First published 2016
Bryan Cranston opens his memoir by recounting how acting entered his life at age seven through a United Way commercial his father directed. When his father vanished, survival replaced dreams of stardom. Cranston traces his winding path through dozens of jobs and roles, from paperboy and farmhand to security guard and dating consultant. He became a murder suspect, worked as a dock loader, and navigated relationships as lover, husband, and father. His acting career evolved from soap opera work to memorable television characters like Tim Whatley, the sadistic dentist on Seinfeld, and Hal Wilkerson, the bumbling father on Malcolm in the Middle. Cranston details his Tony-winning preparation for playing President Lyndon Johnson and explores his most famous creation, Walter White, the chemistry teacher who becomes a drug kingpin. He reveals how he accessed personal darkness to craft this unforgettable performance. The book examines creativity, devotion, and craft while addressing the challenges and benefits of talent. Cranston discusses his art with rare candor, but the memoir ultimately celebrates hard work as a transformative force.
Genres: drama, autobiography, memoir, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, rags-to-riches
Period: 20th-Century, 21st-Century
276 pages · Hardcover · Scribner