High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Walter Hartwell "Walt" White is a fictional character and the protagonist of the American television drama series Breaking Bad on AMC. He is portrayed by Bryan Cranston and was created by series creator Vince Gilligan. Once a promising chemist who was one of the founding members of the fictional, now multi-billion dollar company "Gray Matter Technologies", Walter left the company for personal reasons and became an unhappy and disillusioned high school chemistry teacher. After being diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer, he resorts to manufacturing methamphetamine to ensure his family`s financial security when he dies. As the series progresses, Walter gradually becomes dangerous and takes on a more villainous role.