Bryan Cranston as Walter White
Cranston says Mad Men helped him decide to say yes to Breaking Bad. "I told AMC's [then executive vp] Rob Sorcher, 'I'm nervous. I love this, but it needs to be treated delicately and with support,' " recalls Cranston, 57. "And then I get this envelope with the Mad Men pilot and a note from Rob saying: 'This is what we aim to do.' I watched, mouth agape, and said, 'OK, I'm good, let's go!' "