Bryan Cranston shared an emotional post on Instagram as he paid tribute to his friend and Breaking Bad and Your Honor co-star Mark Margolis on Friday.
Cranston, 67, shared a series of two images on Instagram and said in his poignant caption that he was “very saddened” by Margolis’ death on Thursday, August 3.
“Mark Margolis was a very good actor and a lovely human being. Fun and engaging off set, and (in the case of Breaking Bad and Your Honor) intimidating and scary on set,” Cranston wrote.
“His quiet energy belied his mischievous nature and inquisitive mind…And he loved sharing a good joke. I miss him already. Rest now, Mark, and thank you for your friendship and outstanding work.
The first photo in the Instagram post of the Oscar-nominated actors was a solo shot of Margolis from Your Honor while the second image was from Breaking Bad.
Paying Tribute: Bryan Cranston, 67, shared a touching Instagram post to his Breaking Bad and Your Honor co-star Mark Margolis on Friday after he passed away; Cranston saw 2023
Recalling: “Mark Margolis was a great actor and a lovely human being,” Cranston wrote, adding, “I miss him already”
Margolis and Cranston bonded after the former starred alongside the latter in seasons two through four of AMC’s hit series, Breaking Bad.
In the show, Cranston plays its protagonist Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher suffering from stage three lung cancer, who turns to a life of crime producing and distributing methamphetamine in order to secure the financial future of his family before his death.
Meanwhile, Margolis played Hector ‘Tio’ Salamanca, a former drug kingpin unable to speak or walk due to a stroke.
The two would later reprise their roles in Breaking Bad spin-off series Better Call Saul, with Maroglis making guest appearances from seasons two through six while Cranston appeared in two episodes (including the series finale) of the show’s final season.
The two would later reunite to work on the Showtime crime series, Your Honor, which ran for two seasons from 2020 to 2023.
After suffering a short illness, Margolis died at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York on Thursday, August 3 at the age of 83.
The veteran actor, who has played hundreds of film, TV and stage roles over his decades-long career, had his wife Jacqueline, 61, and son (and only child) Morgan at his bedside.
In addition to his television roles in Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and Your Honor, Margolis’ best-known film role was that of Alberto “The Shadow” in the 1983 film Scarface, where he starred opposite ‘Al Pacino.
Breaking Bad: He shared two snaps of the actor in his post, including a scene of them in Breaking Bad, where they first worked together and formed their friendship
Tributes arrive: Bob Odenkirk, who worked with Cranston and Margolis on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, was also among Hollywood stars who paid tribute to the late veteran actor on social media
Iconic role: Margolis played the famous role of Hector ‘Tio’ Salamanca, a former drug kingpin who was unable to speak or walk after a stroke, but communicated with a service bell taped to his Wheelchair
RIP: Margolis, died at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York on Thursday, August 3 at the age of 83 due to a short illness
Cranston wasn’t the only notable Hollywood A-lister to pay tribute on social media to the late Margolis.
Bob Odenkirk, who worked with Cranston and Margolis on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, penned a moving tribute on X, formerly known as Twitter.
‘A powerful screen presence! Mark made me laugh in the van on the way to filming with his jokes and comments and I only hope I got half his energy and focus when “Action” was shouted. Thank you, Mark, and condolences to your family,’ Odenkirk wrote.
Oscar-nominated director Darren Aronfsky also paid tribute to Margolis, who appeared in five of Aronfsky’s films, including his feature debut Pi, by tweeting a photo of Margolis in his 2006 film The Fountain with a quote of the character of Margolis in Pi.
‘Once you lose your scientific rigor, you are no longer a mathematician, YOU ARE A NUMEROLOGIST!’ Aronfsky, who also added to the quote “MARK MARGOLIS LEGEND!” indicated on X.
