Aaron Paul

From Scott Quittman to Jesse Pinkman: a career defined by complex characters and award-winning performances.

Aaron Paul is an American actor best known for portraying Jesse Pinkman in the AMC series Breaking Bad (2008–2013). He reprised this role in the Netflix sequel film El Camino (2019) and during the final season of the spin-off series Better Call Saul (2022). Beyond his work as an actor, he served as an executive producer on the animated series BoJack Horseman.

Quick Facts

Birth name: Aaron Paul Sturtevant
Born: 27 August 1979
Birthplace: Emmett, Idaho, U.S.
Occupation: Actor
Years active: 1998–present
Spouse: Lauren Parsekian (2013)
Children: 2

Lore & Background

Paul's journey began in Emmett, Idaho, where he was born Aaron Paul Sturtevant. After graduating from Centennial High School in 1997, he drove to Los Angeles with his mother and $6,000 in savings. His early career included roles in music videos for Korn and Everlast, guest spots on shows like The X-Files and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and a recurring role as Scott Quittman on HBO's Big Love.

Reader's Guide

Paul was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series five times (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014), winning three of those years (2010, 2012, and 2014). In November 2022, he legally dropped his birth surname, Sturtevant. He and Bryan Cranston launched a mezcal line called Dos Hombres in 2019.

Did You Know?

Before moving to Los Angeles, he appeared on the game show The Price Is Right under his birth name, overbidding his Showcase by $132.
In October 2013, Governor Butch Otter declared October 1 'Aaron Paul Sturtevant Day' in Boise, Idaho.