Bryan Cranston’s first acting job was on the 80s cops with bikes series CHiPS in an episode called Return to Death’s Door, an odd foreshadowing of what would become his defining role as Walter White in AMC’s small screen sensation Breaking Bad.
As this is the internet you can, of course, watch his small screen debut on YouTube here and here’s a picture of the actor as he is arrested by the California Highway’s finest after speeding through with his girlfried in a car with an inflatable giraffe in the back.
I know.
Even if you watch the whole episode it still makes no sense.
You only need to look at this comment from MrXBob posted to our recent post revealing on a new character poster from Argo which featured the actor to see the high regard he is held in,
Didn’t care about this movie until I saw this. Had no idea he was in it, will have to check it out now!
It’s true that the actor’s popularity and cultural presence has grown exponentially in recent years, with Breaking Bad giving him the opportunity to showcase his talent. From playing one of the leads in The Santa Claus Brothers to Emmy success and roles from indie sensations (his turn as Shannon in Drive was pitch-perfect) to the money spinning blockbusters (this summer’s Total Recall and Rock of Ages are two pertinent examples) in just over a decade is quite something.
All it takes is the right role and with Walter White and the long suffering Hal in Malcolm in the Middle Cranston has two prime time opportunities to work with. To celebrate the release of the DVD box sets from both series (not CHiPS I’m afraid) we’ve got a gallery and exclusive clip from Season 4 of Breaking Bad to sate your Cranstonian appetite.
Both Malcolm in the Middle: The Complete First Season and Breaking Bad: Season 4 are out now.
