Aurora Starchild
Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul is a triple Emmy-Award-Winning actor, philanthropist, and heartthrob. His talent for character development stems well beyond the world of crime and thrills, which he’s proven over the years by his contributions to a wide range of genres. He’s also been married to a gorgeous filmmaker since his earlier days as a TV supernova. Here is what we know about Lauren Paul and her relationship with the genius behind Jesse Pinkman.
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How Aaron Paul Came to Be a Three-Time Emmy Award Winner
Aaron Paul was born Aaron Paul Sturtevant on August 27, 1979, in Emmett, Idaho. He was born one month premature and was the youngest child of his siblings. His father was a Baptist minister, which is where Paul’s earliest exposure to acting occurred as he partook in church plays. After graduating early from Centennial High School in Boise, Idaho, Paul drove across the country to Los Angeles, with his mom, in his 1982 Toyota Corolla, and with $6,000 that he’d saved over the years.
As a teenager, Aaron Paul had a charming face that landed him about 50 national TV commercials including for Vanilla Coke. He told The Guardian that his career essentially “dried up” once he was in his early 20s. At that point, he made one-off appearances on big-name TV shows — but it barely paid the bills. Paul worked as an usher at the Universal Studios Movie Theatre in Hollywood while building his resume up with appearances on shows like Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, 3rd Rock from the Sun, The X-Files, NYPD Blue, and CSI. He even landed a credited role on Mission Impossible III and played Weird Al in Weird: The Weird Al Yankovic Story in 2010.
But it wasn’t until 2008, when Paul was cast as Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad, that his life started to change drastically. Fans immediately recognized Paul’s portrayal of the meth-addled drug chemist as something unique. He was somewhat of an anti-hero, possessing measured amounts of empathy, intelligence, and self-awareness despite the fact that he’d lost his way. Paul was nominated for an Emmy and won a Saturn Award for the role in the first season. He continued to receive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the role, in 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014, winning the award in 2010, 2012, and 2014.
Beyond Breaking Bad
Originally, Jesse Pinkman was meant to be killed off the show, but the series creator changed his mind when he saw the chemistry between Jesse and Walt (Bryan Cranston). Pinkman as a character was such a hit that he returned as the star of a Breaking Bad spin-off (El Camino), came back for Better Call Saul, and made cameo appearances in The Simpsons and Saturday Night Live.
Since Breaking Bad, Aaron Paul portrayed several well-known characters, both in-person and via voice, on TV shows. Those include Truth Be Told, The Path, BoJack Horseman (voice), The Coldest Case, Black Mirror, and Westworld. He’s also starred in films including Adam and Dual.
Meet Lauren Parsekian, aka Lauren Paul
Lauren Parsekian is a director, actress, activist, and co-founder of the non-profit Finding Kind campaign. She was born December 8, 1986. Parsekian graduated from Pepperdine University in 2009 with a Filmmaking degree.
After graduating college, Parsekian and her friend Molly Thompson had the idea to create a documentary about the effects of bullying in schools. Specifically, they wanted to bring attention to girls who bully other girls. So, the pair traveled over 10,000 miles while interviewing girls about their personal experiences of enduring abuse from other girls. Parsekian and Thompson simultaneously established the non-profit and received a grant from the Lilly Endowment for “service and social action.”
Their documentary, also called Finding Kind, was released in 2011. Since then, the non-profit has continued its work in bringing awareness to and stopping “girl against girl crime.” The two co-founders continue to tour different schools across the country while educating students about bullying and offering kindness-focused initiatives and curricula.
How Lauren Parsekian and Aaron Paul Met
Parsekian and Paul met at a turning point in both of their lives. Aaron Paul had already begun his work on Breaking Bad and Lauren Parsekian was in the process of creating her epic documentary and non-profit. They met at the Coachella music festival in the spring of 2010.
However, the pair didn’t become a couple until one year later, after crossing paths again at Coachella. Their first kiss was on the Ferris wheel at the festival. By then, Paul had officially become an Emmy award winner and Parsekian had finished filming her documentary.
Aaron Paul told Elle that he and Lauren went on their first date in Las Vegas and almost got married.
“We… jumped into a cab and said, ‘Take us to the nearest chapel. We’re getting married.’ The Little White Chapel ended up being closed. We probably would have gone through with it. It would have been a pretty funny story. But I’m happy we got married when we did – a year later,” he said.
Aaron Did the Sweetest Thing at Their Wedding Ceremony
Indeed, Aaron Paul popped the question in a more formal way while the pair were vacationing in Paris. It was New Year’s Day of 2012. He told People that he proposed in a “little courtyard outside of this hotel. We were just dancing to Édith Piaf by ourselves on New Year’s and then I begged her to marry me.”
“I’m so happy and excited and honored to share my life with the most amazing man on the planet,” Lauren wrote on Facebook.
The two exchanged vows in Malibu in May of 2013. Paul said that he sent an email out to all the wedding guests and asked them to learn the lyrics to “Beauty” by The Shivers.
“I tracked down the lead singer in Brooklyn,” said Paul. “He’s afraid to fly, so he drove all the way to Malibu. When he got to the song and everybody else joined in, Lauren just started weeping in the most beautiful way ever. It’s all about embracing those moments, throwing in surprises whenever you can.”
Aaron Paul and Lauren Paul’s Growing Family
After a few years of Lauren accompanying Aaron to his award ceremonies and the pair doting over each other on social media, they revealed some even bigger news. In September 2017, both Aaron and Lauren posted to Instagram that they were expecting their first child.
“Hey everyone, look what I did,” wrote Aaron. “Words can’t express how excited I am that his little one has entered our lives.” Lauren posted a carousel of the baby’s sonogram and photos of Aaron and her when they were little. Story Annabelle was born in February 2018.
“You’re her hero,” Lauren wrote on Instagram, along with a photo of two-year-old Story and Aaron. “Because of how loved and safe and special YOU make her feel, she will see and love her world and neighbors more deeply. Thank you.”
Bryan Cranston Is Baby #2’s Godfather
In December 2021, the Paul family announced that they were expecting a second child. Little Ryden Caspian was born in March 2022. Lauren posted an adorable photo carousel of Ryden, including a picture of him winking while wrapped in a swaddling cloth.
“Born on a full moon, he has such a gentle and knowing spirit. I’m so deeply thankful that he chose us to be a part of his journey,” she wrote, adding that he was named after artist Mark Ryden.
Aaron told The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon that he asked his Breaking Bad co-star, Bryan Cranston, to be Ryden’s Godfather.
Mr and Mrs Paul are now the proud parents of two, and it seems that they have much to look forward to. Apart from their gorgeous growing family, they also never fight! Paul told Elle that the key is communication.
“People get in fights because they don’t communicate because you don’t want to hurt the other person,” he said. “If you do want to hurt the other person, then shame on you – you’re an a**hole. My wife and I do not argue. We communicate. We talk. But we’ve never fought in our entire relationship.”
