Dean Norris

Dean Joseph Norris (born April 8, 1963) is an American actor. He is best known for playing Hank Schrader on the AMC series Breaking Bad (2008–2013). Throughout his career, he has amassed over 154 credits across film and television, including over 40 law enforcement roles.

Early life and education Dean Joseph Norris was born on April 8, 1963, He graduated from Clay High School in 1981, where he was the class valedictorian. While in high school, he was a member of the award-winning student-produced comedy show Beyond Our Control, which ran on WNDU-TV. He is a 1985 graduate of Harvard College, where he was a first-generation college student who studied the interdisciplinary concentration of Social Studies and was a member of Hasty Pudding Theatricals. He also earned a diploma from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1987.

Career

Television Norris starred in Tremors: The Series and the film Without Limits. He has had guest spots in other television series including NYPD Blue, The X-Files, The West Wing, and Lost.

He played Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Hank Schrader on Breaking Bad from the show's premiere in 2008 to its final season in 2013. Norris's performance on Breaking Bad has received critical acclaim.

Norris also starred in the CBS series Under the Dome. He plays selectman James "Big Jim" Rennie, the only town council member in the area when it is cut off from the rest of the United States.

As of June 2017, he plays mob boss Clay "Uncle Daddy" Husser in the TNT series Claws.

In 2020, Norris reprised the role of Agent Hank Schrader on-screen in the Breaking Bad prequel Better Call Saul during the show's fifth season.

Norris was cast in a lead role for the CBS sitcom United States of Al.

Film Norris has appeared in films such as Lethal Weapon 2 (1989), Hard to Kill (1990), Total Recall (1990), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), The Firm (1993), Starship Troopers (1997), The Cell (2000), Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Evan Almighty (2007), Sons of Liberty (2015), The Book of Henry (2017), Death Wish (2018), Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019) and Carry-On (2024).

Personal life Norris and his wife, Bridget, a former entertainment attorney, have five children together. Norris is a fan of his hometown team the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. In 2019, he helped launch Schraderbräu, Hank Schrader's in-universe home-brewed craft beer, as an official product. In 2022, the couple purchased The Swing Inn Cafe, a long-standing restaurant in Old Town, Temecula, for $6 million.

Norris is a member of the Democratic Party. He is known to have attended the 2016 and 2024 Democratic National Conventions.

Filmography Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1981 Beyond Our Control Company Member 13 episodes 1987 The Equalizer Martin Episode: "Christmas Presence" 1988 Leap of Faith RichardTelevision film Police Story: Gladiator School Ralph Thomas 1989 Beauty and the Beast Biggs Episode: "A Kingdom by the Sea" 1990 Montana Foreman Television film 1991 Murderous Vision Lieutenant MartinLocked Up: A Mother's Rage Mike 1992 Till Death Us Do Part Matt Hobert Secrets Henderson Homefront Second Coworker Episode: "Take My Hand" 1993 Barbarians at the Gate Scientist Television film 19931994 NYPD Blue Father Jerry Downey 3 episodes 1994 Married... with Children Rodent Episode: "Dud Bowl" Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee Red ArrowTelevision film 1995 The X-Files Marshal Tapia Episode: "F. Emasculata" Fallen Angels Allen Episode: "Tomorrow I Die" The Marshal Tyler Dumas Episode: "Kissing Cousins" In the Line of Duty: Hunt for Justice Levasseur Television film Texas Justice Luke Wheeler Television film 19951996 Murder One Rusty Arnold 3 episodes 1996 Dark Skies Clayton Lewis Episode: "We Shall Overcome" Innocent Victims Frank SarezinTelevision film It Came from Outer Space II Dave Grant Seduced by Madness Detective Pike Forgotten Sins Detective Carl Messenger Death Benefit Rod Montgomery After Jimmy Ray Johnson1997 Riot Kalena On the Line Manny Denikolas The Pretender Tommy Larson Episode: "Prison Story Nash Bridges William Robard Episode: "Deliverance" 1998 V.I.P. Jackson LaSarr Episode: "Beats Working at a Hot Dog Stand" ER Clark Episode: "They Treat Horses, Don't They?" Walker, Texas Ranger Deke Powell Episode: "War Cry" 1999 Millennium Del Boxer Episode: "Seven and One" Pensacola: Wings of Gold 'Spider' / Colonel Laweson 3 episodes The Practice Detective Episode: "Free Dental" Charmed Dr. Stone Episode: "They're Everywhere" Nash Bridges Frank Maddigan Episode: "Smash and Grab" 2000 The Pretender Sheriff Whalen Episode: "Corn Man" 2001 Boston Public Matthew Gordon Episode: "Chapter Sixteen" Six Feet Under Detective Shea Episode: "Familia" The District Charles N. Burke Episode: "Bulldog's Ghost"2002JAGJury memberEpisode: "Odd Man Out" Philly Detective Duff Episode: "Mojo Rising" 20022004 American Dreams Frank Moran 2 episodes 2003 24 General Bowden 2 episodes Tremors Agent W.D. Twitchell Main role, 10 episodes Dragnet Leon Tate Episode: "Slice of Life" 2004, 2011 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Bob Durham Jr. / Phil Baker 4 episodes 2004 NCIS Gunnery Sergeant Vesta Episode: "My Other Left Foot" Crossing Jordan Liam Moore Episode: "Dead in the Water" Medical Investigation David Weiner Episode: "Team" Boston Legal Byron Kaneb Episode: "Catch and Release" LAX Danny Episode: "Secret Santa" 2005 Without a Trace Officer Tim Orley Episode: "Penitence" Medium Detective Rickey 2 episodes Over There Mr. Parker Episode: "Situation Normal" The West Wing Republican National Committee Chairman Steve Hodder 2 episodes Mrs. Harris Sporting Goods Clerk Television film Las Vegas Ray Brennan Episode: "Everything Old Is You Again" 2006 Cold Case Wayne Nelson Episode: "Death Penalty: Final Appeal" Windfall Damien's Father 4 episodes Just Legal Judge Episode: "The Code" Nip/Tuck Mark Noble Episode: "Shari Noble" Justice Jack Clark Episode: "Crucified" 2007 Grey's Anatomy Vince 2 episodes: "Walking on Water," "Drowning on Dry Land" The Unit Supervisor Marsh 2 episodes 20082013 Breaking Bad DEA Agent Hank Schrader Main role, 51 episodes 2008 Saving Grace Ross Ford Episode: "Have a Seat, Earl" Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Nelson 2 episodes Bones Don Timmons Episode: "The Finger in the Nest" 2009 Lost Howard Grey Episode: "Some Like It Hoth" True Blood Leon Episode: "Shake and Fingerpop" The Cleaner Mr. Fisher Episode: "Path of Least Resistance" 2010 Criminal Minds Detective John Barton Episode: "...A Thousand Words" The Glades Michael Nelson Episode: "Doppleganger" Lie to Me Dawkins Episode: "Darkness and Light" Dark Blue Cahill Episode: "Jane Wayne" Chase Sheriff Keagan Episode: "The Posse" The Good Guys Pike Episode: "Cop Killer" The Whole Truth Mike Taylor Episode: "Cold Case" Medium Paul Scanlon 2 episodes Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Shell Tong Episode: "Chrimbus Special" (deleted scene) 2011 Fairly Legal Coach Gardner Episode: "Benched" The Defenders Donnie Barrett Episode: "Nevada v. Donnie the Numbers Guy" Off the Map Morris Cooper Episode: "It's a Leaf" The Stoned Ages Narrator Documentary Law & Order: LA Bob Kentner Episode: "Westwood" CSI: NY Lieutenant Mitchell Adler Episode: "Officer Involved" Castle Captain Peterson Episode: "Cops & Robbers" The Mentalist Sergeant Don Henderson Episode: "Pink Tops" 2012 Body of Proof Special Agent Brendan Johnson 2 episodes Eagleheart Deke Episode: "Blues" Key & Peele Mexican Drug Cartel Leader Episode: "When You Don't Know How to Count Money" The Cleveland Show Fire Chief Voice; Episode: "Flush of Genius" 2013 Whitney Wayne Miller Episode: "Nesting" 20132015 Under the Dome James 'Big Jim' Rennie Main role, 39 episodes 2014 American Dad! Head of Security Voice; Episode: "Big Stan on Campus" 2015 Sons of Liberty Benjamin Franklin 3 episodes Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt M. Le Loup Episode: "Kimmy's In a Love Triangle!" 20152016 Sofia the First Mazzimo Voice; 2 episodes 2016 Mack & Moxy Admirable Dean Episode: "You're My Hero" 2016–2018 The Big Bang Theory Colonel Richard Williams 6 episodes 2017 Girlboss Jay Marlowe5 episodes Get Shorty Bob Grace Episode: "Grace Under Fire" 2017–2022 Claws Uncle Daddy Main role, 40 episodes 2017–2018 Scandal Fenton Glackland 5 episodes 2019 The Act Russ Episode: "Two Wolverines" 2020 Better Call Saul DEA Agent Hank Schrader Episodes: "The Guy for This", "Namaste" Superstore Howard Fox Episode: "Myrtle" 2021–2022 United States of Al Art Dugan Main role, 35 episodes 2021 Nova Vita Devon Washington 10 episodes 2024 Law & Order: Organized Crime Randall Stabler Recurring role (season 4); main cast (season 5-) Curb Your Enthusiasm Judge Whittaker Episode: "No Lessons Learned" Ghosts Frank Episode: "Sam's Dad" 2026 Liam and Michael Michael's Father 5 episodes https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0606487/

Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryTitleResult 2011 Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actor on Television Breaking Bad 2012 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series 2013 2014 Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actor on Television Under the Dome