Bryan Cranston has revealed his plans to temporarily retire from acting for at least six months in 2026. The six-time Emmy Award-winning actor shared during an interview with British GQ that he plans to spend more time with his wife, Robin Dearden during his hiatus from Hollywood.
“I want to change the paradigm once again,” the Breaking Bad alum said. “For the last 24 years, Robin has led her life holding onto my tail. She’s been the plus one, she’s been the wife of a celebrity. She’s had to pivot and adjust her life based on mine. She has tremendous benefit from it, but we’re uneven. I want to level that out. She deserves it.”
Cranston and Dearden began dating in 1987, and married in 1989. They have a daughter together, Taylor Dearden.
When he starts his temporary retirement, the actor will close his production company, Moonshot Entertainment. He also intends to sell his portion of his mezcal company, Dos Hombres, which he co-founded with his Breaking Bad costar, Aaron Paul. Cranston said he knows he’s taking a big chance by retiring, but that he’s “used to that feeling of not knowing.”
The five-time SAG Award-winning actor added after he retires, he plans to move to a foreign country – likely France – where he’ll spend time relaxing by gardening and cooking. “I want to have that experience,” he said. “I want to go for day trips and have the fire in the fireplace and drink wine with new friends and not read scripts.”
Cranston, who will turn 70 in 2026, added: “It’s not going to be like, ‘Oh, I’ll read and see what I’m going to do.’ No, it’s a pause. It’s a stop,” he added. I won’t be thinking about (work). I’m not going to be taking phone calls.”
The actor began to garner widespread professional recognition when he starred on the hit FOX sitcom, Malcolm in the Middle, which ran for seven seasons between 2000-2006. He was nominated for three Emmys and a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Hal, the father of co-star Frankie Muniz’s titular character, on the show.
Cranston went on to garner even more acclaim for his role of Walter White on the AMC crime drama series, Breaking Bad, which he starred on from 2008-2013. During his tenure on the show, he won his Emmys, Golden Globes and three of his SAG Awards.
On the film side of his career, the actor was also nominated for an Oscar and BAFTA Award in 2016 for his performance as the eponymous screenwriter in the biographical drama, Trumbo. Dalton Trumbo was known for penning the scripts for ward-winning movies as Roman Holiday, Exodus and Spartacus.
Cranston will next appear as part of the ensemble cast of Wes Anderson’s sci-fi romantic comedy-drama, Asteroid City, which is set to be released next Friday, June 16. The actor will also star in director Matthew Vaughn’s spy action thriller Aryglle, as well as helmer Jon S. Baird’s drama Everything’s Going to Be Great.
The actor also revealed during an interview with The Independent in February that there’s a possibility that he may return to his profession for a Malcolm in the Middle reunion. He went on to share that he and the series creator, Linwood Boomer, discussed making a movie that’s based on the sitcom.
Cranston revealed the series’ creator “said he would think about it, and he got his writers together. If they can come up with a great idea, a legitimate idea, then he’ll pursue it. But if not, then nah. I don’t need a job. I’ve got plenty of jobs. I don’t need it, but I’d want it if it was a great idea.”