Bryan Cranston praises daughter Taylor Dearden’s achievements on The Pitt, expressing immense pride in his daughter’s work during a recent public appearance in New York. At the Tribeca Festival on June 9, Cranston, known for his roles in Malcolm in the Middle and Breaking Bad, enthusiastically shared his support for Taylor’s rise on the HBO Max series The Pitt and credited both her talent and dedication for the show‘s and her own recent recognition.
Bryan emphatically stated,
“There’s nothing more gratifying than when your kid receives praise—nothing,”
—Bryan Cranston, Actor. Discussing his and his wife Robin Dearden’s excitement for their daughter‘s performance, he followed up with,
“No one can say anything to me that’s better than that. So, her mom and I are over the moon with her work on it. She’s a very hard-working person.”
—Bryan Cranston, Actor.
Taylor Dearden, whose parents have longstanding careers in acting, has built a reputation for diligence and a genuine passion for the craft, as noted by Bryan.
“So it’s in her bones. She’s in it for the right reasons, and she loves it.”
—Bryan Cranston, Actor.
Cranston clarified that while he provides a positive example in the industry, he seldom offers direct advice to Taylor, saying,
“I think she picks up—because I’m her dad—she picks up advice hopefully by the way I behave in this business and navigate my way through,”
—Bryan Cranston, Actor. He also added,
“But I don’t ever say, ‘Now young lady, here’s some advice I want to give you.’ Kids don’t want to hear that.”
—Bryan Cranston, Actor.
The veteran actor concluded his thoughts with confidence in both his daughter‘s abilities and the show‘s trajectory:
“But she’s doing great, and the show is fantastic.”
—Bryan Cranston, Actor.
The Pitt’s success and support from the industry
The Pitt, a medical drama series on HBO Max, has already proven its popularity. Not only has HBO greenlit a second season, but industry figures have praised both the cast and the show itself. Noah Wyle, a central star of the series and alum of ER, recently disclosed that his return to the emergency room setting has also impressed former colleagues.
Wyle shared an encouraging anecdote:
“George watched it and he was very complimentary, which I think was his way of getting me to come see his show, which worked,”
—Noah Wyle, Actor. He referenced George Clooney, who now stars in Broadway’s Good Night, and Good Luck. Wyle recalled,
“I’ve seen quite a few of the old cast members and they’ve been really lovely.”
—Noah Wyle, Actor.
Reflecting on his experience with the new ensemble, Wyle continued,
“As much drama as we have on-camera, we have as much comedy off-camera,”
—Noah Wyle, Actor. He described the set environment as collaborative and engaging, stating,
“It’s a really great group of people who work hard and play hard, who take their work seriously but don’t take themselves seriously. It’s the best chemistry experiment I’ve ever been a part of.”
—Noah Wyle, Actor. Other prominent cast members of The Pitt include Tracy Ifeachor, Katherine LaNasa, and Patrick Ball, whose work has played a major role in the program’s acclaim.
Famous family connections across Hollywood
The entertainment industry is packed with familial links that span generations, genres, and continents. Taylor Dearden follows in the footsteps of her parents, but she is far from alone in finding inspiration and support from famous relatives.
Lena Dunham and Larry David share family history
Lena Dunham learned that she and Larry David share distant ancestors on her mother’s side. This revelation came on an April 2 episode of Finding Your Roots, where host Henry Louis Gates Jr. revealed the surprising connection.
Stassi Schroeder and Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s genealogical ties
Genealogist Dr. Adina Newman uncovered a previously unknown familial relationship between Stassi Schroeder and Gypsy Rose Blanchard. The connection traces to their paternal grandmothers, extending back to the 1600s. Schroeder’s own reaction, “Omg I’m unwell,” captured her surprise at the news.
Dakota Johnson and Antonio Banderas’s blended family
The deep connection between Dakota Johnson and Antonio Banderas developed after Banderas married Johnson’s mother, Melanie Griffith. Although the couple divorced after two decades, the stepfather-stepdaughter relationship remained strong. Johnson became emotional when presenting Banderas with an award at the 2019 Hollywood Film Awards, stating,
“I come from a family of many a marriage and I got very lucky,”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress. She continued,
“I got a bonus dad who I realized that, over time, is actually one of the most influential people in my whole life,”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress, adding,
“When I was six years old, my mother married a man who brought an unbelievably bright light and a whole new world of creativity and culture—and one remarkably magical little sister into our family.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress.
Other notable sibling and cousin relationships in show business
Actress Robyn Lively and Gossip Girl alum Blake Lively are half-sisters, both daughters of talent manager Elaine Lively. The familial connections continue with Elle King, who is the daughter of comedian and SNL veteran Rob Schneider, while Ludacris counts R&B singer Monica among his cousins via stepfamily ties through Reverend Edward Best.
Comedian Conan O’Brien and Rescue Me creator Denis Leary are third cousins, demonstrating how creative talents can emerge in the same extended family line. Steven Spielberg became stepfather to Jessica Capshaw, known for her work on Grey’s Anatomy, after marrying her mother Kate Capshaw in 1991.
Yara Shahidi and rapper Nas are second cousins, a bond highlighted by Shahidi participating as a flower girl in Nas’s 2005 wedding to Kelis. Lea Thompson’s daughter Zoey Deutch has entered the acting world as well, establishing her own reputation separate from Back to the Future fame.
The Sutherland acting legacy and more
Kiefer Sutherland’s real-life daughter Sarah Sutherland mirrored her on-screen role as a daughter in HBO’s Veep. Musician Phil Collins’s daughter, Lily Collins, stunned Emily in Paris viewers who were unaware of her famous parentage. Amy Schumer, meanwhile, counts New York Senator Chuck Schumer as her cousin, expanding her list of influential relatives outside of entertainment.
Royal links aren’t exclusive to the monarchy: Kate Middleton, Dakota Fanning, and Elle Fanning are reportedly connected as descendants of King Edward III, according to genealogical research shared in 2014. The entertainment industry is further enriched by siblings Jonah Hill and Beanie Feldstein, as well as real-life cousins Niecy Nash, Danielle Brooks, and Sterling K. Brown—all connected by blood and their flourishing careers.
Uncles, stepfamilies, and further connections
Jason Sudeikis often refers to Cheers actor George Wendt as “Uncle George,” thanks to family ties. Actors Stephen Dillane and Frank Dillane, known from Game of Thrones and Fear the Walking Dead respectively, share a direct father-son relationship in the industry. Lily Allen is second cousin to singer Sam Smith, even though their extended family is so large that they have never met in person.
Liev Schreiber and Pablo Schreiber are half-brothers who have both achieved success on stage and screen. Melissa McCarthy and Jenny McCarthy’s cousin relationship adds another entertainment pairing, and Julia Roberts serves as mentor and aunt to her niece, actress Emma Roberts.
Connections that transcend genres and generations
Dance pro Lacey Schwimmer and Friends actor David Schwimmer are second cousins, with the Schwimmer name present in both music and television. Alexander Skarsgård’s father Stellan Skarsgård has starred across the Marvel franchise, passing along both talent and opportunity to his children. Coppola family member Nicolas Cage owes his Hollywood roots to a dynasty that includes director-uncle Francis Ford Coppola, director-cousin Sofia Coppola, and actor-cousin Jason Schwartzman.
Lily Allen and Alfie Allen’s sibling bond extends from music into the world of fantasy drama, with Lily even writing a song about her brother. Brooke Shields and Glenn Close share a familial connection as second cousins, while Shirley MacLaine paved the way into the spotlight for her brother Warren Beatty.
Parks and Recreation star Rashida Jones is the daughter of music legend Quincy Jones. Tom Cruise is cousins with Lost actor William Mapother, reinforcing the family theme even at the height of Hollywood fame.
Looking ahead: The legacy of talent and mentorship
The strong lineage of performance and mentorship in the industry is evident, whether through the passionate support of Bryan Cranston, the enduring bonds between step-relatives, or the many instances of cousins, siblings, and parents shaping each other’s success. Bryan Cranston praises daughter Taylor Dearden’s achievements on The Pitt, not only highlighting her abilities but underscoring the powerful influence of family. As the series prepares for its next season and the cast continues to attract praise from audiences and peers alike, Taylor Dearden’s ongoing rise in Hollywood serves as another chapter in the vibrant narrative of entertainment legacies.
