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Aaron Paul

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Not to be confused with Paul Aaron or Paul Aron.

Aaron Paul
Paul at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Aaron Paul Sturtevant

(1979-08-27) August 27, 1979 (age 45)
Emmett, Idaho, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
Years active1998–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2013)​
Children2

Aaron Paul (born Aaron Paul Sturtevant; August 27, 1979) is an American actor and producer. He is best known for portraying Jesse Pinkman in the AMC series Breaking Bad (2008–2013) and Todd Chavez in Netflix animated comedy-drama Bojack Horseman (2014-2020), Paul won several awards with Breaking Bad, including the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2014), Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries, or Television Film (2013), and Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. This made him one of only two actors to win the latter category three times (2010, 2012, 2014) since its separation into comedy and drama.[note 1] He has also won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television three times (2009, 2011, 2013), more than any other actor in that category.[1] He reprised the role of Jesse Pinkman in the 2019 Netflix film El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie and again during the final season of the spin-off series Better Call Saul in 2022.[2]

Paul began his career with roles in several music videos, guest roles in television, and minor roles in films. In 2007, he had a recurring role as Scott Quittman on the HBO series Big Love (2006–2011), and in 2009 he starred in the remake of The Last House on the Left. Following Breaking Bad, he starred in films such as Need for Speed (2014), Hellion (2014), Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014), Eye in the Sky (2015), and Central Intelligence (2016). He also voiced Todd Chavez in the Netflix animated series BoJack Horseman (2014–2020), on which he was also an executive producer, and portrayed Eddie Lane in the Hulu drama series The Path (2016–2018) and Caleb Nichols in the HBO science fiction drama series Westworld (2020–2022). In 2023, he starred as Cliff in the season 6 episode of the Netflix anthology series Black Mirror, "Beyond the Sea", for which he received praise.[3]

Early life

[edit]

Aaron Paul was born Aaron Paul Sturtevant,[4] in Emmett, Idaho,[5] on August 27, 1979,[6] the youngest of four children born to Darla (née Haynes) and Baptist minister Robert Sturtevant.[7][8] He was born a month premature in his parents' bathroom.[4] He grew up participating in church plays.[8] He graduated in 1997 from Centennial High School in Boise, Idaho,[9] after which he drove to Los Angeles in his 1982 Toyota Corolla with his mother and $6,000 in savings.[10] Soon after arriving in Los Angeles, he appeared on an episode of the CBS game show The Price Is Right, which aired on January 3, 2000. Appearing under his birth name, he played and lost his pricing game and overbid on his Showcase.[11] He also worked as a movie theater usher at Universal Studios in Hollywood.[12]

Career

[edit]
Paul at the 2009 Peabody Awards

In 1996, Paul went to Los Angeles for the International Modeling and Talent Association competition. He won runner-up and signed with a manager.[13] He starred in the music videos for Korn's song "Thoughtless" and Everlast's song "White Trash Beautiful".[14] He was also featured in television commercials for Juicy Fruit,[15] Corn Pops,[16] and Vanilla Coke.[17] He appeared in the films Whatever It Takes (2000), Help! I'm a Fish (2001), K-PAX (2001), National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002), Bad Girls From Valley High (2005), Choking Man (2006), Mission: Impossible III (2006), The Last House on the Left (2009), and Need for Speed (2014). He starred as "Weird Al" Yankovic in the Funny or Die short Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2010),[18] and has guest starred on television shows such as The Guardian, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, ER, Sleeper Cell, Veronica Mars, The X-Files, Ghost Whisperer, Criminal Minds, and Bones.

Paul and Vince Gilligan at the 2010 Saturn Awards

Paul first became known for his role as Scott Quittman on HBO's Big Love, on which he appeared fourteen times. In 2008, he began playing Jesse Pinkman on the AMC series Breaking Bad. His character was originally meant to die during the first season, but after seeing the chemistry between Paul and the lead actor Bryan Cranston, the series creator Vince Gilligan changed his mind and modified the original plans to include Jesse as a main character.[19] For his role in Breaking Bad, Paul was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014; he won the award in 2010,[20] 2012,[21] and 2014.[22]

Paul starred in the film Smashed, which was one of the official selections for the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.[23] In an October 2012 interview with ESPN, he spoke about his childhood experience as a Boise State Broncos fan and discussed the challenges of portraying a meth addict in Breaking Bad.[24] In 2012 and 2013, he made appearances on Tron: Uprising, voicing a character named Cyrus.[citation needed]

Paul at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con

In September 2013, he was featured on Zen Freeman's dance song, "Dance Bitch".[25] He made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live's 39th season opener as "meth nephew", a relative of Bobby Moynihan's popular "drunk uncle" character.[26] In 2014, Paul starred in Need for Speed, as a street racer recently released from prison who takes revenge on a wealthy business associate.[27] Paul stars alongside Juliette Lewis in the family drama Hellion, as the drunken father of two young vandals.[28] Also in 2014, he co-starred in the biblical epic Exodus: Gods and Kings, portraying the Hebrew prophet Joshua.[29]

In December 2013, Netflix announced that Paul would be a cast member on the animated series BoJack Horseman.[30] On March 3, 2014, he appeared on WWE Raw to promote Need for Speed, by entering the arena in a sports car with Dolph Ziggler, providing commentary for Ziggler's match against Alberto Del Rio, and helping Ziggler win by distracting Del Rio.[31] On September 23, 2014, it was announced that Paul would play the young Louis Drax's father who becomes the focus of a criminal investigation after his son has a near-fatal fall in an upcoming Miramax film titled The 9th Life of Louis Drax, a supernatural thriller based on a book of the same name.[32]

In 2016, Paul began playing Eddie Lane, a man who in a life crisis joins a cult but subsequently questions his faith, in the Hulu series The Path, which debuted on March 30, 2016.[33] Paul voiced the main protagonist, Nyx Ulric, in Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV, released in July 2016.

In June 2018, Paul joined the cast of the Apple TV+ crime drama series Truth Be Told, opposite Octavia Spencer and Lizzy Caplan.[34]

In September 2018, Paul joined the cast of the HBO science fiction western series Westworld for the third season,[35] portraying the character Caleb Nichols.[36]

Paul stars in the sci-fi thriller Dual alongside Karen Gillan,[37] which was filmed entirely in Tampere, Finland.[38][39]

In 2023, Paul starred in a main role in the third episode of the sixth series of Black Mirror, "Beyond the Sea".[40]

Other ventures

[edit]

In 2013, Paul helped organize a contest to raise $1.6 million for his wife's non-profit anti-bullying organization, the Kind Campaign. The winners of the contest won a trip to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery screening of the final episode of Breaking Bad.[41]

Paul has spoken positively about the asexual community, as a result of portraying the asexual character Todd Chavez on BoJack Horseman. In 2019, Paul stated that he was "so proud to represent that community... it's so nice to have a character on TV—especially on a show so powerful as BoJack—that represents a community that should be represented."[42]

In 2019, Paul and Cranston released their own line of mezcal called Dos Hombres.[43]

Filmography

[edit]
Main article: Aaron Paul filmography

Personal life

[edit]
Paul with his daughter in July 2018

Paul met actress and director Lauren Parsekian at the Coachella Festival,[44] and they became engaged in Paris on January 1, 2012.[45] They were married in a 1920s Parisian carnival-themed wedding in Malibu on May 26, 2013, with musicians Foster the People and John Mayer performing.[46] Paul emailed the song "Beauty" by The Shivers to everyone on the guest list and asked them to learn the lyrics so they could sing along during the ceremony.[10] They live in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, having sold their previous home in West Hollywood,[47] and own a second cabin-style home near McCall, Idaho.[48] They have a daughter named Story Annabelle (born February 2018)[49][50] and a son named Ryden Caspian (born April 2022).[51] Paul's Breaking Bad co-star Bryan Cranston is Ryden's godfather.[52]

In April 2013, to commemorate the final episode of Breaking Bad, Paul and Cranston got Breaking Bad tattoos on the last day of filming; Paul had the phrase "no half measures" tattooed onto his biceps, while Cranston had the show's logo tattooed onto one of his fingers.[53] In October that year, during a ceremony at the Egyptian Theatre in Boise, Idaho, Governor Butch Otter declared October 1 "Aaron Paul Sturtevant Day".[54]

Paul legally dropped his birth surname of "Sturtevant" in November 2022 so that he, his wife, and their children would all officially share the "Paul" surname.[55][56]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2009 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Breaking Bad Nominated
Saturn Award Best Supporting Actor on Television Won
2010 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Won
PRISM Award Male Performance in a Drama Series Nominated
Satellite Award Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries, or Television Film Nominated
Saturn Award Best Supporting Actor on Television Nominated
TCA Award Individual Achievement in Drama Nominated
2011 Saturn Award Best Supporting Actor on Television Won
PRISM Award Male Performance in a Drama Series Won
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated
2012 Critics' Choice Television Award Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Won
2013 Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries, or Television Film Nominated
Satellite Award Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries, or Television Film Won
Saturn Award Best Supporting Actor on Television Won
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Won
Dorian Award TV Performance of the Year – Actor Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
PRISM Award Male Performance in a Drama Series Nominated
2014 Critics' Choice Television Award Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Won
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Won
Young Hollywood Award Fan Favorite Actor – Male Nominated
2019 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Animated Program BoJack Horseman Nominated
Satellite Award Best Miniseries or Television Film El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie Won
Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Film Nominated
2020 Critics' Choice Television Award Best Movie Made for Television Won
Producers Guild of America Award Outstanding Producer of Streamed or Televised Motion Pictures Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Television Movie Nominated
Outstanding Animated Program BoJack Horseman Nominated
2021 Saturn Award Best Actor in a Film El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie Nominated

Notes

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  1. ^ Starting with the show's second season, Paul was nominated each year he was eligible, a total of five times: 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Aaron Paul". IMDb. Archived from the original on August 17, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  2. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (April 10, 2022). "'Better Call Saul': Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul Will Guest Star in Final Season". Variety. Archived from the original on April 10, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  3. ^ "Meet the cast of Black Mirror season 6". Radio Times. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Aaron Paul". TV Guide. Archived from the original on December 9, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  5. ^ "Aaron Paul". emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  6. ^ "Monitor". Entertainment Weekly. No. 1274. August 30, 2013. p. 20.
  7. ^ Gajewski, Josh (May 30, 2009). "Aaron Paul catches a couple of breaks in 'Big Love' and 'Breaking Bad'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  8. ^ a b Samadder, Rhik (October 6, 2019). "Aaron Paul: 'Breaking Bad changed my life'". The Observer. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  9. ^ Oland, Dana (September 22, 2013). "Aaron Paul's career is breaking just right". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  10. ^ a b Kahn, Howie (February 2014). "Aaron Paul: Beyond Breaking Bad". Details. Archived from the original on February 8, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  11. ^ "Aaron Paul: I Looked Like I Was on Crack During The Price Is Right". Us Weekly. February 18, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  12. ^ "It's Evening In America". Vanity Fair. May 2012. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  13. ^ Jacobs, Samantha (September 29, 2013). "Aaron Paul: 'Breaking Bad's' Secret Weapon". Neon Tommy. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  14. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (March 18, 2010). "Character and Career, Both Alive". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  15. ^ Juicy Fruit Commercial on YouTube "Breaking Bad Prequel". YouTube. Archived from the original on November 24, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link), YouTube
  16. ^ Corn Pops Commercial on YouTube "1999 Corn Pops Commercial (Aaron Paul)". YouTube. Archived from the original on March 15, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link), YouTube
  17. ^ "First Ever Vanilla Coke Commercial". October 19, 2011. Archived from the original on October 18, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2013 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story". Funny or Die. June 1, 2010. Archived from the original on July 15, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
  19. ^ "Aaron Paul: 'Breaking Bad' Dealer Isn't Dead ... Yet". NPR. September 19, 2011. Archived from the original on April 21, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  20. ^ "Emmy diary: Aaron Paul wins supporting actor". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  21. ^ "Emmy Awards 2012: Aaron Paul wins again for best supporting actor in a drama". NJ.com. September 24, 2012. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  22. ^ "Emmy Awards 2014: Wins Supporting Actor in a Drama Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  23. ^ "2012 Sundance Film Festival: First Wave of Programming Announced, 26 Films In Competition". Film School Rejects. November 30, 2011. Archived from the original on May 14, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  24. ^ Neumyer, Scott (October 16, 2012). "Aaron Paul talks new film and Boise State". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  25. ^ "'Exclusive Song Premiere: Zen freeman Dance Bitch Featuring Aaron Paul'". Artistdirect. October 1, 2013. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  26. ^ Couch, Aaron (September 28, 2013). "'SNL' Recap: Aaron Paul Steals Show in Season Opener (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  27. ^ Labrecque, Jeff (January 16, 2014). "Sundance 2014: Aaron Paul raises 'Hellion,' talks 'Need for Speed' – Exclusive Photos". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  28. ^ "'Aaron Paul's Hellion Gets US Distribution'". Variety. February 24, 2014. Archived from the original on February 27, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  29. ^ Gilman, Greg (September 30, 2013). "'Breaking Bad': What's Next for Stars Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn and Creator Vince Gilligan". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on March 2, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  30. ^ "Only On Netflix: BoJack Horseman, A Tale Of Fear, Loathing and Animals, Coming Mid-2014" (Press release). PR Newswire. December 11, 2013. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  31. ^ "WWE Monday Night Raw Results: 'Breaking Bad' star Aaron Paul arrives with Dolph Ziggler (GIF)". FanSided. March 3, 2014. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  32. ^ "Aaron Paul to Co-Star in Miramax's Supernatural Thriller '9th Life of Louis Drax'" Archived September 29, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 10, 2022
  33. ^ Pedersen, Erik. "'The Path': First Images From Hulu's Aaron Paul-Michelle Monaghan Drama". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 3, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  34. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 13, 2018). "'Are You Sleeping': Aaron Paul, Elizabeth Perkins, Mekhi Phifer & More Join Apple Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  35. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 13, 2018). "'Westworld': Aaron Paul Joins HBO Sci-Fi Series For Season 3". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  36. ^ Darwish, Meaghan (April 13, 2020). "Is Aaron Paul's Caleb Human in 'Westworld' Season 3?". TV Insider. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  37. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (April 28, 2020). "Karen Gillan, Aaron Paul, Jesse Eisenberg Set For Sci-Fi Thriller 'Dual'". Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  38. ^ Kay, Jeremy (October 21, 2020). "Karen Gillan sci-fi 'Dual' starts production in Finland with Aaron Paul, Beulah Koale (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  39. ^ Mandalia, Bhavi (October 22, 2020). "Movies A Hollywood film starring Marvel and Breaking Bad will be filmed in Tampere". PledgeTimes.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  40. ^ Ravindran, Manori (July 13, 2022). "'Black Mirror' Cast Revealed: Aaron Paul, Josh Hartnett, Paapa Essiedu, Kate Mara and Zazie Beetz Join New Season (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  41. ^ Couch, Aaron (September 27, 2013). "'Breaking Bad': Aaron Paul's Finale Charity Contest Adds Extra Winners After Complaints". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 21, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  42. ^ "Aaron Paul Said "BoJack Horseman" Fans Have Realized Their Asexuality Because of Todd Chavez's Coming-Out". BuzzFeed News. October 24, 2019.
  43. ^ Ramirez, Elva. "Aaron Paul And Bryan Cranston Debut New Mezcal, Dos Hombres". Forbes. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  44. ^ Lotze, Katharine (September 25, 2012). "Lauren Parsekian, Aaron Paul's Fiancée: Who Is She?'". HuffPost. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  45. ^ Nudd, Tim (July 15, 2012). "Aaron Paul Calls Fiancée 'The Greatest Woman That Has Ever Existed'". People. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  46. ^ Dowd, Kathy Ehrich (May 26, 2013). "Aaron Paul Marries Lauren Parsekian". People. Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  47. ^ Harmata, Claudia (January 9, 2019). "Breaking Bad Star Aaron Paul Sells $2.2 Million L.A. House, Reportedly Once Home to Brad Pitt – See Inside!". People. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  48. ^ Chubb, Hannah (February 11, 2020). "Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul Shows off His Rustic Family Cabin in Idaho: 'It's a Dream Come True'". People. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  49. ^ Paul, Lauren [@laurenpaul8] (February 8, 2018). "There are no words that will ever be able to explain what just happened to my heart". Retrieved January 7, 2019 – via Instagram.
  50. ^ "'Breaking Bad' actor welcomes new baby girl". ABC News. February 9, 2018. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  51. ^ Martin, Annie (April 20, 2022) "Aaron Paul announces son's birth, says Bryan Cranston will be godfather", UPI.com. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  52. ^ Slater, Georgia (April 20, 2022). "Aaron Paul Announces Birth of Baby Boy, Reveals 'Best Friend' Bryan Cranston Is the Godfather". PEOPLE.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  53. ^ ""Breaking Bad" Bryan Cranston got new tattoo to shock wife". CBS News. August 5, 2013. Archived from the original on May 12, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  54. ^ Gelt, Jessica (October 7, 2013). "Breaking Boise: Idaho governor proclaims Oct. 1 Aaron Paul Day". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  55. ^ Dicker, Ron (November 4, 2022). "'Breaking Bad' Star Aaron Paul Legally Changes His Name". HuffPost. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  56. ^ Kirkpatrick, Emily (November 6, 2022) "Aaron Paul Legally Changes His Name to Aaron Paul". VanityFair.com. November 4, 2022. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
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