As the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards draw near, we look back at the careers of the lead acting nominees.

After appearing in regional plays and in commercials, Cranston landed a lead role in this long-running ABC prime-time soap in 1983. He played Doug Donovan #1 for two years.

Cranston guest-starred on the Andy Griffith legal drama in 1987 and 1991 — as two different characters. In the former, he played a Santa Claus accused of murder; in the latter, a doctor.

Talk about appointment TV. Cranston recurred on Seinfeld as Dr. Tim Whatley, Jerry's dentist and the so-called "Dentist to the Stars." During the arc, Whatley converted to Judaism, dated Elaine and re-gifted a present.

Cranston played Buzz Aldrin in this 1998 HBO miniseries chronicling the Apollo expeditions during the 1960s and '70s.

Cranston suited up as Colonel Bryce for a bit part in this Steven Spielberg World War II drama.

Cranston recurred on this CBS sitcom as Tim Sacksky, Doug's annoying neighbor who rips him off when he recruits him to sell water purifiers.

Cranston earned three nominations for supporting actor in a comedy as the indecisive and emotional pop Hal.

Cranston played Stan Grossman, a colleague of Greg Kinnear's Richard Hoover in this 2006 indie comedy.

Cranston guest-starred on Mother as Hammond Druthers, Ted's pompous boss and co-worker whom he fires while Hammond is having a heart attack. (Ted thought he was faking it.)

Cranston played Satan in this ABC Family miniseries about a boy (Paul Wesley) who discovers he is half-human and half-angel.

Cranston has won back-to-back Emmys and a Television Critics Association award for his turn as the spiraling chemistry teacher-turned-meth king Walter White.