Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul Stars Pay Tribute to Mark Margolis

Following the news that actor Mark Margolis had passed away, his friends and co-stars from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul have been expressing their sorrow. Among them is Bryan Cranston, who has some very memorable scenes with Margolis in multiple seasons of Breaking Bad. More recently, Margolis reunited with Cranston for a special appearance in Your Honor, marking the veteran actor’s final TV role.

“I am very saddened today to learn of a friend’s passing,” Cranston said on Instagram. “Mark Margolis was a really good actor and a lovely human being. Fun and engaging off the set, and (in the case of Breaking Bad and Your Honor) intimidating and frightening on set. His quiet energy belied his mischievous nature and curious mind… And he loved sharing a good joke. I miss him already. Rest now, Mark and thank you for your friendship and your exceptional body of work.”

Bob Odenkirk, who played Saul Goodman in the Breaking Bad universe, also joined the fans in paying tribute online. He wrote a message on X that reads, “A powerful screen presence! Mark made me laugh in the van on the way to set with his jokes and comments and I only hope I have half his energy and focus when ‘Action’ was shouted. Thank you, Mark, and condolences to your family.”

In Better Call Saul, Margolis had shared a lot of screen time with Michael Mando, who played Ignaco “Nacho” Varga. In fact, it was Nacho who played the biggest part in what led to Hector’s fate. Mando posted an image on Instagram of the two together along with a touching tribute.

“It is with such a heavy heart that I process your passing my friend… Mark, getting to know you over the seasons and years has been one of the most enriching experiences of my career,” Mando says. “You’ve deepened my understanding of this art form – your no BS attitude has deepened my understanding of life and what matters. The very last thing you told me, before I exited the honey wagon in S6 was, ‘I really didn’t want to like your character… but I do.’ I can’t tell you how much that meant to me… You’re a legend and a strong, beautiful soul. I’m in tears and have no words but LOVE.”

Luis Moncada, who played one of Hector Salamanca’s nephews, Marco Salamanca, also honored Margolis. He shared a video slideshow of various images from behind the scenes while posting a message letting his friend now that he will be missed.

“R I P My Friend,” Moncada writes. “He was a class act, old school guy, No BS attitude, & very funny. We spent alot of time with him. He would [tell] us stories about his [early] days in NY. Great times. I’ll always remember our conversations my friend. Rest in Peace Mark. you will be missed.”

Nobody who has seen Breaking Bad would be able to forget about the interrogation between Margolis’ Hector Salamanca and Dean Norris’ Hank Schrader. Norris posted a message to X reading, “So sad to hear Mark Margolis has died. A phenomenal actor. A funny guy. RIP. My thoughts are with his family.”

Max Arciniega was another actor who appeared in both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, as his Krazy-8 character worked as a dealer for the Salamanca family. The actor shared a photo of himself with Margolis from the set and wrote a message that reads, “R.I.P Mark Margolis. It was an honor to have shared the screen with this powerhouse, and an honor to listen to the stories he shared about his family and his career. Rest easy, Don Hector.”

And Giancarlo Esposito is someone who particularly spent a lot of time working with Margolis on both shows. With his role as Gus Fring, Esposito served as a sworn enemy to Margolis’ character, eventually culminating in the explosive deaths of them both. Esposito wrote about his friend on Instagram, “I am deeply saddened by the passing of my dear friend and dynamic human Mark Margolis. You made me laugh, made me cry doubled over with laughter, but more than anything you made me think. Always honest, always true. I will miss you. We made great music together. I am grateful to have had time with you.”

Related: Breaking Bad: 6 Actors Almost Cast in the Series

Mark Margolis Was Unforgettable as Hector Salamanca

AMC

It was back in the first season of Breaking Bad when Margolis first appeared as the unforgettable character Hector Salamanca. The feared gangster was paralyzed and unable to speak, relying on a bell to communicate, but Margolis still owned the role to such a degree that he was nominated for an Emmy. When Breaking Bad spawned the prequel series Better Call Saul​​​​​​​, Margolis was given more time to shine in the role, revealing how exactly the character came to be mute and wheelchair-bound.

Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul can be streamed on Netflix.

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