Joseph Cranston (producer)

Joseph Louis Cranston (July 29, 1924 – October 2, 2014) was an American film producer, screenwriter, actor, and the father of Bryan Cranston.[1][2]

Joseph Cranston
Joseph Cranston (left) with his son Bryan Cranston (right) in May 2014.
Born
Joseph Louis Cranston

(1924-07-29)July 29, 1924
DiedOctober 2, 2014(2014-10-02) (aged 90)
Other namesJoe Cranston
Occupation(s)Film producer, actor, screenwriter
Years active1953–1988
Notable work
Spouses
Angela Jeraldine Gordon-Forbes
(m. 1946; div. 1951)
Peggy Sell
(m. 1952; div. 1969)
Anita Cynthia Stickney
(m. 1971; died 1997)
Children3, including Bryan
RelativesTaylor Dearden (granddaughter)
Robin Dearden (daughter-in-law)

Early life

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Joseph Louis Cranston was born in Chicago to Alice Rose (née Bower) and Edward Bernard Cranston Sr.[3][4][5] He had an older brother, Edward Jr. (1923–2009), a younger sister Marguerite (1928–1991), and an older half-sister named Kathleen (1913–1930) from his father's first marriage.[citation needed]

Cranston had Irish heritage and was named after his great-grandfather, Joseph Cranston.[6]

Career

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Cranston began his career as a television actor on several programs, including Space Patrol and Dragnet. Cranston's first appearance as an actor on film was an uncredited role in the film Beginning of the End in 1957.

On March 9, 1971, Cranston formed Joseph Cranston Productions, Inc.,[7] which was responsible for presenting the 7th Annual Academy of Country and Western Music Awards in 1972.[8][9]

Personal life

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Cranston married his first wife, Angela Jeraldine Gordon-Forbes in 1946 and they divorced in 1951.

Cranston married his second wife, actress Peggy Sell in 1952.[10][11][12] They had three children, including actors Kyle Cranston, who was born in June 1953 and Bryan Cranston, who was born in March 1956.[13][14][15]

In 1968, after having trouble keeping steady work, Cranston temporarily left show business, a decision that caused a severe break in his family's home life.[16] This led to him separating from his second wife, Peggy Sell and leaving his two sons, Bryan and Kyle and his daughter, Amy, who were forced to live with their grandparents for some time due to Peggy's alcoholism.[17] Cranston would not reconnect with his sons and daughter until 10 years later.[18] They remained close until his death in 2014.[19]

Cranston married his third wife, Anita Cynthia Stickney in 1971 until her death in 1997.[citation needed]

Death

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Cranston died in Los Angeles on October 2, 2014, at the age of 90.[20][21][22]

Filmography

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Television

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Film

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References

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  1. ^ Reichardt, Nancy M. (October 5, 1983). "Soap star loves his craft". The Prescott Daily Courier. p. 3. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  2. ^ ""It's a sign of immaturity": Bryan Cranston Despised His Father's 'Shallow' Acting Dream Despite Himself Becoming Hollywood's Top Thespian". fandomwire.com.
  3. ^ Brady, Tara (September 26, 2011). "The many lives of Bryan". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on October 17, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2022.(subscription required)
  4. ^ "Joseph Louis Cranston, "California, County Marriages, 1850–1952"". familysearch.org. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  5. ^ "Interview: Bryan Cranston on flying the flag after Breaking Bad". scotsman.com. January 22, 2018. Archived from the original on March 12, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  6. ^ "Breaking Bad Bryan Cranston's strong Irish roots". irishcentral.com. July 28, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  7. ^ "California Business Database". cabusinessdb.com. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  8. ^ "Billboard" (PDF). Billboard. February 26, 1972. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  9. ^ "Academy of Country & Western Music". March 1972. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  10. ^ "Who Do You Think You Are? US – Bryan Cranston". YouTube. Archived from the original on October 28, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  11. ^ "Tough Love – Bryan Cranston The Mortified Sessions". The Sundance Channel. February 3, 2012. Archived from the original on October 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  12. ^ Clark, Charles (September 22, 2013). "10 Things About... Bryan Cranston". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  13. ^ "Bryan Cranston". Primetime Emmy Award. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on February 5, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  14. ^ Cranston, Bryan (2016). A Life in Parts. Scribner. p. 144. On March 7, 1986, I ran in the first Los Angeles Marathon. It was also my thirtieth birthday...
  15. ^ "Monitor". Entertainment Weekly. No. 1249. March 8, 2013. p. 20.
  16. ^ "Bryan Cranston Opens Up About Losing His Parents to Alcoholism and Abandonment When He Was 11". people.com.
  17. ^ Friend, Tad (September 16, 2013). "The One Who Knocks". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on December 6, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  18. ^ "Sex, Stalking and Suspicion of Murder: Shocking Revelations from Bryan Cranston's New Memoir". people.com.
  19. ^ Bryan Alexander (June 10, 2015). "Bryan Cranston puts fun in 'Panda 3' dad". usatoday.com.
  20. ^ "Golden Globe Awards Bryan Cranston". goldenglobes.com.
  21. ^ "Bryan Cranston opens up about his father leaving to pursue 'futile' Hollywood dream". www.independent.co.uk.
  22. ^ "Bryan Cranston opens up about his father leaving to pursue 'futile' Hollywood dream". finance.yahoo.com.
  23. ^ Joe Cranston (Director) Bryan Cranston (Actor) (1988). The Big Turnaround (film).
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