Bryan Cranston, who played President Lyndon B. Johnson on Broadway and HBO, appeared Tuesday on a civil rights panel with 1960s-era activists and signed on to an anti-Donald Trump campaign with more than 100 other celebrities at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
Cranston was joined by Julianne Moore, Kerry Washington, Mark Ruffalo, Neil Patrick Harris, Shonda Rhimes and Macklemore in calling on Americans to deny Trump the White House. It’s part of MoveOn.org’s “United Against Hate” effort.
The Breaking Bad star pledged his support for Hillary Clinton during the panel discussion, which touched on the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party’s fight against the state’s all-white delegation at the 1964 Democratic convention.
Cranston’s film All the Way chronicles the tumultuous struggle that led to passage of the Civil Rights Act. Cranston said sharing the stage with the activists who played real-life roles in civil rights history made him feel like a “cubic zirconia on a stage with diamonds.”
As an actor, he said he’s baffled that his opinions should be taken more seriously than anybody else’s.
“I think any person who has been given that, has been given that gift, has a sense of responsibility to share their thoughts and comments and feelings with society, to be socially conscious,” he said.
Celebrity highlights on the DNC stage in Philadelphia on Tuesday include Meryl Streep, Pitch Perfect actress Elizabeth Banks, Scandal co-star Tony Goldwyn, Girls creator Lena Dunham and Superstore actress America Ferrera.
Dunham and Ferrera, who were both speaking at the convention later Tuesday, joined Chelsea Clinton in a panel discussion hosted by Glamour magazine. Asked whether they looked forward to Trump’s tweets in response to their appearances, favorite Trump target Dunham wasn’t worried.
“He’s already called me a B-lister with no mojo, so what’s coming next?” she smiled.
Ferrera said she’s fared better with Trump: “He’s talked a lot about America. He keeps trying to make me great again. I don’t know why. I’ve been great for years.”
Ferrera urged young voters not to sit out the election, and both actresses pledged to support Hillary Clinton and urged Bernie Sanders supporters to come on board. Ferrera recalled watching Clinton gracefully turn over supporters to Barack Obama in 2008, saying Sanders supporters should do the same.
Meanwhile, actress Ashley Judd stopped on Broad Street in Philadelphia with tears in her eyes while watching a protest against police brutality. After accepting a “Black Lives Matter” sign from the Philly REAL Justice group, Judd said, “Let’s see if they will allow us the privilege of joining them.” They did, and Judd clapped.
Later Tuesday, actress Debra Messing, who co-starred on Will & Grace, will introduce remarks from a first responder and a victim from the 9/11 terror attack.
Singer Andra Day was scheduled to perform on the convention stage, and Alicia Keys was set to close out the evening.
The band Drive-By Truckers were to perform at a gun control rally.
