Dean Norris

Famous for portraying the role of DEA agent Hank Schrader in the AMC’s, ‘Breaking Bad’, Dean Norris is an accomplished Hollywood actor who has appeared in more than 130 movies, as well as had both major and minor roles in more than 75 TV shows. He was also awarded with the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Outstanding Ensemble for Breaking Bad.

Dean Norris was born on April 8, 1963, in South Bend, Indiana, as Dean Joseph Norris. His father was a furniture shop owner, as well as a singer in a band. He was a bright student with straight A scores at Clay High School. He also became the first person in his family to go to college, and that too turned out to be the prestigious Harvard College, where he majored in Social Studies in 1985, and also worked in theatre. His dad wanted him to become an entertainer, probably walk in his footsteps, and become a singer, but Dean realised that it was acting that he had to go after. So, after graduating from Harvard, he attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

While he was at college, he visited New York and tried his luck on the Wall Street. In addition to that, he would also appear in several movie auditions. After appearing in short roles in a few movies and miniseries, he made his film debut in the 1989 action comedy, ‘Disorganised Crime’ as Deputy Joe. The same year, he appeared in the Mel Gibson starrer, ‘Lethal Weapon 2’, as Detective Tim. In 1990, he appeared as Tony, a disfigured mutant in ‘Total Recall.’ In 1991, he appeared in the science fiction, ‘Terminator 2: Judgement Day’, as a SWAT team leader. He would later go on to portray small roles in several movies.

In 1993, he appeared in three episodes of NYPD Blue as Father Jerry Downey. He would then appear in several television shows with cameo appearances in The X Files, Fallen Angels, The Pretender, VIP, etc. He also had recurring roles in Murder One and Pensacola: Wings of Gold. Along with his TV career, he continued appearing in small, as well as big roles in movies such as The Lawnmower Man, Barbarians at the Gate, Playmaker, and Seduced by Madness. His roles often showed him in an authority figure, particularly as a police officer or detective. He was also the member of the cast of the 1997 well acclaimed science fiction film, ‘Gattaca’, as a Cop on the beat. He also played the role of the Commanding Officer in the military science fiction film, ‘Starship Troopers.’

After several cameo appearances in TV shows, his first regular TV role came in the 2003 TV series, ‘Tremors.’ After more recurring and cameo roles, his second regular role in a TV series came with the AMC’s crime drama series, ‘Breaking Bad’, alongside Bryan Cranston. Dean played the role of a DEA agent, Hank Schrader, who is also the brother-in-law of the infamous Walter White, portrayed by Bryan. He was part of the series for a total of 51 episodes. His acting was greatly praised and earned him critical acclaim, and he even received a Saturn Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Bryan and Dean had also appeared before in the 2006 black comedy, ‘Little Miss Sunshine.’

Other films to his credits include Evan Almighty, The Heartbreak Kid, and The Firm. On the small screen, he has appeared in Nip/Truck, Grey’s Anatomy, Lost, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Bones, Law and Order, and CSI: NY. CBS film adaptation, ‘Under the Dome’, featured him as James Rennie, a town councilman and a used car dealer. The series earned him a Breakthrough Award for Television.

He has been married to Bridget since 2001 and lives with their 5 children near Los Angeles. He was once severely injured while he was playing soccer with his sister and has a limp since that injury. He also created a fictional show, which pokes fun at his character in Breaking Bad.