As I delve into the captivating lives of these extraordinary individuals who brought Breaking Bad to life, it’s quite evident that their journeys have been as intriguing and transformative as the show itself.
Without a doubt, “Breaking Bad” stands among the most acclaimed television series in recent times. Its engaging plotlines, exceptional scriptwriting, and satisfying conclusion make it a model for other notable TV productions (cough, cough, “Game of Thrones”). One key factor behind its widespread praise from critics and viewers alike was its captivating characters and the exceptional acting skills of those who brought them to life on AMC.
As a devoted fan, I’ve witnessed the remarkable transformation of characters in the five-season journey of “Breaking Bad.” The choices and actions of these characters reshaped them, captivating audiences and turning actors like Aaron Paul, Jesse Plemons, and Bryan Cranston into household names. Moreover, their performances catapulted some to unprecedented heights. Being a part of such an iconic series, it’s no wonder that many “Breaking Bad” cast members have continued to thrive in the world of movies and television post-show. Here’s a glimpse into where they’ve been since the series ended.
Matt Jones – Badger
Although Brandon Mayhew, known as Badger on the show “Breaking Bad”, appears throughout all five seasons, he is not a primary cast member. Instead, he assumes an essential role in the series, being one of Jesse Pinkman’s closest companions. Initially, Badger can be seen working as a human advertisement, but he swiftly joins Jesse’s criminal activities with minimal convincing. As the story progresses, Badger participates in cooking meth and functions as a dealer for the Heisenberg operation. In the series finale of “Breaking Bad”, Badger assists Walter White in deceiving Elliott and Gretchen Schwartz by making them believe they are under surveillance by hired guns.
2019 saw Matt Jones reappear as Badger in the film “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Sequel,” where his character aided Jesse in escaping the authorities after the series’ final massacre on AMC. He has consistently been a main cast member on the sitcom “Mom” as Baxter, and played Douglas Wheeler in the television series “Bob Hearts Abishola.” More recently, Jones has given voice to a character in the animated comedy series “Hamster & Gretel,” and portrayed Wedge across several installments of the “Final Fantasy VII” video games.
Laura Fraser – Lydia Rodarte-Quayle
Scottish actress Laura Fraser joined the “Breaking Bad” series somewhat later. She debuted during the fifth season, playing Lydia Rodarte-Quayle, an associate of Gus Fring and a crucial part of his drug organization. At Madrigal Electromotive, she exploited her position to provide methylamine to Walter White, Jesse Pinkman, and Mike Ehrmantraut. Cold-blooded and merciless, Lydia was ready to betray anyone for her own survival. However, this trait ultimately led to her downfall. In the end, Walt murdered Lydia by poisoning her with ricin when he returned to Albuquerque.
Similar to other characters who reappeared in “Better Call Saul”, Lydia is featured in the prequel series as she collaborates with Gus on his drug empire. Apart from her roles within the “Breaking Bad” series, Fraser has been seen in 13 episodes of “Black Box”, along with guest-starring on shows such as “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Houdini and Doyle”. In her homeland, U.K., she portrayed Eve Stone in eight episodes of the 2016 drama series “The Missing” and participated in an episode of “Doctor Who” in 2020. More recently, Fraser has appeared in multiple episodes of “The Pact”, “Crime”, and “Traces”.
Jesse Plemons – Todd Alquist
Jesse Plemons portrays Todd Alquist, a character in “Breaking Bad” whom fans find irredeemable. In the series, Todd gets acquainted with Walt, Jesse, and Mike through his job at Vamonos Pest, where he helps them establish temporary meth labs in unsuspecting households. His involvement in the criminal enterprise deepens due to his ties to his uncle Jack Welker’s white supremacist group. Over time, Todd captures Jesse and assumes the role of cooking Walt’s signature blue meth. Unfortunately, Todd meets his end at the hands of both Jesse and Walt before he can fully enjoy his new position.
In 2019, Plemons reappeared in the franchise for the movie “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Sequel,” where his character was shown through a sequence of flashbacks. You might recognize Plemons from other works such as “Bridge of Spies,” “The Irishman,” and “Killers of the Flower Moon.” His exceptional acting in 2022’s “The Power of the Dog” earned him an Oscar nomination. On television, he played the lead character Ed Blumquist during season 2 of “Fargo,” a role that garnered him a Primetime Emmy nod. He received his second Emmy nomination for his performance in the “USS Callister” episode of “Black Mirror” in 2018, with a third nomination coming for his part in the critically acclaimed HBO miniseries “Love & Death” in 2023.
Charles Baker – Skinny Pete
In “Breaking Bad,” Skinny Pete, portrayed by Charles Baker, is a humorous and dramatic character alongside Badger and Saul Goodman. A friend of Jesse, Skinny Pete often appears with Jesse and Walter White throughout the series in every season, mostly avoiding trouble. His antics range from dealing meth to pretending to be an assassin.
If you’ve been curious about where Skinny Pete from “Breaking Bad” ended up, let us fill you in. Besides reprising his character from “Breaking Bad” in the movie “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Story,” Baker has continued to act, landing recurring roles on shows like “The Blacklist,” and making appearances on “Perry Mason,” “Mayor of Kingstown,” and “The Mandalorian.” Additionally, you might have seen him in movies such as “Approaching the Unknown” and “Alterscape.” Upcoming projects for Baker include appearing in Kevin Costner’s “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2.
Giancarlo Esposito – Gus Fring
Giancarlo Esposito joined “Breaking Bad” near the end of the second season as Gustavo Fring. The character emerges as the main antagonist of the series up until his demise at the hands of Walter. On the surface, Fring is a calm figure and respected businessman. However, he uses his apparently legitimate businesses, such as Los Pollos Hermanos, as a front for his criminal drug empire. Initially, he works alongside the Mexican cartel but instigates a bloody coup to take over the drug trade in the Southwestern United States and cement himself as the most powerful kingpin in the series.
Jonny Lee Miller revisited the universe of “Breaking Bad” for the spin-off series “Better Call Saul,” where his character’s journey to prominence is explored and additional insights into the villain are provided. His exceptional acting in the show garnered him two Primetime Emmy Award nominations and a Critics Choice Award victory. The actor was nominated twice for best supporting actor for his portrayal of Moff Gideon on “The Mandalorian,” and has since been seen in shows like “Parish,” “The Boys,” and “The Gentlemen.” Miller is expected to feature in “Captain America: Brave New World” in 2025, with whispers suggesting he will take on the role of veteran mercenary George Washington Bridge.
Jonathan Banks – Mike Ehrmantraut
In the final episode of “Breaking Bad’s” second season, character Mike Ehrmantraut, portrayed by Jonathan Banks, makes his first appearance. He seems to be a troubleshooter for the criminal underworld, assigned by Saul Goodman to clear up Jesse’s apartment following Jane’s unfortunate death by vomit inhalation. As the story unfolds, it is disclosed that Mike is in fact the trusted aide of Gustavo Fring, overseeing security for his Albuquerque-based criminal enterprise. Prior to his demise in Season 5, Mike collaborates with Jesse and Walt following Gus’s passing.
Banks returned for both “Better Call Saul” and “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie,” winning praise for his performances in both. He was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards for “Better Call Saul,” adding to the earlier nomination he had for “Breaking Bad.” Since saying goodbye to Mike, Banks has voiced characters in “Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur” and “Kite Man: Hell Yeah!” In 2024, he played the characters Bud and Henry Caldera in the Apple TV+ science fiction series “Constellation,” starring alongside Noomi Rapace and James D’Arcy.
Steven Michael Quezada – Steven Gomez
Steven Michael Quezada portrays a recurring character on “Breaking Bad,” namely, DEA agent Steve Gomez. This character maintains a close professional relationship with Hank Schrader, often working alongside him as partners at the DEA. They collaborate extensively on the Heisenberg case. Steve’s role becomes crucial as he confronts the Mexican cartel and gradually discovers Gustavo Fring’s hidden drug empire. Tragically, his character meets his end during the occurrences of “Ozymandias,” caught in a gunfight with Jack Welker’s group.
I’m a big fan who can’t get enough of “Better Call Saul,” but even among some recurring characters, Hector Salamanca, or “Tio” as we know him, only made brief appearances in two episodes of the prequel series – specifically during the fifth season where he interrogated Krazy-8. Since then, this iconic character has graced our screens on shows like “Roswell, New Mexico” and “Magnum P.I.”, and movies such as “3 from Hell,” “Wish Man,” and the 2023 erotic thriller “Strange Darling.” On a lighter note, he also has a comedy special available on Amazon Prime. Lastly, his political career is impressive too, serving as the Chair of the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Bob Odenkirk – Saul Goodman
In the second season of “Breaking Bad,” Bob Odenkirk entered as a beloved character named Saul Goodman (later revealed to be Jimmy McGill). This character is a lawyer who isn’t shy about associating with criminals, assisting them in covering their tracks and avoiding law enforcement. Together with Walter and Jesse, Saul plays a crucial role in their drug operation by guiding them on maneuvering the criminal landscape and laundering money. As the DEA begins to tighten the noose around Walter and his associates, Saul slips away and relocates to Omaha, Nebraska.
Odenkirk took up a starring role in the “Breaking Bad” prequel “Better Call Saul,” which charts Jimmy’s rise from a small-time scammer to the unscrupulous Albuquerque criminal lawyer. The actor and comedian was nominated for over a dozen Primetime Emmy Awards for his work in “Better Call Saul,” and he won a Critics Choice Award for the show. Odenkirk suffered a serious heart attack while filming “Better Call Saul” in 2021 that required surgery to save his life. He starred in the hit action film “Nobody” that same year, and in 2023, he took on the lead role in the dark comedy series “Lucky Hank.” He also made a guest appearance in “The Bear” in 2023, which led to another Primetime Emmy nomination.
RJ Mitte – Walter White Jr.
As a gamer, I find myself often reflecting on my character in “Breaking Bad” – Walter White Jr., son of Walter and Skyler White. Portrayed by RJ Mitte, my character struggles with cerebral palsy, which makes communication and movement challenging. In the early episodes, I may seem indifferent towards my parents, but when my dad gets diagnosed with cancer, it hits me hard. I do everything in my power to help him, pushing him to seek treatment. Later on, I stand by my mom’s side after discovering my father’s criminal activities and his role in Hank’s death.
After his time on “Breaking Bad” ended, Aaron Paul has continued to act in television and films. For instance, he played Mind Master in various episodes of “The Guardians of Justice” on Netflix, and landed a recurring role in the upcoming animated series “HCBS Final Rule: The Animated Series,” where he portrays Lorenzo. Apart from his screen work, Paul has been actively involved with charities that focus on cerebral palsy, a condition he was diagnosed with as a child. He’s also appeared in ad campaigns for GAP and modeled for Vivienne Westwood. In 2016, he joined the team that presented the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, as part of British broadcaster Channel 4’s coverage.
Dean Norris – Hank Schrader
Throughout the series “Breaking Bad”, Dean Norris portrays Hank Schrader, a DEA agent who is Walter White’s brother-in-law. He appears from the start of the show and plays an important role by accidentally reconnecting Walter with Jesse Pinkman during a drug bust outing. Despite coming off as fearless and arrogant, Hank harbors several insecurities and develops PTSD following some gruesome deaths he witnesses. During the series run until the Season 5 episode “Ozymandias”, Hank investigates Heisenberg (Walter White’s alter ego) and eventually uncovers his true identity. This revelation proves fatal for Hank.
Following the conclusion of his time on “Breaking Bad”, Norris found himself starring in the CBS sci-fi horror series “Under the Dome”, which was based on a Stephen King novel. Throughout its three seasons, he portrayed town councilman and used-car dealer Big Jim. Subsequently, Norris landed a principal role in the TNT comedy series “Claws” as Clay Husser, and later played Art Dugan in “United States of Al” on CBS. In cinematic appearances, Norris can be seen in “The Book of Henry”, “Death Wish”, and “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark”.
Betsy Brandt – Marie Schrader
Marie Schrader, played by Betsy Brandt, takes on the role of Hank’s wife and Skyler’s sister, finding herself caught in the White family turmoil as Walter’s actions progressively affect their private lives. Often appearing snobbish and superficial, Marie holds a job as a radiologic technologist and struggles with compulsive shoplifting. Despite these flaws, she harbors a strong affection for her family and demonstrates concern for Hank when he suffers a serious injury.
As a gamer, I stepped back into the spotlight for a quick role in the “Better Call Saul” finale, which marked my last hurrah as Marie. Before that, I was all set to play a significant character on ABC’s “Members Only,” but unfortunately, the show never saw daylight. Later on, I became part of the hilarious cast of “Life in Pieces” on CBS, sharing screen time with stars like Colin Hanks and Zoe Lister-Jones. Over the course of 79 episodes, I portrayed Heather Hughes, the spouse of Dr. Tim Hughes, played by Dan Bakkedahl. Other memorable roles include appearances on “Love, Victor,” “Run Sweetheart Run,” and “The Valet.
Anna Gunn – Skyler White
Despite Skyler White, portrayed by Anna Gunn in “Breaking Bad,” being one of the most criticized characters, this didn’t hinder her from receiving multiple significant award nominations and victories for her acting roles. Throughout the series, she is depicted as Walter’s wife, who remains oblivious to his criminal acts for a considerable period. Upon learning the truth about her husband’s illicit activities, Skyler expresses disgust but continues to stay with him, mainly due to concerns for their two children. The series concludes with Skyler adapting to a new life following a deal she makes with federal prosecutors.
Following her stint on “Breaking Bad”, Gunn went on to act in various films such as “Equity” and “Sully”. In 2019, she played Martha Bullock again, this time in the movie “Deadwood”, a role she originated from the TV series. More recently, she has been seen in both “Land of Dreams” and “The Apology”. On television, she has had recurring and guest appearances on shows like “Shades of Blue”, “Most Dangerous Game”, and the Apple TV+ series starring Colin Farrell, “Sugar”.
Aaron Paul – Jesse Pinkman
Among Aaron Paul’s numerous impressive performances, he is most famously recognized for embodying Jesse Pinkman in “Breaking Bad.” Initially Walt’s student and a chronic small-time drug dealer and user, Jesse plays a significant role in prompting “Mr. White” to manufacture meth. The duo, though unpredictable and chaotic, prove to be profitable and eventually, Jesse becomes as skilled at cooking meth as his mentor by the series finale. However, his criminal activities and drug abuse take a heavy toll on him, causing him to lose many loved ones.
In a subsequent film titled “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie,” Aaron Paul resumed his role, portraying efforts to evade law enforcement and make an escape towards Alaska after the series finale of “Breaking Bad.” He’s also lent his voice for the character Todd Chavez in the animated Netflix series “Bojack Horseman” and has graced the screens in films including “Need for Speed,” “Central Intelligence,” and “American Woman.” Lately, Aaron Paul starred as Caleb Nichols in “Westworld” and played a leading role in the “Black Mirror” episode “Beyond the Sea,” released in 2023. Additionally, he collaborated with his ex-costar Bryan Cranston to establish a mezcal brand called Dos Hombres.
Bryan Cranston – Walter White
Previously recognized primarily for his comedic roles in series like “Malcolm in the Middle,” Bryan Cranston transformed into a powerful dramatic presence with his portrayal of Walter White in “Breaking Bad.” After learning he had cancer, this high school chemistry teacher took up cooking and selling meth, eventually rising to become one of America’s most notorious drug lords. Initially appearing as a meek and reticent individual, Walter revealed a cold-blooded and cunning side, engaging in murder and brutally asserting his role as the enigmatic Heisenberg. The character met his end at the close of the final episode, an ending that Cranston described as fitting.
Since gaining recognition from crime dramas, Bryan Cranston has gone on to work in numerous TV shows and films. He was nominated for an Oscar following his role in “Trumbo” (2016), and later starred in “The Infiltrator,” “The Upside,” and Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City.” Alongside David Shore, Cranston co-created the series “Sneaky Pete,” and played a significant role in the show “Your Honor” from 2020 to 2023. As a voice actor, he has contributed his voice to characters in “Isle of Dogs” and the “Kung Fu Panda” series. Cranston also garnered several awards, including a Tony Award, for his stage performance in “Network.
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2024-12-11 22:31