One of NBC’s most successful sitcoms, Seinfeld, featured multiple actors at their comedic genius. Among the many recurring characters, actor Bryan Cranston shone the brightest with his hilarious dialogue and performance. He played the role of Tim Whatley, Jerry and Kramer’s offbeat dentist.
Remembered as one of the best guest roles of the show, he appeared in five episodes but completely stole the spotlight as soon as he showed up on screen. Recalling his short stint in the popular series, Cranston mentioned his biggest achievement was making Jerry Seinfeld laugh. The Breaking Bad actor was so good at comic timing that he had Seinfeld enamored.
A recurring role with a lasting impact: Bryan Cranston
Seinfeld was a career-defining sitcom for multiple actors and a cultural phenomenon in the 1990s. For Bryan Cranston, the show held a significant spot; though he appeared for only a handful of episodes, the impact cannot be denied. He played Tim Whatley, an unusual dentist with a charming personality.
Sitting for an interview with the Independent, the Your Honor actor recalled some of his fondest memories of being on the show. He also credited the show with helping him perfect his comedic genius, claiming it was a ‘comedy boot camp’.
They said it would get a bigger laugh that way. It’s a very delicate, very perishable thing, comedy.
Highlighting one particular incident, The Upside actor mentioned that Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David often gave him advice. For a scene they once told him to delay his lines by two seconds, to increase the effect and it worked.
Every time we had to stop taping, it was because Jerry was cracking up.
Cranston was a quick learner, his jokes and dialogue made even the comic legend, Seinfeld laugh out loud. The actor humorously claimed they had to pause filming several times because the director kept cracking up.
The moment he knew he had made it: rise to fame
Cranston is best known for his brilliant portrayal of Walter White on Breaking Bad, but he started in the industry years ago. The actor began his journey by appearing on several comedy shows, which granted him the deserved recognition. His performance in the sitcom Malcolm in the Middle got him three Emmy nominations. Eventually, he became a four-time Emmy winner due to Breaking Bad.
On Seinfeld, Cranston learned the art of comedy from the legends themselves. In the same interview, the actor was full of praise for the show-makers and their ability to create magic on screen.
Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David are like skilled surgeons with comedy. They’ll slice something up, remove a moment, or include a moment.
The Godzilla actor said he knew he made it in the comedy genre when he could make Seinfeld laugh. After the show, success came to him in the form of two more sitcoms but this time with him in the lead roles.
And if you can make Jerry laugh, you’ve really hit a home run. Right after, I got Malcolm in the Middle; my experience on Seinfeld helped me get ready for that.
Though his short role on the hit sitcom did not propel him into stardom, it did establish Cranston as a skilled comedic actor. His character wasn’t a part of the main cast, but the actor made sure all eyes were on him during his scenes. Seinfeld is currently available to watch on Netflix.
