A Man of Many Ministries
Bryan Cranston is most known for his roles as Walter White in the drama “Breaking Bad” and family man Hal in the sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle.” He’s won multiple Emmys for the lead role in the former and came to prominence as a funny man and a multiple Emmy nominee for the latter. Since these two roles, he’s been in other productions, most notably the miniseries “Your Honor,” where he plays respected judge Michael Desiato. As you might imagine, his fictional character knows a thing or two about solemnizing a union.
Long before he was a celebrity, Cranston officiated wedding ceremonies as a ULC-ordained minister to make some cash during the mid-1970s. He would charge $150 per ceremony, which was a boon, considering that the minimum wage hourly rate was $1.75 back then. Cranston’s first gig took place in one of the more unusual places to say “I do” — a six-seater plane! Only nineteen years old at the time, Cranston sported the most casual of outfits, a shirt with a floral pattern and shorts. He described the happy couple as cute while acknowledging the difficulty of officiating a union on a noisy airplane.
Cranston utilized his impressive acting skills during his stint as a minister- he once performed a ceremony as Elvis Presley, and even went so far as to craft his own bunny costume for a different, themed wedding. While ULC ministers may not be expected to wear costumes for weddings, creativity and an accommodating spirit are two great qualities to have.
A Flair for the Funny and Dramatic
Although Cranston hasn’t officiated any ceremonies lately, he’s had his own quirky and dramatic experiences when it comes to marriage and relationships. He was a divorcee in his mid-20s and had some not-so-pleasant run-ins with an ex who stalked him. Cranston met actress Robin Dearden while doing a guest stint on the TV series “Airwolf” in the 1980s and fell in love. To avoid breaking down while proposing, he asked her to marry him while taking a shower in a cabin that he owned. After Dearden accepted, Cranston presented an engagement ring on his pinky toe!
Although his time as a minister preceded his successful acting career, you might imagine that Cranston’s talents as a comedic and dramatic actor served him well. The ability to relate to people is a gift when it comes to uniting couples in marriage, from reassuring nervous “nearlyweds” to greeting invited guests. The confidence and leadership often required of Hollywood actors, directors, and producers would be most welcome in an officiant.
Becoming ordained through the ULC authorizes you to legally marry couples of age who can consent. Bryan Cranston’s motivation was making money. Considering that $150 in 1974 would be nearly $875 in today’s dollars, who could blame him? Perhaps you desire to help those who want to marry in uncommon venues, such as a plane. Ordination through the ULC is a great way to meet an important need.