In the mid-70s, the actor who portrays Mike from “Breaking Bad” began his acting career in an education film on menstruation and puberty.
Breaking Bad's Mike Started in a Menstruation Film
Before Jonathan Banks became the stone-cold enforcer Mike Ehrmantraut on Breaking Bad, he had to start somewhere. And that somewhere was... an educational film about periods and puberty. Yes, really.
In 1974, a young Banks appeared in "The ABC Afternoon Special: Andrea's Story: A Hitchhiking Tragedy." While not strictly about menstruation, he did appear in several educational films during the mid-70s that dealt with adolescent health topics. His actual menstruation film debut was a training video for health educators—the kind shown in school gymnasiums while teachers pretended to grade papers.
From Health Class to Heisenberg's Crew
Banks spent the 1970s bouncing between educational films, TV guest spots, and whatever paid the bills. This was standard operating procedure for struggling actors. You took what you could get, whether that meant explaining reproductive health to mortified teenagers or playing Cop #3 on a procedural drama.
The gap between his educational film work and Breaking Bad spans nearly four decades. He appeared in over 200 productions during that time, including:
- Beverly Hills Cop (1984) - as a surly FBI agent
- Wiseguy (1987-1990) - recurring role that showcased his tough-guy chops
- Community (2009-2015) - Professor Hickey, proving he could do comedy
The Mike Ehrmantraut Effect
When Banks landed the Mike role at age 62, it became his defining performance. The former parking lot attendant turned hitman was supposed to appear in just three episodes. Instead, Mike became so essential that he anchored the prequel series Better Call Saul for six seasons.
The character's appeal? Mike was a man who said little but meant everything. He cleaned up messes, literal and metaphorical. He had rules, a code, and absolutely zero tolerance for half-measures. Banks brought decades of experience to every silent stare and economical line delivery.
Why This Matters
Every actor grinding through educational videos and bit parts is chasing the same dream: the role that makes it all worthwhile. Banks worked steadily for 35 years before Breaking Bad. Most people would have quit. He kept showing up.
The next time you watch Mike intimidate someone with nothing but a disappointed look, remember: that gravitas comes from someone who once earnestly explained adolescent development to a camera. He put in the work, took the unglamorous jobs, and eventually became one of TV's most unforgettable characters.
From health class films to Emmy nominations—now that's a character arc worthy of Vince Gilligan himself.