Actor Aaron Paul did yeoman work on television and in the occasional feature for over a decade before landing breakout roles in two major television series – “Big Love” (HBO, 2006- ) and “Breaking Bad” (AMC, 2008- ). The roles were almost diametrically opposite: Scott on “Big Love” was a responsible man in his late '20s who struggled to prove his love to his conflicted young bride. But his Jesse on “Breaking Bad” was a failed student whose outcast status made him the ideal partner in a crystal meth business orchestrated by a desperate and dying man. Paul had a unique ability to be convincing playing both ends of the spectrum, a skill that made him a critical favorite and an Emmy nominee, which signaled the arrival of a major talent for all to watch.
Born on Aug. 27, 1979 in Emmett, ID, Paul was the son of a Christian Baptist minister and frequently took part in church programs. Acting captured his attention in the eighth grade, and by the time he was attending Centennial High School in Boise, he had made up his mind to become a performer. Paul headed west after graduation, and like so many, struggled to land roles while working a variety of odd jobs, including an usher at Universal Studios. His first screen appearances came in bit and supporting roles on series like “Beverly Hills, 90210” (Fox, 1990-2000) and “Melrose Place” (1992-1999). Meanwhile, his feature debut came with the harmless teen comedy “Whatever It Takes” (2000), which was quickly followed by supporting turns in “K-PAX” (2001) as Jeff Bridges’ estranged son and “Van Wilder” (2002). Perhaps the most significant of these early jobs was playing Sky Commander Winky on an episode of “The X-Files” (Fox, 1993-2002); the character was named after series writer and producer Vince Gilligan, who later recalled Paul when casting for his series “Breaking Bad.” Despite the wealth of work, Paul was most likely seen by his largest audience in Korn’s music video for “Thoughtless” (2002), which cast him as a put-upon student who exacts revenge on his school tormentors.
Paul’s appearances grew in profile and stature as he entered the new millennium. By 2002, he had logged screen time on “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (CBS, 2000- ), “ER” (NBC, 1994-2009) and “Veronica Mars” (The CW, 2004-07). Film appearances were still relatively few and far between, though he did enjoy a rare lead in “Candy Paint” (2005), a well-received short comedy about a high school student whose date with his dream girl turns into a surreal nightmare. In 2006, Paul had one of his busiest years to date, logging several episodes of television and appearing opposite Tom Cruise in “Mission: Impossible III.” The following year, however, was a major breakthrough for the actor when he was cast as Scott, the upstanding and responsible fiancé of Sarah (Amanda Seyfried) on “Big Love.” Scott, who was a decade older than Sarah, remained dedicated to his bride throughout their tumultuous relationship, which was launched in the show’s second season and saw numerous ups and downs, including the loss of a child and disapproval by her polygamous father (Bill Paxton). The couple finally agreed to marry at the end of the third season, much to the concern of her family.
Scott stood at the polar opposite from Paul’s next and most acclaimed character to date, Jesse Bruce Pinkman on “Breaking Bad.” The son of an upper-middle class family who cast him out for his rampant drug use, he partners with his former high school chemistry teacher (Bryan Cranston), whose terminal cancer has forced him to deal crystal meth to support his family. Though their partnership was initially strained, Jesse comes to respect the older man, who not only contends with the ravages of cancer, but also the terrifying realities of the drug trade, which sometimes results in murder. Jesse frequently takes the brunt of the physical fallout from the job – he is brutally beaten by a psychotic fellow dealer and later becomes hopelessly addicted to heroin after a friend is killed. At the close of the series’ second season, he is brought to a treatment center to aid with his recovery. Widely praised for his edgy, often fearless turn in the role, Paul received an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2009. Meanwhile, his film and television career continued to build, thanks to a supporting turn as the youngest member of a gang of sadistic criminals targeted by the parents of a girl they murdered in the remake of Wes Craven’s “Last House on the Left” (2009).