Bryan Cranston Biography: Net Worth, Movies, Age, Wife, TV Shows, Height, Children, Parents

Bryan Lee Cranston is an American actor and filmmaker of notable acclaim. His roles, particularly as Walter White in the AMC series Breaking Bad (2008–2013) and Hal in the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006), have solidified his presence in the entertainment sphere.

Over the years, Cranston has garnered numerous accolades, including six Primetime Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and two Golden Globes.

Additionally, his talent has merited nominations for both an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award.

Profile

• Full Name: Bryan Lee Cranston
• Date of Birth: March 7, 1956
• Age: 68 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of Birth: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Actor, producer, director, screenwriter
• Height: 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm)
• Parents: Joseph Louis Cranston ,Audrey Peggy Sell
• Siblings: Kyle Edward Cranston
• Spouse: Robin Dearden (m. 1989)
• Children: Taylor Dearden Cranston
• Relationship Status: Married
• Net Worth: $40 million

Early Life and Education

Bryan Lee Cranston, born on March 7, 1956, in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, is now 68.

He was raised in a middle-class family, the son of Joseph Louis Cranston, a former amateur boxer, and Audrey Peggy Sell, a radio actress. Cranston has a younger brother named Kyle Edward Cranston.

His father, who initially pursued various jobs, ultimately pursued acting but struggled to provide for the family.

When Cranston was 11, his father left them, and they didn’t reconnect until Cranston and his brother Kyle sought him out when Cranston was 22.

Cranston later appeared in a movie directed by his father called The Big Turnaround in 1988 and maintained a relationship with him until his passing in 2014.

Cranston revealed that he drew inspiration for his portrayal of Walter White from his father, noting his father’s slouched posture, which was indicative of carrying burdens.

Following his father’s departure, Cranston spent part of his upbringing under the care of his maternal grandparents on their poultry farm in Yucaipa, California.

He described his parents as “broken people” incapable of effective parenting, a situation that led to the family losing their home due to foreclosure.

At the age of 12 in 1968, Cranston had an encounter with Charles Manson while horseback riding with his cousin at the Spahn Ranch, approximately a year before Manson orchestrated the Tate-LaBianca murders.

Cranston completed his high school education at Canoga Park High School, where he was involved in the school’s chemistry club.

He earned an associate degree in police science from Los Angeles Valley College in 1976.

Personal Life

Between 1977 and 1982, Cranston was wedded to writer Mickey Middleton. Subsequently, on July 8, 1989, he tied the knot with Robin Dearden, whom he encountered while filming the series Airwolf in 1984.

Their meeting was during Cranston’s portrayal of the antagonist, with Dearden cast as a hostage. Both Dearden and her daughter with Cranston, actress Taylor Dearden, featured in the Breaking Bad episode “No Más,” directed by Cranston.

Career

After graduating from college, Cranston embarked on his acting journey in local and regional theaters, commencing at the Granada Theater in the San Fernando Valley.

Despite dabbling in performance during his youth, Cranston’s parents, who were in show business themselves, they harbored ambivalent feelings about their son pursuing the profession.

Consequently, Cranston refrained from acting until later years. At 19, Cranston became ordained as a minister through the Universal Life Church.

He supplemented his income during summers on Catalina Island by officiating weddings for $150 per service.

In addition to his ministerial duties, Cranston took on various odd jobs, including waiting tables, a night-shift security guard at a gated LA community, loading trucks, operating cameras for a video dating service, and monitoring CCTV as a security guard at a supermarket.

Cranston’s career gained momentum in the late 1980s, primarily with minor roles and commercials. He was part of the original ABC soap opera Loving cast, portraying Douglas Donovan from 1983 to 1985.

In 1988, he starred in the short-lived series Raising Miranda. Cranston made a guest appearance as Tom Logan in a 1989 episode of the first season of Baywatch.

Additionally, he lent his voice to English dubs of Japanese anime, often using the pseudonym Lee Stone.

His voice acting credits include Macross Plus, Armitage III: Poly-Matrix, Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie as Fei-Long, and the children’s series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

For the latter, Cranston provided voice work for characters like Twin Man and Snizzard during the 1993–94 first season, earning approximately $50 per hour for two to three hours of daily recording. Despite popular belief, the Blue Power Ranger Billy Cranston was not named after him.

In 1994, Cranston secured the recurring role of Dr. Tim Whatley, Jerry’s dentist, on Seinfeld, which he portrayed until 1997.

In 1996, Cranston took on his first two biographical roles as an astronaut, playing Gus Grissom in the film That Thing You Do! He also appeared in the 1997 Michael Dudikoff action film Strategic Command alongside Richard Norton, Paul Winfield, and Stephen Quadros.

Later that year, Cranston had a minor role in Babylon 5 as Ericsson, a starship captain who sacrifices himself as part of a plan to save the galaxy.

Awards

• Primetime Emmy Awards: 6 wins and 17 nominations
• Golden Globe Awards: 1 win and six nominations
• Screen Actors Guild Awards: 2 wins and ten nominations
• Tony Awards: 1 win and one nomination
• Academy Awards: 1 nomination

Net Worth

According to sources, Bryan Cranston’s net worth is estimated to be $40 million, which he amassed from his successful and enduring career in the entertainment industry.

Social Media

• Instagram: @bryancranston
• Twitter: @BryanCranston

Filmography

• Breaking Bad
• Malcolm in the Middle
• Trumbo
• Argo
• Drive
• The Upside