Jonathan Banks

Banks in 1995

In 1974, Banks moved to Los Angeles, where he worked in theater before picking up bit parts.[7] Also in 1974, Banks acted in the public service announcement (PSA) Linda's Film on Menstruation.[8] Banks' early film appearances include supporting roles in films such as the crime film Who'll Stop the Rain (1978),[9] the murder myster The Cheap Detective (1978),[10] the war film Coming Home (1978),[11] and the musical drama The Rose (1979).[12] During the late 1970s and early 1980s, he appeared in television films such as The Girl in the Empty Grave (1977),[13] Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn,[14] The Ordeal of Patty Hearst (1979),[15] She's Dressed to Kill (1979),[16] Rage (1980),[17] Desperate Voyage (1980).[18]

Banks acted in the films such as the Sidney Poitier prison buddy comedy Stir Crazy (1980) starring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder[19] and the comedy films Airplane! (1980)[20] and 48 Hrs. (1982).[21] Banks also acted in numerous films such as Frances (1982),[22] Beverly Hills Cop (1984),[23] Gremlins (1984),[24] Buckaroo Banzai (1984),[25] Armed and Dangerous (1986),[26] Cold Steel (1987),[27] and Honeymoon Academy (1990).[28] His television-roles of the 1980s include the NBC series the Gangster Chronicles (1981), where he played Dutch Schultz,[29] and the short-lived science fiction series Otherworld (1985), where he portrayed the main antagonist.[30]

Banks achieved a career breakthrough with the role of Frank McPike in the television series Wiseguy, which he starred in from 1987 to 1990. His performance led to a Primetime Emmy Award nomination, for "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series".[31] Although his character was primarily the hero's mentor and superior officer, stories occasionally featured McPike as hero.[32][33]

Banks' films in the 1990s include Freejack (1991),[34] Boiling Point (1993),[35] Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995),[36] Flipper (1996),[37] Dark Breed (1996),[38] Last Man Standing (1996),[39] A Thousand Men and a Baby (1997),[40] Melanie Darrow (1997),[41] Harvey (1999),[42] Millennium Man (1999),[43] Foolish (1999),[44] Let the Devil Wear Black (1999),[45] Thrash (1999),[46] and Outlaw Justice (1999).[47]

He also acted in television films such as Body Shot (1993)[48] and Shadow of Obsession (1995).[49] In 1994, Banks had guest appearances in the television shows Matlock,[50] Highlander: The Series,[51] Walker, Texas Ranger,[52] and Tales from the Crypt.[53] In 1996, Banks reprised the role of Frank McPike in the television film Wiseguy.[54] His films in the 2000s include Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles (2001),[55] Face to Face (2001),[56] Downward Angel (2001),[57] Dark Blue (2003),[58] Jam (2007),[59] Reign Over Me (2007),[60] and Proud American (2008).[61] In 2004, he acted in one episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.[62] In 2006, he acted in an episodes of Without a Trace.[63] According to voice actor Nolan North, Banks was originally considered to play the role of Zoran Lazaravić in the 2009 video game Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, but the role went to Graham McTavish.[64]

In 2009, Banks gained notoriety and acclaim for his portrayal of Mike Ehrmantraut in the AMC crime series second season of Breaking Bad starring Bryan Cranston. He became a series regular for the third, fourth, and fifth seasons. For his performance, he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series at the 2013 ceremony.[65]

His films in the 2010s include Identity Thief (2013),[66] Bullet (2014),[67] and Horrible Bosses 2 (2014),[68] Banks had a recurring role as Buzz Hickey in the fifth season of the NBC sitcom Community.[69][70]

In 2015, he reprised the role of Mike Ehrmantraut as a member of the main cast in the Breaking Bad spinoff Better Call Saul.[71] Set several years before the events of Breaking Bad, the show greatly expanded Ehrmantraut's character and backstory, and Banks ultimately appeared in 61 of the series' 63 episodes. At the Emmy Awards, he was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series at their 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019 ceremonies.[72] For this role, he has received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2013, 2015–2017, 2019) for his work on all three series, making him the only actor with nominations as a main cast member for three shows in this category, two of which feature him as the same character.[73]

In 2015, he voiced James Gordon in the video game Batman: Arkham Knight,[74] and was a guest on the MythBusters episode "Supernatural Shooters".[75] During this time Banks acted in the films Term Life (2016),[76] The Commuter (2018),[77] and Incredibles 2 (2018).[78]

Banks portrayed the main antagonist in the 2017 film Mudbound.[79][80] With his costars, he was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.[81] In 2020, Banks joined the cast of the Netflix animated series F Is for Family in its fourth season as Bill Murphy, father of the main character.[82]