Breaking Bad is an American crime drama television series that originally aired from January 20, 2008, to September 29, 2013, on the cable network AMC. Over five seasons and 62 episodes, it follows Walter White ( Bryan Cranston ) , a high school teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer who, along with his former student Jesse Pinkman ( Aaron Paul ), begins producing and selling methamphetamine to secure his family's financial future. The series was produced and filmed in Albuquerque , New Mexico .
The series was created and executive produced by Vince Gilligan . The main roles in the series were played by Bryan Cranston, who played Walter White, and Aaron Paul, who became his accomplice Jesse Pinkman. Anna Gunn became Skyler White, Walter White's wife, and RJ Mitt became his son. Betsy Brandt played Skyler's sister, Marie Schrader, and her husband, Hank Schrader, was played by Dean Norris . Starting in the second season, Walter hired lawyer Saul Goodman , played by Bob Odenkirk . He, in turn, introduced Walt to private investigator Mike Ehrmantraut, played by Jonathan Banks . Walt's temporary employer in the drug trade was Gustavo Fring, played by Giancarlo Esposito . The series' final season featured Jesse Plemons as Todd Alquist, Walter White's temporary accomplice, and Laura Fraser as Lydia Rodarte-Quayle, Walt's new companion.