Ep 4. Bryan Cranston

Actor and director Bryan Cranston, best known for his Emmy-winning performance as Walter White in Breaking Bad, is the featured guest on this episode of Inside the Actors Studio. Host James Lipton delves deep into Cranston's career, from his early days doing commercials and voiceover work to his critically acclaimed roles on stage and screen.

Lipton begins by asking Cranston about his childhood, and the actor shares stories of growing up in California with a love of performing. He talks about his early roles in television shows like Airwolf and Murder, She Wrote, and describes the grueling audition process that landed him the part of Hal on Fox's Malcolm in the Middle.

As the conversation continues, Cranston opens up about the challenges of playing Walter White, a character who transforms from a mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher into a ruthless drug kingpin. He talks about his research process for the role and the physical and emotional toll it took on him. He also discusses his work on other projects, including his directorial debut on an episode of Malcolm in the Middle.

Throughout the interview, Lipton brings up clips from Cranston's various performances, both on screen and on stage. Cranston shares behind-the-scenes stories from his work on productions like Argo, Trumbo, and All the Way, for which he won a Tony Award for his portrayal of President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Lipton also asks about Cranston's personal life, including his journey to becoming a father later in life and his involvement in charitable organizations. The actor shares anecdotes from his family life and talks about his passion for supporting causes like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

As the interview wraps up, Lipton presents Cranston with his trademark questionnaire, asking him a series of quickfire questions about everything from his favorite swear word to the profession he'd least like to attempt. Cranston's answers are candid and humorous, revealing even more about the man behind some of the most iconic roles in contemporary television and film.

For fans of Breaking Bad and Cranston's other work, this episode offers an in-depth look at the actor's life and career. Through Lipton's thoughtful questions and Cranston's insightful responses, viewers get a rare glimpse into the mind of one of Hollywood's most talented performers.