actor Bryan Cranston's Green Beach House Renovation |publisher=Dwell |date=June 13, 2013 |access-date=March 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322093033/http://www.dwell.com/my-house/article/actor-bryan-cranstons-green-beach-house-renovation |archive-date=March 22, 2014 |url-status=live }}

While filming Breaking Bad, Cranston lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico.{{cite web |url = http://alibi.com/feature/38033/The-Colorful-Mr-White.html |title = Bryan Cranston on seeing red, going black and being a chameleon |publisher = Weekly Alibi |last = Adams |first = Sam |date = August 4, 2011 |access-date = August 4, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110929235936/http://alibi.com/feature/38033/The-Colorful-Mr-White.html |archive-date = September 29, 2011 |url-status=live |df = mdy-all }} He was a co-owner of the former independent theater Cinemas Palme d'Or in Palm Desert, California.{{cite web|url= http://www.mydesert.com/article/20120715/LIFESTYLES0103/207140340/Bryan-Cranston-dishes-about-playing-villain-AMC-s-Breaking-Bad- |title=Bryan Cranston dishes about playing the villain on AMC's 'Breaking Bad' |publisher=The Desert Sun |last=Fessier |first=Bruce |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120718015911/http://www.mydesert.com/article/20120715/LIFESTYLES0103/207140340/Bryan-Cranston-dishes-about-playing-villain-AMC-s-Breaking-Bad- |archive-date=July 18, 2012 }} Retrieved July 2012.{{cite news|last1=Buck|first1=Fielding |title=PALM DESERT: Tristone will reopen Palme d'Or multiplex on July 3|url=https://www.pe.com/2016/06/30/palm-desert-tristone-will-reopen-palme-dor-multiplex-on-july-3/ |access-date=April 10, 2022|work=The Press Enterprise|date=June 30, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161120152626/http://www.pe.com/articles/desert-807147-palm-cinemas.html |archive-date=November 20, 2016|url-status=live}}

Cranston and castmate Aaron Paul both got Breaking Bad tattoos on the last day of filming to commemorate the final episode of Breaking Bad. Cranston's tattoo consists of the show's logo on his right ring finger, while Paul's tattoo consists of "no half measures" on his biceps.{{cite news|last1=Castillo|first1=Michelle |title="Breaking Bad" Bryan Cranston got new tattoo to shock wife|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/breaking-bad-bryan-cranston-got-new-tattoo-to-shock-wife/ |access-date=May 18, 2016|work=CBS News|date=August 5, 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160512010358/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/breaking-bad-bryan-cranston-got-new-tattoo-to-shock-wife/ |archive-date=May 12, 2016|url-status=live}}

Cranston and Paul announced the release of their signature mezcal, Dos Hombres, in July 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/elvaramirez/2019/07/25/aaron-paul-and-bryan-cranston-debut-new-mezcal-dos-hombres/|title=Aaron Paul And Bryan Cranston Debut New Mezcal, Dos Hombres|first=Elva|last=Ramirez|website=Forbes|access-date=December 8, 2020|archive-date=November 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126140331/https://www.forbes.com/sites/elvaramirez/2019/07/25/aaron-paul-and-bryan-cranston-debut-new-mezcal-dos-hombres/|url-status=live}}

= Political views =

Cranston is a Democrat.{{Cite news |last=Stern |first=Marlow |date=2016-07-18 |title=Bryan Cranston Trashes Trump: 'An Anomaly to the Human Race' |language=en |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/07/18/bryan-cranston-trashes-trump-an-anomaly-to-the-human-race |access-date=2023-01-30}} He supports abortion rights,{{Cite web |title=Cranston: Reproductive right laws 'draconian' |url=https://au.sports.yahoo.com/cranston-reproductive-laws-draconian-085832531.html |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=au.sports.yahoo.com |date=June 10, 2019 |language=en-AU}} decriminalizing marijuana,{{Cite web |last=Mcdevitt |first=Caitlin |title=Bryan Cranston talks politics |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/click/2013/05/bryan-cranston-talks-politics-163370 |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=POLITICO |date=May 7, 2013 |language=en}} and gun control.

Cranston supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 United States presidential election and opposed the candidacy of Donald Trump. However, upon Trump becoming president, Cranston expressed disappointment with those who hoped Trump would fail: "President Trump is not the person who I wanted to be in that office, and I've been very open about that. That being said, he is the president. If he fails, the country is in jeopardy. It would be egotistical for anyone to say, 'I hope he fails.' To that person I would say, fuck you."{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Ashley |date=2017-10-30 |title=Bryan Cranston Talks 'Last Flag Flying' and Why He Isn't Rooting for Trump's Failure |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/bryan-cranston-talks-last-flag-flying-why-he-isnt-rooting-trumps-failure-1052844/ |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} However, he openly criticized Trump in a 2023 interview on CNN, where he stated "The 'Make America Great Again' – my comment is: Do you accept that that could possibly be construed as a racist remark? And most people, a lot of people go, 'How could that be racist? Make America Great Again?' I said, 'So just ask yourself from an African American experience, when was it ever great in America for the African American? When was it great? If you're making it great again, it's not including them."{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Ashley |date=2023-02-27 |title=Bryan Cranston Says Trump's MAGA Slogan Is 'Racist Remark': 'When Was It Ever Great in America for the African American?'|url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/bryan-cranston-trump-maga-racist-1235537447/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} He supported the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.{{Cite web |last=Evans|first=Greg|date=2024-10-14 |title=Breaking Bad star makes US election endorsement with powerful speech on abortion rights |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/bryan-cranston-harris-trump-endorsement-abortion-b2628822.html |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=The Independent |language=en-US}}

Acting credits and accolades

{{main|Bryan Cranston filmography|List of awards and nominations received by Bryan Cranston}}

He has received two Critics' Choice Movie Awards, a Drama Desk Award, six Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a Laurence Olivier Award, five Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Tony Awards as well as nominations for an Academy Award and a British Academy Film Award, and a Directors Guild of America Award.

He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series four times (2008, 2009, 2010, and 2014) playing Walter White in the AMC crime drama series Breaking Bad (2008–2013). After becoming a producer of the show in 2011, he also won the award for Outstanding Drama Series twice.{{cite web|title=Bryan Cranston|url=http://www.emmys.com/bios/bryan-cranston|work=Primetime Emmy Award|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|access-date=February 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205223616/http://www.emmys.com/bios/bryan-cranston|archive-date=February 5, 2014|url-status=live}} He was Emmy-nominated for playing Hal in the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006), Lyndon B. Johnson in All the Way (2016), and Curb Your Enthusiasm (2018).

On stage, he won two Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Play for his performances as Lyndon B. Johnson in Robert Schenkkan's historical epic All the Way (2014) and Howard Beale in Lee Hall's dramatic play Network (2019). For the later, he reprised the role in London winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor.

Publications

  • A Life in Parts (autobiography, published in 2016) {{ISBN|978-1-4767-9385-6}}
  • Creating Social and Emotional Learning Environments (wrote foreword, educational non-fiction, published in 2020) {{ISBN|978-1-4938-8832-0}}

References

{{Reflist}}