Bryan Lee Cranston (born March 7, 1956) is a highly acclaimed American actor celebrated for his remarkable versatility across comedic and dramatic roles on stage and screen, having earned seven Primetime Emmy Awards and two Tony Awards. He first gained widespread recognition as the eccentric father Hal in the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006). Cranston achieved global stardom and critical acclaim for his transformative, four-time Emmy-winning performance as chemistry teacher-turned-drug lord Walter White in AMC's iconic crime drama Breaking Bad (2008–2013).
His theatrical career is equally distinguished, with Tony Awards for portraying President Lyndon B. Johnson in the Broadway play All the Way (2014) and for his role in Network. On the big screen, Cranston received Academy Award and BAFTA nominations for his powerful depiction of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo in the 2015 film Trumbo, alongside appearances in notable movies like Saving Private Ryan, Argo, and Godzilla.