BREAKING Bad is considered among the great TV series of all time – and it’s approaching 10 years since its explosive ending.
The drama followed cancer-addled Walter White’s transformation from nerdy science teacher to ‘Heisenberg’ – a crystal meth cook with a bustling drug empire.
InstagramBryan Cranston recently reunited with Dean Norris at his cafe[/caption]
The original series, which finished in 2013, collectively won 92 of 248 awards – landing it in the Guinness World Records books as the most critically acclaimed show.
Recently fans were thrilled by a mini-reunion between stars Bryan Cranston and Dean Norris, who played Walter and his DEA agent brother-in-law Frank Schrader.
TV star Bryan was branded “unrecognisable” due to his bushy beard in a snap at The Swing Inn, which is owned by Dean, on Instagram.
Moving into the world of hospitality isn’t the only surprise from the Breaking Bad cast – from health scares to embarrassing gaffes, we reveal what happened next.
Boozy side hustle
Bryan won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Walter White
Lead actor Bryan’s unforgettable performance as Walter White earned him one Golden Globe and four Emmys.
After that it was theatre productions All The Way and Network which earned him two Tony Awards and other nominations.
He also created and starred in the Amazon Prime series Sneaky Pete, which lasted three seasons, and showed off his comedic talent in Curb Your Enthusiasm, How I Met Your Mother, Robot Chicken and Family Guy.
Breaking Bad fans were thrilled to see him reprise Walter in the 2019 spin-off film El Camino and the final season of Better Call Saul this year.
In a surprise move back in 2017, Bryan and co-star Aaron Paul co-founded a mezcal company named Dos Hombres, meaning ‘two men’. The alcoholic spirit is made from types of agave.
Away from business Bryan, 66, has been a vocal advocate of the #MeToo campaign and denounced some of the alleged perpetrators.
In 2017 he told CBC Radio Canada: “I know Harvey Weinstein, I know Louis CK, I know Charlie Rose, I was acquaintances with Kevin Spacey, didn’t know him well.
“I’m just flabbergasted by their inhumanity, of how they behaved and how they treated others with such disrespect… It’s predatory, and disgusting.”
But Bryan held out hope for the future, adding: “The structure is breaking down… Good, let it crumble, let it completely crumble.”
Surprising name change
Aaron Paul is now a dad of two
Landing the role of Jesse Pinkman made Aaron Paul one of the most in-demand actors of the time and scores of awards.
He went on to voice Todd Chavez/Henry Fondle in BoJack Horseman and bagged parts in the films Need For Speed, Central Intelligence and Exodus: God And Kings.
Aaron, now 43, also had roles in The Path, Truth Be Told and Westworld – and reprised his Breaking Bad character in El Camino and Better Call Saul.
He’s since welcomed two kids – Story Annabelle, now four, and Ryden Caspian, in April, with his wife of 11 years, Lauren Parsekian.
A couple of years ago Aaron surprised fans by revealing he hadn’t owned a computer in 10 years and has a very basic mobile phone with no camera, email or texting facility or apps.
In November it was reported Aaron was legally changing his last name from Sturtevant to his stage name Paul – and his wife and kids will all take that surname too.
Earlier this year he was pictured chilling on the beach in Whitstable, Kent.
‘Death threat’
Anna played Walter’s wife Skyler in the show
Anna Gunn played Walter’s loving wife Skyler, who later turned on him after discovering his criminal wrongdoing.
While Breaking Bad was a hit, in real life she faced backlash from some fans for character’s behaviour, with one branding her a “b***h” at a Q&A.
In a New York Times op-ed, Anna claimed she experienced “extreme sexism” and had to call the police after one fan made a death threat and tried to find her address.
Despite her struggles the mum-of-two, 54, land main roles in Grace Point and parts in The Mindy Project, Portlandia and Criminal Minds.
Anna has also starred alongside Hollywood big-hitter Tom Hanks in the 2016 movie Sully and with Jennifer Lopez on Shades Of Blue.
Runs a cafe
Dean recently reunited with Walter
Prior to playing DEA agent Hank, Dean Norris had a string of bit parts behind him in Lethal Weapon 2, Total Recall, Terminator 2 and Starship Troopers.
Since the show he’s appeared in spin-off Better Call Saul, played a mob boss in Claws and had recurring roles in shows including Scandal and Big Bang Theory.
In 2018 the actor, 59, found himself in the midst of a Twitter storm when he tweeted “sex gifs” – which provoked a series of mocking responses from fans.
A year later Dean launched his own beer company Schraderbräu – based on his character Hank’s homebrew – and also owns a cafe called the Swing Inn.
Runway model
RJ Mitte has had a successful modelling career
Walter Jr was a much-loved character on Breaking Bad and like his character, RJ Mitte also has cerebral palsy but does not need crutches to walk.
It appears he was a hit with the ladies on set with director Vince Gilligan describing him as “like cat-nip” – and the actor admitted: “I’ve never had any trouble getting girls.”
The 30-year-old has continued to act but has also modelled for Gap, walked a Vivienne Westwood runway, and was a Channel 4 presenter during the 2016 Rio Summer Paralympics.
Mini heart attack
Bob Odendirk landed his own spin-off show
Saul Goodman was the crooked lawyer known for his cheesy advertisements and skill in finding loopholes to get Jesse and Walt out of tricky situations.
After Breaking Bad actor Bob Odendirk, 60, landed his own spin-off Better Call Saul, which focussed on the character’s transition from good guy James McGill to ‘Saul’.
He earned an Emmy for his role in the six-season drama, which came to an end this year, as well as nominations for a Golden Globe three years in a row.
While he received high-praise, Bob admitted he’s lucky to be alive after suffering a mini heart attack while filming the final season last year and needed resuscitation and a defibrillator to save him.
The actor also courted controversy after Netflix removed an episode of his comedy show W/ Bob & Dave for featuring blackface.
And he was mocked online for following a foot fetish page on Instagram.
Away from the Breaking Bad universe, he’s had parts in Fargo, The Disaster Artist, Incredibles 2, and The Simpsons as well as a number of writing credits.
Married Hollywood star
Jesse is now married to Kirsten Dunst
Jesse Plemons played the hapless crook Todd Alquist in Breaking Bad and since the show has landed bigger roles.
They include The Irishman, Black Mass, Black Mirror, The Power Of The Dog and Fargo, where he met future wife Kirsten Dunst, who he married in July.
In a touching interview with Net-A-Porter, the Spiderman actress confessed she “knew he was going to be my soulmate” as soon as she met him and “knew he would be in my life forever”.
Father-of-two Jesse, 34, was also in the running for the lead part Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and made it to the final four before being beaten by Brit John Boyega.
Nearly became a priest
Giancarlo Esposito nearly enrolled as a priest due to his Catholic upbringing
Few could forget the explosive ending to drug lord Gus Fing’s time in Breaking Bad, which earned actor Giancarlo Esposito a Critics Choice award and three Emmy nominations.
Since then, he appeared in Better Call Saul, as well as popular TV shows Once Upon A Time, Westworld, The Boys and The Mandalorian.
The actor, 64, also landed film roles in Okja, Money Monster, The Jungle Book and the Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials.
Recently, father-of-four Giancarlo admitted he nearly didn’t become an actor and nearly enrolled as a priest due to his Catholic upbringing.
Devastating house fire
Jonathan Banks suffered a devastating house fire in 2018
Jonathan Banks played private investigator and hitman Mike Ehrmantraut in Breaking Bad – but it wasn’t until Better Call Saul that his character was fully developed.
The tough guy earned four Emmy nominations in the follow-on series and also appeared in flashbacks for the film El Camino.
Since then the 75-year-old has voiced roles in Disney’s Tangled TV series, Skylanders Academy, Incredibles 2 and Gravity Falls.
In 2018, tragedy struck father-of-three Jonathan when his house was among 1,643 buildings burned down by the Woolsey Fire in Los Angeles, that claimed three lives.
Suits spin-off
Betsy Brandt appeared in the Suits spin-off Pearson
Playing the extremely unlikely Marie Schrader was the only challenge for Betsy Brandt in Breaking Bad, as during season two in 2008, she gave birth to her second child.
Since the show, she’s appeared in the Suits spin-off Pearson, Life In Pieces, Parenthood, Masters Of Sex and The Michael J Fox Show.
The actress also landed a main part in Members Only and sitcom Jefferies, both of which appear to have been canned.
Betsy admitted in 2020 she’s never watched Breaking Bad’s most acclaimed episode – Ozymandias – from its final season.