They’re now recognised as the stars of Breaking Bad, whose finale earlier this week confirmed its status as one of the greatest TV show ever made.
But before the dark crime drama electrified blogs, newspaper columns and water-cooler conversations everywhere, just what were its stars doing?
And now it’s been put to rest after five thrilling seasons, what will its cast and creator do next?
Bryan Cranston
Bryan Cranston starred as Walter White, the meek-and-mild chemistry teacher who became a methamphetamine mastermind after he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
Cranston previously starred as harried dad Hal in TV sitcom Malcolm in the Middle and since Breaking Bad, he contributed a supporting performance in Argo, which won Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards.
He’ll next be seen in a biopic about blacklisted Hollywood screenwriter Dalton Trumbo.
Vince Gilligan
The big question was what will Breaking Bad’s creator do next?
The writer-director-producer, who scripted the Drew Barrymore film Home Fries as his Hollywood calling card, cut his teeth on The X-Files and its spin-off The Lone Gunmen.
Now the hottest ticket in Hollywood is following up Breaking Bad with… Better Call Saul, a comic-spin off centred on the show’s sleazy lawyer, Saul Goodman, played by Bob Odenkirk.
Anna Gunn
Skyler White, Walt’s strong, determined and divisive wife, was played by Anna Gunn.
Like her on-screen husband, she also appeared in Seinfeld, as well as in ER, Boston Legal, Six Feet Under, Law & Order, and played pivotal roles in Deadwood and legal television drama The Practice.
The mother-of-two’s movie experiences include Enemy Of The State, Without Evidence and Red State.
Anna’s still to announce her next project.
RJ Mitte
In real life, RJ Mitte has a mild form of cerebral palsy like his character, Walter White, Jnr (aka Flynn).
Breaking Bad was the 21-year-old actor’s first big television role, having only previously worked on Hannah Montana.
Mitte saw Breaking Bad as an opportunity to raise awareness of cerebral palsy through acting.
The youngster’s next step is an action movie called The Devil’s Ink.
Giancarlo Esposito
Giancarlo Esposito played drug kingpin – and friendly fried-chicken franchise owner – Gus Fring.
Esposito is a 55-year-old actor who actually hails from Copenhagen, Denmark. He began his career on Broadway at the age of eight.
Esposito has starred in Malcolm X, Derailed, Last Holiday and Rabbit Hole with Nicole Kidman.
Since Breaking Bad, he has taken a lead baddie role in sci-fi TV hit Revolution.
Dean Norris
Dean Norris plays hard-faced Hank Schrader, Walt’s brother-in-law and DEA agent nemesis.
A Harvard graduate and father-of-five, Norris is a seasoned actor who has appeared in The West Wing, Married with Children, NYPD Blue,The Terminator and its sequel, Gattaca, Little Miss Sunshine, Lethal Weapon and Total Recall.
He most recently took the lead role in the TV hit Under The Dome.
Betsy Brandt
Betsy plays Hank’s wife, the self-absorbed Marie Schrader.
Before the Breaking Bad phenomenon, the mother-of-two had guest roles in ,Private Practice, Boston legal, CSI, NCIS, ER, Without A Trace and Judging Amy.
Brandt has already moved onto her next project, playing Michael J. Fox’s wife in his new sitcom The Michael J. Fox Show.
Aaron Paul
Aaron Paul played Jesse Pinkman, the former student of Walter White who becomes his meth-making protégé.
He appeared as a contestant on The Price Is Right, in music videos like Korn’s Thoughtless and in TV commercials for Juicy Fruit and Vanilla Coke, before getting acting work in CSI, Big Love, ER, Bones and The X-Files.
Paul has a series of movies lined up, including the video-game adaptation Need For Speed.
