Joseph Cranston (producer)

Joseph Louis Cranston (July 29, 1924 – October 2, 2014) was an American film producer, screenwriter, actor, and the father of Bryan Cranston.

Early life
Joseph Louis Cranston was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Alice Rose ( Bower) and Edward Bernard Cranston Sr. He had an older brother, Edward Jr. (1923–2009), a younger sister Marguerite (1928–1991), and an older half-sister named Kathleen (1913–1930) from his father's first marriage.

Cranston had Irish heritage and was named after his great-grandfather, Joseph Cranston.

Career
Cranston began his career as a television actor on several programs, including Space Patrol and Dragnet. Cranston's first appearance as an actor on film was an uncredited role in the film Beginning of the End in 1957.

On March 9, 1971, Cranston formed Joseph Cranston Productions, Inc., which was responsible for presenting the 7th Annual Academy of Country and Western Music Awards in 1972.

Personal life
Cranston married his first wife, Angela Jeraldine Gordon-Forbes in 1946 and they divorced in 1951.

Cranston married his second wife, actress Peggy Sell in 1952. They had three children, including actors Kyle Cranston, who was born in June 1953 and Bryan Cranston, who was born in March 1956.

In 1968, after having trouble keeping steady work, Cranston temporarily left show business, a decision that caused a severe break in his family's home life. This led to him separating from his second wife, Peggy Sell and leaving his two sons, Bryan and Kyle and his daughter, Amy, who were forced to live with their grandparents for some time due to Peggy's alcoholism. Cranston would not reconnect with his sons and daughter until 10 years later. They remained close until his death in 2014.

Cranston married his third wife, Anita Cynthia Stickney in 1971 until her death in 1997.

Death
Cranston died in Los Angeles, California on October 2, 2014 at age 90.

Television

 * Dragnet (1953)
 * Space Patrol (1953)
 * The Red Skelton Hour (1954)
 * Life with Elizabeth (1954)
 * Shower of Stars (1955)
 * Annie Oakley (1956)
 * Father Knows Best (1956)
 * Highway Patrol (1956)
 * The Gale Storm Show: Oh! Susanna (1957)
 * Bronco (1960)
 * General Electric Theater (1960)
 * My Three Sons (1961)

Film

 * Beginning of the End (1957, Actor)
 * Go, Johnny, Go! (1959, Actor)
 * Erotica (1961, Narrator)
 * Trauma (1962, Producer)
 * The Crawling Hand (1963, Producer)
 * The Corpse Grinders (1971, Writer)
 * The Big Turnaround (1988, Director)