Aaron Paul

Aaron Paul, born Aaron Paul Sturtevant on August 27, 1979, is an American actor best known for his portrayal of Jesse Pinkman in the AMC television series Breaking Bad. His work on the show earned him three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. He later reprised the role in the Netflix follow-up film El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie and during the concluding season of the spin-off show Better Call Saul.

Paul was born premature in Emmett, Idaho, as the youngest of four children to a Baptist minister and his wife. He grew up performing in church theatrical productions and completed his education at Centennial High School in Boise, Idaho, in 1997. Shortly thereafter, he relocated to Los Angeles with his mother, driving a 1982 Toyota Corolla with $6,000 in savings. Early in his time in Los Angeles, he appeared on the game show The Price Is Right and worked as a movie theater usher at Universal Studios Hollywood.

His career began following a runner-up finish at the 1996 International Modeling and Talent Association contest, which led to managerial representation. Paul subsequently appeared in television commercials for brands including Juicy Fruit and Vanilla Coke, as well as music videos for artists such as Korn and Everlast. Before achieving wider recognition, he landed guest roles on numerous television series, including The X-Files, ER, and Criminal Minds, along with film parts in projects like K-PAX and Mission: Impossible III. He also secured a recurring role as Scott Quittman on the HBO drama series Big Love.

In 2008, Paul began starring as Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad. Although the character was initially planned to be killed off during the first season, creator Vince Gilligan altered the narrative to keep him as a central figure due to the strong dynamic between Paul and lead actor Bryan Cranston. For his performance, Paul received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning in 2010, 2012, and 2014. During this era, he also appeared in the drama Smashed, an official selection at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, and the 2009 film remake of The Last House on the Left.

Following Breaking Bad, Paul starred in several feature films, including Need for Speed, Hellion, Exodus: Gods and Kings, Eye in the Sky, and Central Intelligence. On television, he served as an executive producer and voice actor for Todd Chavez on the Netflix animated series BoJack Horseman, played Eddie Lane on the Hulu series The Path, and portrayed Caleb Nichols on the HBO science fiction series Westworld. He was also a main cast member on Apple TV+'s Truth Be Told and appeared in an episode of Black Mirror.

Paul's subsequent work includes voice acting roles in animated series such as Invincible and the 2025 video game Dispatch, as well as being cast in the third season of the series Fallout. Outside of acting, he co-founded the mezcal brand Dos Hombres with Bryan Cranston in 2019, helped raise funds for the anti-bullying organization Kind Campaign, and has supported human rights causes and asexual representation in television.