You know that feeling when you're watching a gritty crime drama and a guy pops up on screen who looks like he’s lived about fourteen different lives, most of them involving a distinct lack of sleep? That’s usually Charles Baker. Most of us first met him as Skinny Pete on Breaking Bad, the beanue-wearing, meth-slinging pianist who surprisingly became the emotional anchor for Jesse Pinkman.
But honestly? If you think that’s the only thing on his resume, you’ve been sleeping on one of the most hardworking character actors in the business. From playing a survivor in a galaxy far, far away to popping up in prestige HBO dramas, the list of charles baker movies and tv shows is a wild ride through almost every genre imaginable.
The Breaking Bad Shadow (And Why He Liked It)
Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way. Breaking Bad changed everything for Baker. It’s funny because, originally, he wasn't even supposed to have a name. He was literally cast as "Skinny Stoner."
Basically, he was hired for one day. One line. That’s it.
But Vince Gilligan and the writers saw something in him—a sort of "hardness" that made him believable as a guy who could survive prison with Tuco Salamanca. Bryan Cranston himself reportedly advocated for him to stay. Baker ended up appearing in 15 episodes, plus the movie El Camino. That scene in the music store where he plays C.P.E. Bach’s "Solfeggietto" on the piano? That wasn't a stunt double. Baker is a classically trained musician who has been playing since he was a kid. It’s that kind of nuance that makes his filmography so much deeper than just "guy who looks like a criminal."
✨ Don't miss: Do You Believe in Love: The Song That Almost Ended Huey Lewis and the News
Not Just a Sidekick: A Breakdown of the Highlights
If you’re looking to binge-watch his work, you have to look past the beanie. He’s been in everything from big-budget blockbusters to some of the weirdest indie films of the last decade.
The Prestige TV Era
Baker has a knack for showing up in high-quality television. He played Newton Phillips in The Blacklist, a role that really showed he could handle a suit just as well as a hoodie. Then there was the 2020 reboot of Perry Mason on HBO, where he played Stanislaw Nowak. It was a complete pivot—period-accurate, serious, and stripped of the Albuquerque slang.
More recently, he’s touched some of the biggest franchises on the planet:
- The Mandalorian: He appeared as a "Survivor Scout" in 2023. It’s a small role, but being part of the Star Wars canon is a long way from the "Skinny Stoner" days.
- 1883: He joined the Taylor Sheridan universe as Henry Weaver, proving he fits right into the rugged, dusty world of Westerns.
- Mayor of Kingstown: Playing Horace, he reunited with the grit that made him famous but with a more seasoned, weary edge.
The Big Screen and Indie Darlings
While he’s a TV staple, his movie career is where he gets to get truly weird. Have you seen The Neon Demon? It’s a neon-soaked fever dream by Nicolas Winding Refn, and Baker pops up as Mikey.
He also has a long-standing relationship with director Terrence Malick. He was in To the Wonder (2012) and later worked on Song to Song. Working with Malick is basically a badge of honor for actors because he focuses so much on atmosphere and raw emotion rather than just plot.
The Voice Behind the Scenes
This is the part that usually blows people’s minds. Before he was Skinny Pete, Charles Baker was a massive name in the world of anime dubbing.
If you grew up watching One Piece, you’ve heard him. He’s voiced characters like Braham and Captain Yorki. He was in Baki the Grappler, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone.
It’s a bizarrely diverse background. One day he’s in a booth voicing a pirate, the next he’s on a set in New Mexico pretending to sell blue meth. That versatility is probably why he’s never out of work. Even in 2026, he’s still moving—keep an eye out for him in The Pitt playing Troy Digby.
💡 You might also like: Diego Klattenhoff Movies and TV Shows: Why He’s the Best Actor You Keep Forgetting You Know
Why We Keep Watching
There is a specific kind of authenticity Baker brings to the screen. He doesn't look like a "Hollywood" actor. He looks like a guy you might see at a gas station at 3:00 AM, but then he opens his mouth or sits at a piano, and you realize there’s a massive amount of soul there.
He’s talked in interviews about how he treats every single episode as an audition for the next one. He never took the Breaking Bad gig for granted, and that work ethic has carried him through over 60 credits.
What to Watch Next
If you want to see the full range of what he can do, here is your roadmap:
- The Essentials: Watch the Breaking Bad episode "Canyonlands" or "No Mas" for peak Skinny Pete. Then follow it up with El Camino to see his character's growth.
- The Surprise: Check out the Breaking Bad episode where he plays the piano. It’s a small moment that redefines his entire character.
- The Pivot: Watch his episodes of Perry Mason or The Blacklist. It’s the best way to see him shed the "stoner" persona.
- The Deep Cut: Find his voice work in One Piece. It’s a fun "I know that voice" moment for fans.
The best way to appreciate a guy like Charles Baker is to look for him in the margins. He’s the king of making a small role feel like the most important thing on screen.