Jonathan Banks has built a career playing hardened, no-nonsense characters, but it took decades of steady work before most audiences learned his name. He first drew wide notice as FBI Special Agent Frank McPike on Wiseguy, then became one of television's most recognizable character actors as Mike Ehrmantraut in Breaking Bad and its spin-off, Better Call Saul. Jonathan Banks has also appeared in films like Beverly Hills Cop and Airplane!, and more recently lent his voice to animated projects.
Biography
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Jonathan Ray Banks |
| Date of Birth | January 31, 1947 |
| Birthplace | Washington, D.C., United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actor |
| Years Active | 1974–present |
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 8½ in) |
| Known For | Mike Ehrmantraut in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul; Frank McPike in Wiseguy |
| Education | Indiana University Bloomington (left before completing degree; later received an honorary doctorate) |
Family Tree
| Relation | Name |
| Mother | Elena Adams Banks |
| Spouse | Gennera Banks (m. 1990) |
| Ex-Wife | Marnie Fausch Banks (m. 1968–1970) |
| Children | Rebecca Elena Banks, Claudio Jon Henry Banks, Joanna Rae Banks Morgan |
Career Highlights
- Played FBI Special Agent Frank McPike on Wiseguy (1987–1990)
- Starred as Mike Ehrmantraut in Breaking Bad (2009–2013), Better Call Saul (2015–2022), and El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)
- Appeared in films including Airplane! (1980), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), and The Commuter (2018)
- Voiced Commissioner James Gordon in the video game Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) and joined the animated series Invincible as Brit starting in its third season
Awards
- Won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2015, Better Call Saul)
- Won the Special Gotham Jury Award for Best Ensemble Performance (2017)
- Won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television (2013) and Best Supporting Actor in a Network/Cable Television Series (2022)
- Received multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, including for Wiseguy, Breaking Bad, and Better Call Saul
