Jonathan Ray Banks, born on January 31, 1947, is an American actor who has built a remarkable career defined by gritty, authoritative roles, most notably his iconic portrayal of the morally complex hitman and fixer Mike Ehrmantraut. He first gained significant recognition for his work in television during the late 1980s, playing FBI Special Agent Frank McPike in the series Wiseguy. That performance earned him his first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, establishing him as a formidable presence on screen. Banks's career, however, would reach new heights decades later when he was cast in the critically acclaimed series Breaking Bad, initially appearing in the second season and eventually becoming a fan-favorite regular. His portrayal of Mike Ehrmantraut, a former police officer turned criminal enforcer, was lauded for its quiet intensity and deep, unspoken layers of humanity.

The role proved so popular that Banks reprised it as a lead character in the prequel spin-off series Better Call Saul, which aired from 2015 to 2022. For his work on both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, Banks received a total of five Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, cementing his status as one of television's most respected character actors. He also made a brief but meaningful cameo as the character in the 2019 film El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. Beyond this defining role, Banks has an extensive filmography that spans several decades. He appeared in classic comedies such as Airplane! and Beverly Hills Cop, as well as dramas like Frances and the action thriller Under Siege 2: Dark Territory. His film work also includes The Rose, Armed and Dangerous, There Goes the Neighborhood, Foolish, Puff, Puff, Pass, Identity Thief, and The Commuter.

In addition to his live-action work, Banks has lent his distinctive voice to various projects. He provided the voice of Commissioner Jim Gordon in the critically acclaimed video game Batman: Arkham Knight in 2015, and he voices the character Brit in the adult animated series Invincible, which began in 2025. He also appeared prominently in the fifth season of the cult comedy series Community in 2014, where he played the no-nonsense professor Buzz Hickey. With a career that has evolved from early film roles to becoming an Emmy-nominated television mainstay, Jonathan Banks remains a highly regarded figure in the entertainment industry, known for his ability to bring gravitas and a surprising warmth to even the most hardened characters.