An Emmy-nominated veteran of numerous television series, Bryan L. Cranston is an accomplished American actor, director and writer. Born on March 7, 1956 in San Fernando Valley, California, after he finished college he began acting for local theater productions. Bryan Cranston worked on a string of minor advertising jobs, as well as voice dubbing for Japanese anime and Saban Entertainment’s Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, even having the Blue Ranger named after him. Later on, he landed recurring roles on the sitcoms Seinfeld and The King of Queens, and also appeared in the films Saving Private Ryan and Little Miss Sunshine.

Hal Wilkerson is the father figure played by Bryan Cranston in the hit comedy Malcolm in the Middle. Initially an odd and mysterious character who seems more indecisive and laid-back than his dominant wife, he’s slowly revealed over the course of the show to have been a former troublemaker like his sons. When his wife isn’t watching him, he secretly indulges in his favorite vices ranging from gambling, loud music, smoking, roller-skating, pirate radio, and building “killer robots.” He also actually has a hot temper (though it’s rarely shown), and is scared of cartoon characters, clowns, snakes, and “evil puppets.”