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Bryan Cranston Biography

Birth Name:Bryan Lee Cranston

Birth Place:Hollywood, California, United States

Profession Actor, Producer, Director, Soundtrack, Writer

Fast Facts

  • Received the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor
  • Won the 2014 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play
  • Intended to become a police officer until he turned his attention towards acting after taking a drama class in college
  • Studied police science at Los Angeles Valley College
  • Quote: "[On auditioning for casting directors] "My job is to create a compelling, interesting character․ I’m thinking ‘how can I help [the people in the room] solve their problem?’ It is not to get something from them․ If they feel need, you’re dead․""
  • Quote: "[On his acting career] "You know, this business is pure luck․ It truly is․ There is a tangible amount of luck that is necessary for a successful career, and the only way that luck happens is if you're prepared for it and you stick with it․ ""
  • Produced the 2015 Broadway play "Finding Neverland․"
  • Spent two years on a cross-country motorcyle trip before deciding to become an actor

Awards

  • 1998OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1999Best of the Fest-Drama: winner
  • 2000Audience Award-: winner
  • 2001OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2001TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Comedy: nominated
  • 2002OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2002Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2003Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2003OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2004OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2004Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2004Young Artist Award-Most Popular Mom & Pop in a Television Series: nominated
  • 2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2008INOCA TV-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2008OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2008Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama: winner
  • 2009Saturn Award-Best Actor on Television: nominated
  • 2009Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor: winner
  • 2009INOCA TV-Best Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2009OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2009Prism Award-Performance in a Drama Multi-Episode Storyline: nominated
  • 2009Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama: winner
  • 2009TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: winner
  • 2010Saturn Award-Best Actor on Television: nominated
  • 2010Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Supporting Actor of the Decade: nominated
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor of the Decade: nominated
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2010IGN Award-Best TV Actor: nominated
  • 2010INOCA TV-Best Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2010OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2010Prism Award-Performance in a Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline: nominated
  • 2010Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama: winner
  • 2010TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: nominated
  • 2011Saturn Award-Best Actor on Television: nominated
  • 2011Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2011Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 2011IGN Award-Best TV Actor: winner
  • 2011IGN People's Choice Award-Best TV Actor: winner
  • 2011PFCS Award-Best Ensemble Acting: nominated
  • 2011Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama: nominated
  • 2012Saturn Award-Best Actor on Television: winner
  • 2012Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
  • 2012BTVA Special/DVD Voice Acting Award-Best Male Vocal Performance in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short: winner
  • 2012Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2012Dorian Award-TV Performance of the Year: nominated
  • 2012Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor: winner
  • 2012Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 2012Hollywood Film Award-Ensemble of the Year: winner
  • 2012IGN Award-Best TV Actor: nominated
  • 2012INOCA TV-Best Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2012IOFCP Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2012OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2012OFTA Television Award-Best Direction in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012PFCS Award-Best Ensemble Acting: nominated
  • 2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012SDFCS Award-Best Ensemble Performance: nominated
  • 2012Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama: nominated
  • 2012TV Guide Award-Favorite Actor: nominated
  • 2012TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: nominated
  • 2013Saturn Award-Best Actor on Television: winner
  • 2013Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2013Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: winner
  • 2013BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film: nominated
  • 2013COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
  • 2013Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2013DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2013Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2013Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor: winner
  • 2013Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 2013IGN People's Choice Award-Best TV Actor: winner
  • 2013IGN Award-Best TV Actor: winner
  • 2013INOCA TV-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013Golden Nymph-Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2013OFTA Television Award-Best Direction in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2013OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2013OFTA Television Award-Best Direction in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: nominated
  • 2013Ensemble Cast Award-: winner
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013TV Guide Award-Favorite Actor: nominated
  • 2013TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: nominated
  • 2014Saturn Award-Best Actor on Television: nominated
  • 2014Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2014Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2014Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2014DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2014DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series: nominated
  • 2014Dorian Award-TV Performance of the Year - Actor: nominated
  • 2014Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Lead Actor: winner
  • 2014Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: winner
  • 2014INOCA TV-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2014OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2014OFTA Television Award-Best Direction in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2014PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: winner
  • 2014People's Choice Award-Favorite TV Anti-Hero: nominated
  • 2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
  • 2014Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama: winner
  • 2014TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: nominated
  • 2015AFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2015FFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2015KCFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2015PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: winner
  • 2015PCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2015PFCS Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2015SDFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2015SFFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2015SEFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2015WFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2016Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2016Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2016Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2016Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2016BAFTA Film Award-Best Leading Actor: nominated
  • 2016Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2016Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actor in a Movie Made for Television or Limited Series: nominated
  • 2016DFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2016Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2016Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 2016HFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2016IFJA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2016IFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2016IFTA Award-Best International Actor: nominated
  • 2016NCFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2016OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Limited Series: nominated
  • 2016Spotlight Award-: winner
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Television Movie: nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie: nominated
  • 2016TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: nominated
  • 2017Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: winner
  • 2017Días de Cine Award-Best Foreign Actor: nominated
  • 2017Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2017NTFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2017Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 2017The BAM Award-Best Cast: nominated
  • 2018Saturn Award-Best Guest Performance in a Television Series: nominated
  • 2018IFJA Award-Best Vocal/Motion Capture Performance: nominated
  • 2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2018WAFCA Award-Best Voice Performance: winner
  • 2019Annie-Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production: winner
  • 2019UZETA Award-Best Performance in an Animation or a Video Game: nominated
  • 2019Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Actor of the Decade: winner
  • 2019HFCS Award-Best Vocal/Motion Capture Performance: winner
  • 2019LEJA Award-Best Voice or Motion Capture Performance: nominated
  • 2019OFTA Film Award-Best Voice-Over Performance: nominated
  • 2021Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2021HCA Award-Best Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie: nominated
  • 2021Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Miniseries & Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2023Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actor: nominated
  • 2023Golden Panda Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role for a Television Series: nominated
  • 2023OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2024Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actor - Television: winner
  • 2024Astra TV Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2025Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Guest Actor: nominated
  • 2025OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2025OFTA TV Hall of Fame-Character: winner
  • 2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: winner