Bryan Cranston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bryan Cranston
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Cranston in 2022
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Bryan Lee Cranston
March 7, 1956 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Los Angeles Valley College (AS) |
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| Years active | 1980–present |
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Works
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Full list |
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| Children | Taylor Dearden |
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| Awards | Full list |
Bryan Lee Cranston (born March 7, 1956) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is famous for playing a wide range of characters in both funny and serious roles. Cranston has won many awards for his acting, including six Primetime Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and a Laurence Olivier Award.
Cranston first became well-known for playing Hal, the funny dad in the TV show Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006). He became a major star for his role as Walter White in the drama series Breaking Bad (2008–2013). For this role, he won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series four times.
He has also starred in many movies, such as Saving Private Ryan (1998), Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Argo (2012), and Godzilla (2014). He was nominated for an Academy Award for playing screenwriter Dalton Trumbo in the movie Trumbo (2015). Cranston has also done voice acting in animated movies like Madagascar 3 (2012) and the Kung Fu Panda series.
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Early Life and School
Bryan Lee Cranston was born in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on March 7, 1956. His mother, Annalisa "Peggy" Sell, was a radio actress, and his father, Joseph Cranston, was an actor. He is the second of three children, with an older brother, Kyle, and a younger sister, Amy.
Cranston grew up in Canoga Park, Los Angeles. His father struggled to find enough acting work to support the family. When Cranston was 11, his father left home. Cranston and his brother did not see their father again until they were older and decided to find him. After his father left, Cranston was partly raised by his grandparents on their farm in Yucaipa, California.
He graduated from Canoga Park High School, where he was a member of the chemistry club. In 1976, he earned a degree in police science from Los Angeles Valley College. While in college, he took an acting class as an elective and discovered his passion for performing. He said, "And at 19 years old, all of a sudden, my life changed."
Acting Career
Getting Started
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After college, Cranston began acting in local theaters. His parents had mixed feelings about him becoming an actor, so he waited until he was older to start his career. To make money, he worked many jobs, including as a waiter and a security guard.
In the late 1980s, Cranston started getting regular acting jobs, mostly in small roles and commercials. From 1983 to 1985, he was a main cast member on the soap opera Loving. He also did voice acting for English versions of Japanese anime, like Macross Plus. He voiced monsters in the first season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
Breakthrough Roles
From 1994 to 1997, Cranston had a recurring role as Dr. Tim Whatley, Jerry's dentist, on the popular show Seinfeld. In 1998, he appeared in an episode of The X-Files written by Vince Gilligan, who would later create Breaking Bad. That same year, he played astronaut Buzz Aldrin in the HBO series From the Earth to the Moon.
In 2000, Cranston got the role of Hal in the comedy series Malcolm in the Middle. The show was a huge success and ran until 2006. Cranston was nominated for three Emmy Awards for his performance as the goofy and lovable dad. He also directed several episodes of the show.
Stardom with Breaking Bad
From 2008 to 2013, Cranston starred as Walter White in the AMC series Breaking Bad. His character was a high school chemistry teacher who learns he has a serious illness. To secure his family's future, he starts a dangerous new business with a former student, Jesse Pinkman (played by Aaron Paul).
His performance received amazing reviews from critics. He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series four times for this role. Cranston also became a producer for the show's later seasons and directed three episodes. The role of Walter White made him one of the most respected actors in television.
Success in Movies and on Stage
While working on Breaking Bad, Cranston also appeared in several successful movies. These included The Lincoln Lawyer, Drive, and Argo. He also voiced characters in animated films like Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted and Batman: Year One.
In 2014, Cranston starred on Broadway as U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson in the play All the Way. His performance was a huge hit, and he won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. He later played the same role in a TV movie for HBO.
In 2017, he starred as news anchor Howard Beale in a stage version of the movie Network. For this role, he won another Tony Award and a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in London.
Cranston continued to star in major films. He received an Academy Award nomination for playing screenwriter Dalton Trumbo in Trumbo (2015). He also voiced Po's father in Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) and the lead dog in Wes Anderson's animated movie Isle of Dogs (2018).
From 2020 to 2023, he starred in the drama series Your Honor, playing a judge whose son is involved in a terrible accident. In 2022, he made a special appearance as Walter White in the show Better Call Saul.
Personal Life
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Cranston was married to writer Mickey Middleton from 1977 to 1982. In 1989, he married actress Robin Dearden. They met on the set of the TV show Airwolf in 1984. They have one daughter, Taylor Dearden, who is also an actress.
Cranston is a huge baseball fan and collects baseball items. He loves the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Rams. When he accepted his third Emmy Award, he told his wife and daughter that he loves them "more than baseball."
He is a supporter of the Democratic Party. He believes in protecting the environment and supports gun control laws.
Awards and Recognition
Bryan Cranston is one of the most celebrated actors of his generation. He has won many major awards for his work in television, film, and theater.
- Emmy Awards: He won four times for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Breaking Bad. He also won two Emmys as a producer for the show.
- Tony Awards: He won two awards for Best Actor in a Play for his roles in All the Way and Network.
- Golden Globe Awards: He has won two Golden Globes for his television work.
- Screen Actors Guild Awards: He has won five SAG awards for both his individual performances and as part of an ensemble cast.
- Academy Award Nomination: He was nominated for Best Actor for the film Trumbo.
See also
In Spanish: Bryan Cranston para niños
