The Pitt Star Taylor Dearden Has An Ultra-Famous Father In Real Life

HBO Max's "The Pitt" has become a monster success, and, as a result, has turned the show's cast into stars. For young actors, a breakout role can change their lives, and learning how to navigate those waters can be difficult. It's not uncommon to hear about Hollywood success stories that end in tragedy because the star doesn't know how to deal with the pressure that comes with being a celebrity. But for the stunning Taylor Dearden, who plays Dr. Melissa King, her very famous father, Bryan Cranston, will be there to help her find her way and keep her grounded.  

Taylor uses her middle name, which also happens to be her mother's maiden name, as part of her stage name. She studied theater at the University of Southern California, showing her commitment to learning the craft before she went all in on the profession, and quickly landed a role in the short-lived series "Sweet/Vicious" after she graduated. From there, she made appearances in a number of shows, including the Netflix mockumentary "American Vandal," and Apple TV's "For All Mankind" before landing her star-making role on "The Pitt." And while there's no denying her talent, Dearden did get her first acting gig when she was 16 thanks to a little connection from her pops. 

Taylor Dearden was in an episode of "Breaking Bad," a show her father happened to be the star of. She appears in just one scene in the Season 3 premiere, "No Más," and is listed in the credits as "Sad Faced Girl." The episode was directed by her dad, but, as Bryan Cranston explained on Vulture's "Good One" podcast, he didn't cast her. As Cranston tells it, when he got the script, he saw that they would need a teenage girl for a small role and instantly thought of his daughter. While she was nervous about auditioning, Dearden agreed to do it, and Cranston told the show's producers that he would leave it to them to decide if she should be cast in the role, making it clear that "she's got to be the best. If she is not the best, we will not hire her, and I'm absolutely fine with that." To Cranston, it would be just as good a lesson for Dearden to lose out on the role and learn what that feels like as it would be to land the part.

Dearden impressed the show's producers, and she got the part. After that, she headed off to college, and, aside from a few short films, didn't take on another professional gig until she graduated. Since then, her career has taken off, and now fans are wondering if Taylor will repay her dad and have him appear on "The Pitt." He wouldn't be the first family member of one of the show's stars to make a cameo; Shawn Hatosy's wife played a role in the second season of "The Pitt," and Fiona Dourif's dad, Brad Dourif, was in the first season.