The cast of Breaking Bad is so talented that even years after the end of the series it remains one of the most memorable for the general public. The story of the series launched in January 2008 and which came to an end in September 2013 with five seasons has been talked about for a long time and continues to collect new fans around the world to this day, being considered a benchmark for new series of the genre.
In today's article we'll be bringing you important details about the characters in Breaking Bad and the actors who played them so that you can get to know them better and understand a little more about the context of the franchise. Are you a long-time fan and want to know a bit more about the characters? Have you just fallen for the title and want to get an idea of what's in store? Keep up the good work, as the following list is designed for every type of fan!
Walter White (Bryan Cranston)
The first name to analyze in the cast of Breaking Bad is that of the character Walter White, played by the actor Bryan Cranston. White is a chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with cancer. Without the money needed to pay for his treatment, the man begins to use his knowledge to manufacture illicit substances and enters the criminal network.
Cranston was a big name when it came to comedy before Breaking Bad, but after his performance in the series, he joined the big names in Hollywood and was called upon for more "serious" work. He received six Emmys for his work in the series and was also nominated for an Oscar for his role in Trumbo: Blacklisted (2016).
Among other great works, the actor even played Walter White in the movie El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019), which takes place a few years after the final events of the series, and in the spin-off Better Call Saul, during the last two episodes of this series derived from the franchise. White has thus become one of the most remarkable roles of his career.
Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul)
In the cast of Breaking Bad, actor Aaron Paul plays Jesse Pinkman, a boy who was involved in drugs during high school and had White as his chemistry teacher. When Breaking Bad's Heisenberg begins his activities as a drug dealer, he recruits Pinkman as his sidekick and the two start working together in this new endeavor.
The role of Jesse Pinkman earned Aaron Paul five Emmy nominations, winning three of them, and his career took off after that. You can see more of Paul's work in various other titles such as the 2014 feature Need for Speed and the movie Exodus: Gods and Kings from the same year.
Skyler White (Anna Gunn)
Skyler is Walter White's wife in the cast of Breaking Bad and is played by actress Anna Gunn. The character is eleven years younger than her husband and met him when she was working as a receptionist. After that, she ended up working at various other jobs such as accountant, writer, saleswoman and the like to support the household.
Gunn also won two of her three Emmy nominations, making her another figure from the series to attend the awards for her role. Gunn's other work also shows how talented she is, such as her appearances in The Mindy Project and Criminal Minds. She manages to deliver the performance well, convincing the viewer of her emotions during the most dramatic scenes.
Hank Schrader (Dean Norris)
Played by Dean Norris in the cast of Breaking Bad, Hank Schrader is the brother-in-law of protagonist Walter White. He is also primarily responsible for discovering the identity of the "Heisenberg" who is producing amphetamines without having any idea that it is actually his own brother-in-law.
Although his performance was highly praised by audiences and critics alike, Norris never received any award nominations for his role in the series. However, this doesn't mean that he left his career at a standstill for the period following the end of the title. He took on the starring role in the series Under the Dome released in 2013 and has also appeared in titles such as The Big Bang Theory and Superstore, among other successful works.
Marie Schared (Betsy Brandt)
Although she plays very little part in the series, Marie Schared steals the show when she appears in episodes. She is a secondary character played by Betsy Brandt in the cast of Breaking Bad, acting as Hank Schrader's wife and sister of Skyler White, who is married to the protagonist. She has a problem with theft, exhibiting episodes of kleptomania when her stress increases.
Brandt's performance is also considered incredible by Breaking Bad fans and her character is on the list of the most beloved by the general public. However, she also didn't receive any Emmy nominations for her role, although you can see more of her work in the comedy series The Michael J. Fox Show (2013-2014) which ended up being canceled after just one season.
Walter Jr. (RJ Mitte)
Walter Jr is Walter White's eldest son who suffers from cerebral palsy. The actor responsible for playing him in the Breaking Bad cast is RJ Mitte, known for his appearances in highly acclaimed series such as Hannah Montana and Everybody Hates Chris.
Mitte is another actor who has given a brilliant performance, but he hasn't been nominated for any major awards for his role in the series either. In real life, the actor also suffers from cerebral palsy, but his condition is not as serious as Walter Jr's and is considered "mild" by specialists.
Conclusion
Over the course of its five seasons, the cast of Breaking Bad has grown, but these have ended up being the most recurring names and the most relevant to the story. Did you miss anyone who wasn't mentioned here? Let us know in the comments! And, of course, take a look at our article on the five best Aaron Paul moviesactor in the series!
Questions that might interest you
Are Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul friends in real life?
The two actors did end up developing a real-life friendship during the filming of the series.
Have any of the actors won awards for their performances in Breaking Bad?
Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul and Anna Gunn won Emmys for their roles in the cast of Breaking Bad.
