The cast of Breaking Bad is full of acclaimed actors giving fierce performances as a wide range of morally complicated characters. The series revolves around Walter White, a mild-mannered chemistry teacher who “breaks bad” and resorts to cooking meth to pay his medical bills when he’s diagnosed with lung cancer. Breaking Bad immediately set itself apart from the rest of the TV landscape with that premise. Whereas most shows are built around maintaining a status quo for an indefinite number of seasons, the storytelling of Breaking Bad was driven by change as Walt was gradually corrupted by a life of crime and transformed into a monster.
Series creator Vince Gilligan famously set out to tell the story of Mr. Chips turning into Scarface. Breaking Bad is frequently included on lists of the greatest TV shows ever made, and it even set the Guinness World Record for the most highly praised TV series. In a letter to lead actor Bryan Cranston, Anthony Hopkins wrote that his performance as Walt was “the best acting I have seen – ever,” and went on to praise the whole ensemble (via The Huffington Post). The Breaking Bad cast is indeed full of great actors, some of whom were already famous and others who were launched to stardom by the show.
Bryan Cranston As Walter White
Bryan Cranston leads the Breaking Bad cast in the role of Walter White, the chemistry teacher who becomes a meth kingpin and uncovers his dark side when he’s diagnosed with lung cancer. Cranston won four Emmy Awards for his performance in Breaking Bad and later reprised the role for brief cameos in the spinoffs El Camino and Better Call Saul. Cranston was previously best known for playing Hal in Malcolm in the Middle. He also appeared in the movies Saving Private Ryan, Drive, Argo, and Trumbo and later returned to TV to play Judge Michael Desiato in Your Honor.
Aaron Paul As Jesse Pinkman
Jesse Pinkman, Walt’s former student who becomes his partner in the meth trade, is played by Aaron Paul. The actor received three Emmys for his turn as Jesse and reprised the role as the lead character of the sequel movie El Camino. He’s also known for his TV roles as Scott Quittman in Big Love, Todd Chavez in BoJack Horseman, Eddie Lane in The Path, and Caleb Nichols in Westworld. Since rising to fame with the role of Jesse, Paul has appeared in the movies Need for Speed, Central Intelligence, and A Long Way Down.
Anna Gunn As Skyler White
Anna Gunn appeared in the Breaking Bad cast as Skyler White, wife to Walt Sr. and mother to Walt Jr. and Holly. Skyler is initially none the wiser to Walt’s drug operation but eventually gets embroiled in her husband’s business. Gunn won two consecutive Emmy Awards for her performance as Skyler. Her other regular TV roles include Martha Bullock in Deadwood, a role she reprised in the series’ movie adaptation, and Jean Ward in The Practice. Gunn has also guest-starred on such classic TV shows as Seinfeld, ER, Six Feet Under, and Law & Order.
Dean Norris As Hank Schrader
Walt’s brother-in-law, the quotable hotshot DEA agent Hank Schrader, is played by Dean Norris. The actor also reprised the role in Better Call Saul. Norris’s other TV roles include town councilman James “Big Jim” Rennie in the series adaptation of Stephen King’s Under the Dome and mob boss Clay ”Uncle Daddy” Husser in the dark comedy Claws. On the big screen, Norris played Roy Nicholls in Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Detective Kevin Raines in Eli Roth’s remake of the classic vigilante thriller Death Wish.
Betsy Brandt As Marie Schrader
Betsy Brandt appears in the Breaking Bad cast as Marie Schrader, who is Skyler’s sister and Hank’s wife. Brandt reprised the role in the series finale of Better Call Saul. Her most significant TV role outside the Breaking Bad universe is the likable Heather Hughes in Life in Pieces. Brandt also played a few recurring TV roles like Sandy in Parenthood, Barbara in Masters of Sex, and Dawn Westen in Love, Victor. Early in her acting career, she guest-starred on such iconic TV shows as JAG, Boston Legal, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
R.J. Mitte As Walter White, Jr.
Walt and Skyler’s breakfast-loving son Walt Jr. – or “Flynn,” as he prefers to be called – is played by R.J. Mitte. In the years after Breaking Bad ended, Mitte played the title character in the indie road movie Who’s Driving Doug and co-starred with Wesley Snipes in the sci-fi horror film The Recall. The actor returned to TV with the role of Campbell Bingman in nine episodes of Switched at Birth. He also appeared as a contestant on the second season of the reality competition series Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls.
Bob Odenkirk As Saul Goodman
Bob Odenkirk joined the Breaking Bad cast in season 2 with the role of Saul Goodman, Walt and Jesse’s "criminal" lawyer. Odenkirk reprised the role as the lead character of the spinoff series Better Call Saul, which fills in Saul’s backstory as a once-wayward, well-intentioned attorney named Jimmy McGill. Odenkirk got his start in comedy as a writer for Saturday Night Live and the co-host of Mr. Show with Bob and David. Since Breaking Bad revealed his dramatic abilities, Odenkirk has appeared in such films as Nebraska, The Post, and Little Women. He also played the lead role in the action thriller Nobody.
Giancarlo Esposito As Gustavo “Gus” Fring
Gustavo “Gus” Fring, the drug lord who owns the Los Pollos Hermanos fast food chain as a cover and becomes a fierce rival of Walt’s, is played by Giancarlo Esposito. The actor reprised his Breaking Bad role in Better Call Saul. Since appearing on Breaking Bad, Esposito has become a go-to actor for TV villains, playing Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian and Stan Edgar in The Boys. He has also frequently worked with Spike Lee, as in such films as Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X. Esposito earned three Emmy nominations for playing Gus.
Jonathan Banks As Mike Ehrmantraut
Jonathan Banks was introduced in Breaking Bad as stern-faced fixer Mike Ehrmantraut as a guest star in season 2, but he ended up joining the main cast from season 3 onwards. He also reprised the role in both Better Call Saul and El Camino. After playing minor roles in the 1980s action movies 48 Hrs. and Beverly Hills Cop, Banks got his breakout role as FBI Special Agent Frank McPike in the TV series Wiseguy. He later had recurring roles as Buzz Hickey in Community and William Murphy in F is for Family, and he voiced Commissioner Gordon in the video game Batman: Arkham Knight.
Breaking Bad Supporting Cast & Characters
Steven Michael Quezada as Steven Gomez: Hank’s bromantic DEA partner Steven Gomez is played by Steven Michael Quezada, who reprised the role in Better Call Saul. Quezada appeared in the Netflix noir spoof Girlfriend’s Day, alongside Breaking Bad cast mate Odenkirk, and the Rob Zombie horror film 3 from Hell.
Matt Jones as Brandon “Badger” Mayhew: Jesse’s dim-witted friend Brandon “Badger” Mayhew is played by Matt Jones, who reprised the role in El Camino. Jones is known for his turns as Baxter in Mom and Ned Dorneget in NCIS and for playing the voice role of Gunther Magnuson in Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil.
Charles Baker as Skinny Pete: Jesse’s friend with a heart of gold, Skinny Pete, is played by Charles Baker, who returned to the role for El Camino. Baker is also known for playing Newton Phillips in The Blacklist and Stanislaw Nowak in HBO’s Perry Mason reboot.
Laura Fraser as Lydia Rodarte-Quayle: Laura Fraser joined the Breaking Bad cast in its final season to play Madrigal executive Lydia Rodarte-Quayle, and she later reprised the role in Better Call Saul. Fraser is best known for her British TV roles as Door in Neverwhere and Cat MacKenzie in Lip Service.
Jesse Plemons as Todd Alquist: Todd Alquist, the petty crook who joins the crew and locks horns with Jesse, is played by Jesse Plemons, who reprised the role in El Camino. Plemons has appeared in such acclaimed movies as The Master, Bridge of Spies, and The Irishman, and he scored an Academy Award nomination for his turn in The Power of the Dog.
Tina Parker as Francesca Liddy: Saul Goodman’s receptionist Francesca Liddy is played by Tina Parker, who reprised the role throughout the run of Better Call Saul. Parker also played Fran in The Tale and Allison’s mom in Men, Women & Children.
Lavell Crawford as Huell Babineaux: Huell Babineaux, Saul’s bodyguard and one of Walt’s go-to fixers, is played by comedian Lavell Crawford, who reprised the role in Better Call Saul. He also appeared in The Ridiculous 6, and his album Comedy Vaccine was nominated for a Grammy.
Bill Burr as Patrick Kuby: Patrick Kuby, an abrasive con man who frequently runs scams for Saul, is played by standup comedian Bill Burr. He is also known for playing Migs Mayfeld on The Mandalorian and for co-creating, co-writing, and voicing the lead role of Frank Murphy on Netflix’s F is for Family. His comedy album Paper Tiger received a Grammy nomination.
Raymond Cruz as Tuco Salamanca: Walt and Jesse’s unstable distributor, Tuco Salamanca, is played by Raymond Cruz, who reprised the role in Better Call Saul. Cruz is known for playing Detective Julio Sanchez in The Closer and its spinoff, Major Crimes.
Mark Margolis as Hector Salamanca: Hector Salamanca, the former cartel enforcer who communicates with a bell, is played by Mark Margolis, who reprised the role in Better Call Saul. Margolis also played Alberto “The Shadow” in Brian De Palma's Scarface and Antonio Nappa in Oz.
Krysten Ritter as Jane Margolis: Krysten Ritter joined the Breaking Bad cast as Jane Margolis, Jesse’s landlady and later his girlfriend. She reprised the role in El Camino. Ritter is best known for her Marvel antihero role as Jessica Jones on her own Netflix series and its spinoff The Defenders.
David Costabile as Gale Boetticher: Gale Boetticher, the chemist that Gus hires to work with Walt, is played by David Costabile, who reprised the role in Better Call Saul. Costabile is known for playing newspaper editor Thomas Klebanow in The Wire, Daniel Hardman in Suits, and Mike “Wags” Wagner in Billions.
Javier Grajeda as Juan Bolsa: Juan Bolsa, the powerful cartel figure who acts as a mediator between Gus and the Salamancas, is played by Javier Grajeda in the Breaking Bad cast. Grajeda reprised the role in Better Call Saul and has also appeared in The Lincoln Lawyer and Halt and Catch Fire.
Jeremiah Bitsui as Victor: Gus’s loyal henchman Victor, who he ultimately killed is played by Jeremiah Bitsui, who reprised the role in Better Call Saul. He also played Officer Billy Harjo in Bosch and Hoski in Dark Winds and provided the voice and motion capture for Eagle Flies in the video game Red Dead Redemption 2.
Ray Campbell as Tyrus Kitt: Tyrus Kitt, an enforcer for Gus’s drug ring who often works alongside Mike, is played by Ray Campbell. The actor reprised the role in Better Call Saul and also played Kleavon Gardner in The Shield and Solomon Vick in How to Get Away with Murder.
Michael Bowen as Jack Welker: Todd’s uncle, Jack Welker, the leader of the white supremacist gang that distributes Walt’s meth, is played by Michael Bowen in the Breaking Bad cast. Bowen is best known as Danny Pickett from Lost and Buck the hospital orderly in Kill Bill: Volume 1.