Dean Norris Biography

Fast Facts

• Was nominated in 2011 for a Saturn Award for his work in "Breaking Bad․"
• Graduated from Harvard University with a degree in social studies in 1985 and trained in acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts
• Is the cousin of Notre Dame sportscaster Carol Copley
• After college, he would interview for various firms on Wall Street in order to get free trips for acting auditions in New York
• Made his screen acting debut in the TV series "Beyond Our Control" in 1981
• Quote: "[on his father] "Most people would want their Harvard kid to go into investment banking or lawyering or something like that․ He wouldn't have stopped me, but he was really happy that I chose to go into this kind of business․""
• Quote: "[on being typecast as a cop] "Well, you know, if you stop in any doughnut shop, and you see three cops eating doughnuts, one of them is gonna look like me․""
• Best known for playing Hank Schrader in "Breaking Bad" and James "Big Jim" Rennie in "Under the Dome․"
• Widely recognized for his bald head and short, stocky frame and often plays characters involved with law enforcement
• Was in the same Harvard class as Conan O'Brien, Jeff Zucker and Rich Appel