Dean Norris added that in the years between "Wiseguy" and "Breaking Bad," Jonathan Banks didn't pop up much on his radar. "And then I didn't see him much, and then he shows up on the 'Breaking Bad' set," Norris said. "And I'm like, 'That's the guy I saw 25 years ago,' and I told him that. He was [pleased]. You know, he's a gruff old guy. He doesn't show much. But [he's] a sweet guy."
In the interview, Norris also had high praise for the influence and work ethic of another co-star, six-time Emmy winner Bryan Cranston. "I have called and will still call Bryan in the future if I have any professional choices to make," Norris said. "He was the guy who talked me into taking the part, and I see how he led the cast by example: never late, always the first one out there ... There's not a split second when he wasn't completely present — every second onscreen was important. He never stopped thinking about how to make a scene better, no matter whose scene it is."
The pedigree and professionalism the cast of "Breaking Bad" brought to the series is evident in every one of its 62 magnificent episodes, making it the enduring masterpiece it remains today, nearly a decade after it wrapped. And, of course, Dean Norris and his incredible portrayal of Hank Schrader are forever part of that undisputed legacy.
