Bryan Cranston Honors 98-Year-Old Military Hero

Award-winning actor Bryan Cranston, 68, is skilled at bringing fictitious characters to life, but this month, he’ll take to the stage to honor one of our country’s real-life heroes as a guest speaker at the 35th annual National Memorial Day Concert, airing May 26 on PBS. The concert uses dramatic storytelling and inspirational music to honor the service of our men and women in uniform, military families and those who have given their lives for our country.

Cranston will honor a World War II hero, John T. “Jack” Moran, 98. “Both of my parents were in the military,” Cranston explains to AARP. “And so in honor of them — and everyone else who was sacrificing and gave their potential lives for this — I’m happy to be able to donate some of my time to salute them.” He shares how he’s preparing for this special performance, how it felt to play a military officer on film and how he looks forward to taking a break from his busy career.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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What should we be thinking about this Memorial Day weekend?

I hope that when people will watch the event on Sunday night that they will come away with embracing the concept that peace is at hand if we really want it and really, really try. War should be the absolute last element to consider when there’s a dispute. You don’t win a war, you survive a war.

How do you feel about filming the concert in Washington?

I always love going to D.C. I go there probably once a year on average. And it’s been a great experience for me, and I’ve enjoyed it tremendously.

Jack Moran served in the 87th infantry as a staff sergeant and fought at the Battle of the Bulge, one of the bloodiest battles of WWII.

Courtesy Capital Concerts, Inc.

How are you preparing to honor Jack Moran?

I was touched by his story. And so I’m looking forward to being able to represent him in reading his words to the public. And to just try to get a sense of it and not to overdramatize it but just support his words with some pathos and meaning, and then leave it up to the listener to determine how that affected them. … It is a performance of sorts. And you want to be at your best, to be honoring such a hero like Jack.

You played a war colonel in Saving Private Ryan. What was that like?

You know, what’s interesting is that when you wear a uniform like that, not only do you have the responsibility, you sit upright. There’s no slouching. You walk with your shoulders back. There’s a pride that goes with wearing a military uniform. And I certainly felt it by putting it on. [But] in no way did I associate my wearing a uniform in a movie to be giving service. There’s just no comparison to the real guys who do that.