Trivia

For his role on Breaking Bad (2008), he was named one of the "Eight Actors Who Turn Television into Art", in the cover story of the New York Times magazine (September 11, 2011).

The last name of the first Blue Ranger on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993) was named after him. He did various work as part of the crew (voice-overs, etc.), so the Blue Ranger's full name became Billy Cranston.

His favorite episode of Malcolm in the Middle (2000) is the first season episode, Rollerskates (2000). He spent six weeks, before filming, learning how to roller-skate.

Met his wife, Robin Dearden, on the set of Desperate Monday (1986). He was playing the villain of the week, and she was his hostage held at gunpoint.

In his younger years, he spent two years traveling around the United States by motorcycle with his brother.

Always grew a beard and mustache during his hiatuses from Malcolm in the Middle (2000).

Became an ordained minister when he was in college as a part-time job.

Such a huge fan of baseball that his wife threw him a surprise 40th birthday party at Dodger Stadium.

Was singled out by frequent Malcolm in the Middle (2000) director Todd Holland during his Emmy Award speech in 2001. Cranston had been overlooked that year, and Holland proclaimed that he would "stand up here soon". Cranston was subsequently nominated for the first-time the next year.

When asked what his favorite thing is about his wife Robin Dearden, he replied, "She still gets giddy when she sees a firefly.".

Once did voice acting for the English dubbing of Japanese animation (or anime), under the name Lee Stone.

Received an associate degree in police science from Los Angeles Valley College (1976).

Did not seriously pursue acting until he was in his late 20s as his parents, who were both actors, did not want him to follow them into the business.

Impersonated Brad Garrett's Everybody Loves Raymond (1996) voice shortly after losing to him for the second year in a row at the 2004 Emmy Awards. The crowd laughed hysterically, as did Garrett himself.

Saw the face of his daughter Taylor Dearden projected onto Krysten Ritter in a pivotal scene on Breaking Bad (2008) as her character laid dying, which made him cry -- but he snapped back into character and the image went away.

Has played Erik Per Sullivan's character's father on Malcolm in the Middle (2000) and wrote recommendation letters for his college applications.

He said his acting heroes are Dick Van Dyke, Jack Lemmon, Rod Steiger and Spencer Tracy.

Has a dog named Sugar, saved from a Los Angeles pound.

Is a part-owner of the independent theater Cinemas Palme d'Or in Palm Desert, CA.

Spent part of his youth on a farm with his grandparents in Yucaipa, as his family lost their home in foreclosure.

His Trumbo (2015) co-star Helen Mirren called him one of the greatest American actors.

His daughter, Taylor Dearden, studies Theater at the University of Southern California.

Has run in four marathons.

With his fourth Emmy Award victory for his performance on Breaking Bad (2008), he tied the record of Dennis Franz (NYPD Blue (1993)) for the most wins in the category "Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series". Peter Falk also won four Emmys for his lead performances as Columbo (1971), three of them as "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" (in 1972 known as "Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series") and one as "Best Lead Actor in a Limited Series".

At one point, he considered becoming a police officer.

Honored as Grand Marshal of the 2006 Sherman Oaks, CA, Street Fair by the Chamber of Commerce for his leadership in the community and his protection of children through KidSmartz (2003).

Produced his KidSmartz (2003) safety video with his Malcolm in the Middle (2000) crew during one of their weeks off.

He won the 2018 Laurence Olivier Award Award for "Best Actor in a Play" for his performance in "Network" at the National Theatre in London.

Enjoys playing the drums and traveling to Hawaii.

Attended and graduated from Canoga Park High School in Canoga Park, CA (1974).

Asked by the Hollywood Reporter's Matt Belloni which one of his movies he would most like to have deleted from his IMDb filmography, Bryan was quick to nominate Amazon Women on the Moon (1987).

He starred in three movies that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Saving Private Ryan (1998), Little Miss Sunshine (2006) and Argo (2012). Of those, Argo (2012) was a winner in the category.

Interviewed in 2015, he named On the Waterfront (1954) as his favorite movie.

He called Mark Rylance a major influence. Both actors won Tony Awards in 2014: Cranston for "Best Actor in a Play" for "All the Way" and Rylance for "Best Featured Actor in a Play" for his performance in "Twelfth Night". One of Cranston's competitors for the award was Rylance for his performance in "Richard III".

Both Cranston and his Breaking Bad (2008) co-star Jonathan Banks played the role of James Gordon in the Batman franchise: the first voiced the character in the animated feature Batman: Year One (2011) while the second did it in the video games Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) and Batman: Arkham Knight (2015).

Has one daughter with Robin Dearden: Taylor Dearden.

His paternal grandfather, Edward B. Cranston, was of Irish ancestry, partly by way of Canada (Montreal). His paternal grandmother, Alice Rose Bower, was of half Austrian Jewish and half German descent. His maternal grandparents, Otto Frederick William Sell and Augusta Liza Marchert, were both German emigrants, Otto from Rendsburg and Augusta from Danzig.

Is the second of three children of Joe Cranston and Audrey Peggy Sell, who both acted. Younger brother of Kyle Edward Cranston.

In the original Armitage III: Poly-Matrix (1996) episode home video version (also known as OAV), he was listed as "Lee Stone". However, in the movie edition of the same name, he was listed under his real name.

Presented the category "Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series" at the 2004 Emmy Awards with his Malcolm in the Middle (2000) co-star Jane Kaczmarek.

Got his start at the Granada Theatre in the San Fernando Valley, CA.

Was roommates with Javier Grajeda early in their careers.

He won the 2017 Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Actor for his performance in "Network" at the National Theatre in London.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 1717 Vine Street in Hollywood, California on July 16, 2013.

Began his acting career appearing in commercials for Preparation H, Shield Deodorant and Coffee-Mate.

He has appeared in one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Saving Private Ryan (1998).

The Newhart-inspired alternate ending to Breaking Bad was based on a joke Cranston made to the producers, about how he thought the show could end with it being Hal Wilkerson's nightmare. A year later, executive producer Melissa Bernstein told him that Vince Gilligan and Sony really liked his idea.

Born at 10:52 AM (PST).

He is a second cousin, once removed, of actress Arielle Kebbel. Bryan's maternal great-grandparents, Josef Marchert and Helene Magdalene Kebbel, were also Arielle's paternal great-great-grandparents. The two also share more distant ancestry through Arielle's direct patrilineal line.

Of Clan Cranstoun.