Breaking Bad premiered in 2008, without any fanfare, no one even knew the show existed until it slowly started to pick up the pace and became the juggernaut it is today, six years after the series went off the air.
The cultural impact show has had, immense as evidenced by the fact; the show is still a topic of discussion in 2019. The characters Walter White and 'Jesse Pinkman' are pop culture icons now. A show about a depressed, and cancer-stricken school chemistry teacher who starts making crystal meth, with one of his former students, to secure the future of his pregnant wife and disabled son, had an impact that most shows and movies imagine having.
As iconic as the show was, the actors involved in its creation have gone to be successful just from the fame of Breaking Bad. Here, we take a look at the former cast members of the show and where they are now.
Bryan Cranston
Bryan Cranston played the lead character in the show Breaking Bad, and he was a relatively unknown commodity starring in the hit comedy TV show 'Malcolm in the Middle'. Now he is best known for playing the iconic Walter White. After the series stopped airing Bryan starred in the massive hit Godzilla. His first ever Oscar nomination came a year after Godzilla when he played the role of Dalton Trumbo and nominated in the category of Best Actor. Recently he starred in the comedy movie ‘The Upside’ opposite Kevin Hart as well as starring in the acclaimed direct, Richard Linklater’s film, 'Last Flag Flying'. Bryan also currently stars in the hit Amazon show, 'Sneaky Pete'.
Anna Gunn
Anna Gunn, known better as 'Skyler White', wife of Walter White, was a TV veteran by the time she played the role, Skyler. After the end of Breaking Bad, she went on to star in two different police procedural drama, none of which lasted more than ten episodes. Anna also starred in the Academy Award-winning movie Sully alongside Tom Hanks and Aaron Eckhart. She recently appeared in the film Deadwood, the continuation of the series Deadwood, where she reprised her role as 'Martha Bullock'.
Aaron Paul
The other half of the duo from Breaking Bad, Jesse Pinkman was played by the Emmy Award-winning actor, Aaron Paul. Most of the movies he starred in after his time in Breaking Bad came to an end are not received well by the critics except for Eye in the Sky and Central Intelligence. On the TV side though, he has had much success, BoJack Horseman is a hit Netflix show, which he also executive produces and The Path which ended after 36 episodes on Hulu. Both Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston will be seen together when they star in the upcoming Breaking Bad movie.
Dean Norris
The brother-in-law of Walter White, Hank Schrader, was played by Dean Joseph Norris. Norris who has played roles in Terminator 2, Total Recall, Lethal Weapon 2, Little Miss Sunshine was a veteran actor by the time he started playing the character that’s brought him infamy. After his time in Breaking Bad, Norris did a lot of guest appearances in hit shows like The Big Bang Theory, Get Shorty and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Betsy Brandt
Walter’s sister-in-law and Skyler’s younger sister, 'Marie Schrader', was played by Betsy Brandt. After her time in Breaking Bad, she went on to star in 'The Michael J. Fox Show' as well as a couple of episodes of 'Masters of Sex'. She currently stars in the hit CBS sitcom 'Life in Pieces'.
RJ Mitte
RJ Mitte had only one credit to his name before he appeared as Walter White’s son, 'Walter White Jr'. He played the son of Walter and Skyler, and he had cerebral palsy in the show, which is something he also has in real life. After the end of Breaking Bad, he played in a couple of the episodes of 'Switched at Birth'. He currently stars in a recurring role in the show 'Now Apocalypse'.
Bob Odenkirk
The charming lawyer for everything illegal, 'Saul Goodman'/'Jimmy McGill' was played on screen by Bob Odenkirk. The Saturday Night Live alum has been in the show business for a long time. Odenkirk starred in a significant role in the Oscar-winning film 'The Post' and also voiced the character 'Winston Deavor' in the 'Incredibles 2'. He recently starred in the comedic gem of a movie, 'Long Shot', alongside Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron. But his most prominent role is on TV, Better Call Saul, which is a prequel to Breaking Bad is one of the most excellent shows ever made, and Bob Odenkirk is killing it as Saul.
Giancarlo Esposito
One of the greatest TV villains, 'Gustavo “Gus” Frings', was portrayed by veteran actor Giancarlo Esposito. After his stint in Breaking Bad, he has gone on to play a good guy in the 'Maze Runner' series. He also played a small role in the heartbreaking movie 'Okja'. Right after the end of Breaking Bad, he starred in 'Revolution', the show only lasted for two, but he followed that up with 'The Get Down' and a recurring role in Better Call Saul. He currently stars in the crime drama 'Jett' premiering on Cinemax.
Jonathan Banks
The evergreen, Jonathan Ray Banks played the old fixer of Gus Frings. He played the role of 'Mike Ehrmantraut', the former police officer turned hitman, on Breaking Bad.
In 2017 Banks played a supporting role as the racist 'Pappy McAllen' in the hit Netflix movie 'Mudbound'. He also played a prominent role in 'Skylanders Academy' also on Netflix as well as a supporting role in Better Call Saul.
Almost all actors and actresses involved in the show have gone on to have fantastic careers outside of Breaking Bad. Most of the cast members will be returning for the soon to be announced Breaking Bad movie.
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