'Breaking Bad' actor calls Bryan Cranston 'father figure'

Charles Baker, who played Skinny Pete on Breaking Bad, is opening up about what made Bryan Cranston such a beloved presence on set, describing him as a genuine father figure to the cast despite playing one of television's most notorious antiheroes. 

Speaking on the Joe Vulpis Podcast, Baker, 55, reflected warmly on working alongside Cranston, 70. 

"For everybody, I think he was like a father figure. He was kind, he was funny, he was giving, very considerate, he would take the time to talk to you. He had a great sense of humor. He loved messing with people just in good ways. He didn't take himself too seriously, and he was just an easy man, is an easy man to love just because of who he is."

Baker also praised Cranston's approach to mentorship on set, noting that he offered constructive, hands-on feedback to castmates, often coaching them through specific line deliveries. 

Cranston, who won three Emmys for playing Walter White and also directed three episodes of the series, brought that same attentiveness to his work behind the camera as well.

Breaking Bad, which also starred Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, RJ Mitte, Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks and Betsy Brandt, premiered in 2008 and ran until 2013, ultimately winning 16 Primetime Emmy Awards and becoming one of the most acclaimed dramas in television history.