There are only a select few actors who truly enthrall audiences with their exemplary talent and versatility. There is no doubt that Bryan Cranston, the renowned performer best known for his iconic portrayal of Walter White in Breaking Bad, is one of them.
His journey to stardom has been nothing short of remarkable, starting with his early work in theaters and continuing with his critically acclaimed performances on screen.
The Primetime Emmy Award-winning actor has consistently gravitated toward roles that explore human emotions throughout his illustrious career. From Hal in Malcolm in the Middle to Walter White in Breaking Bad, Cranston portrays characters that are reflections of his own journey through life.
But it was not an easy road for Cranston to succeed. In fact, when he was just seven years old, the tragic assassination of President John F. Kennedy served as a wake-up call in his early life.
Bryan Cranston Faced Reality After the JFK Assassination
The world came to a halt in 1963, when the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy (JFK), was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.
Millions of people in America were affected by the news of this tragic incident as it spread like fire. Bryan Cranston, then 7 years old, experienced a turning point in his life as a result of the unexpected loss of an American politician. At a young age, the actor experienced deep sadness, but there was a reality check that followed.
During one of his previous discussions on The Hollywood Reporter Roundtable, the actor, now 67, reflected:
“I was about 7 years old when Kennedy [John F. Kennedy] was killed, and I knew something was gravely wrong. My parents and every neighbor were weeping, and I thought I needed to pay attention. There was something going on that’s more important than me, and at 7, I got it.”
Following Kennedy’s assassination, his vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson, took over the presidency.
Cranston played the role of Johnson in 2014’s Broadway play All the Way, for which he won a Tony Award for Best Actor. He played the same role again in the 2016 HBO movie of the same name. He further added during The Hollywood Reporter Roundtable:
“It was my first breaking out of my own self centered nature and this new president was Lyndon Johnson. And then years later, I had this opportunity to play him.”
The actor, who was joined by Armie Hammer, Robert Pattinson, Diane Kruger, Margot Robbie, and Octavia Spencer, also discussed his approach to committing deeply to the role he plays on screen:
“For actors, I love the research part of it. To be able to dive in and go through a treasure chest of who knows what, and then you couple that with your imagination, text, and talent; put it all together and hope for the best.”
Bryan Cranston Is Planning A Break From Acting?
Bryan Cranston is prepared to take on a completely new role: full-time husband, after spending more than 40 years acting on stage and in films.
In an interview with British GQ, the actor—who most recently starred in Wes Anderson’s comedy-drama film Asteroid City—discussed his plans to take a break from acting and business endeavors in order to spend more time with his wife, Robin Dearden.
“I want to change the paradigm once again,. For the last 24 years, Robin has led her life holding onto my tail. She’s been the plus one, she’s been the wife of a celebrity. She’s had to pivot and adjust her life based on mine. She has tremendous benefit from it, but we’re uneven. I want to level that out. She deserves it.”
Cranston and Dearden married in 1989 after meeting on the set of Airwolf in 1984.
The couple will relocate to a foreign nation (probably France), establish themselves in a small community, and spend their days practicing their language, gardening, and cooking skills. The actor added:
“I want to have that experience. I want to go for day trips and have the fire in the fireplace and drink wine with new friends and not read scripts.”
The actor also stated that his retirement will last at least six months and he will be completely cut off from all communication:
“It’s not going to be like, ‘Oh, I’ll read and see what I’m going to do.’ No, it’s a pause. It’s a stop. I won’t be thinking about [work]. I’m not going to be taking phone calls.”
In addition to Bryan Cranston, Asteroid City also stars Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Adrien Brody, Hope Davis, Rupert Friend, Steve Carell, Hong Chau, Margot Robbie, Tony Revolori, and Jeff Goldblum, among others.
You can watch Breaking Bad on Netflix.
Source- The Hollywood Reporter Roundtable; British GQ
