Personal details
- Birth Date: 1979-08-27
- Height: 5′ 8″ (1.73 m)
- Birth Location: Emmett, Idaho, USA
- Children: (2 children) Story Annabelle Paul
- Parents: Darla Haynes
- Professions: Actor, Producer, Additional Crew
Aaron Paul, yeah, that’s the guy who absolutely crushed it as Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad, but his story is a little more Idaho than Hollywood glam. Born Aaron Paul Sturtevant—yeah, that’s a mouthful—in Emmett, Idaho, he grew up with a dad who was a Baptist minister and a mom named Darla. Basically, church life and small-town stuff. He got his first taste of performing in those classic church plays, which, honestly, is where a lot of actors get their start. High school in Boise was where acting really got under his skin. Eighth grade hits, and boom, he’s dreaming about making it big. Obsessed might be an understatement. He dove headfirst into the theater crowd, and the acting bug never let go. As soon as he could, Aaron packed up and headed straight for L.A.—classic move, right? Gotta chase that dream. Early days were rough, not gonna lie. He worked as an usher at Universal Studios Movie Theatre—bet he’s got stories about spilled popcorn and awkward celebrity encounters. Landing a TV gig wasn’t easy, but he managed to pop up on Beverly Hills, 90210, and Melrose Place back in the day. Not exactly starring roles, but hey, you gotta start somewhere. On the film side, he snagged a part in K-PAX as Jeff Bridges' estranged kid and showed up in Mission: Impossible III as Tom Cruise’s brother-in-law. But, let’s be real, Breaking Bad changed everything. Jesse Pinkman was supposed to be a one-season wonder, but the chemistry with Bryan Cranston? Straight fire. Vince Gilligan couldn’t let him go. Three Emmys later, and Aaron Paul was officially a legend.
Here’s a wild bit of Hollywood trivia for you: way back before Breaking Bad was even a thing, one of its future stars actually tried out for Malcolm in the Middle. Yep, the guy auditioned for Francis, the oldest brother. Imagine that alternate universe! So, he didn’t get the part, but the real kicker? Bryan Cranston, who would later play his dad (well, sort of) on Breaking Bad, was already starring as Malcolm’s dad, Hal. Small world, huh? It’s funny to think how casting could’ve changed TV history. One decision and we might’ve seen these two sharing scenes years earlier, but in a totally different vibe. Hollywood’s got this weird way of connecting people, sometimes it’s just a matter of time before the stars align. And honestly, if you’re a fan of either show, this bit’s just kind of mind-blowing. The roads that lead actors to their iconic roles are anything but straight.
Man, the first time I landed in Albuquerque for Breaking Bad, I was honestly just kinda bored out of my mind. I’d finish shooting the pilot, head back to my hotel, and, well, there wasn’t much going on. I missed the buzz of L.A., y’know? But once we started rolling for real, something switched. The city kinda crept up on me—I’m from Boise, so Albuquerque just felt like Boise’s bigger, weirder cousin. The space, the sky, the whole vibe—totally different from the L.A. chaos. You look up, and it’s just this ridiculous, endless sky, all these wild sunsets that feel like someone’s painting the world new every night. Now I can’t imagine Breaking Bad anywhere else. That place got under my skin, in all the right ways.
August 27, 1979
5′ 8″ (1.73 m)
Konidela Ram Charan
Emmett, Idaho, USA
Yes, Story Annabelle Paul
Darla Haynes and Surekha
45 years old