Bob Odenkirk | |
|---|---|
 Odenkirk in 2018 | |
| Born | Robert John Odenkirk (1962-10-22)October 22, 1962 (age 63) Berwyn, Illinois, U.S. |
| Education | Southern Illinois University Carbondale (BA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Works | Full list |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Bill Odenkirk (brother) |
| Awards | Full list |
| Website | bobodenkirk |
Robert John Odenkirk[1] (/ˈoʊdənkɜːrk/; born October 22, 1962)[1] is an American actor, screenwriter, comedian, and producer.[2]His accolades include twoPrimetime Emmy Awards (out of 18 nominations), threeCritics' Choice Television Awards, and aScreen Actors Guild Award, in addition to nominations for fiveGolden Globe Awards and aTony Award.
Odenkirk started his career writing forSaturday Night Live (1987–1991), going on to write and act inThe Ben Stiller Show (1992), winning anEmmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series in 1989 and 1993. He also wrote forLate Night with Conan O'Brien (1993–1994) and acted in a recurring role as Agent Stevie Grant in theHBO comedy seriesThe Larry Sanders Show (1993–1998). He created and starred in the seminal HBO sketch comedy seriesMr. Show with Bob and David (1995–1998) withDavid Cross. Odenkirk and Cross reteamed for theNetflix sketch seriesW/ Bob & David (2015).[3]
As a dramatic actor, Odenkirk gained recognition and acclaim for playingSaul Goodman/Jimmy McGill onBreaking Bad (2009–2013) and its spin-offBetter Call Saul (2015–2022). For the latter, he received six nominations for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He also starred asBill Oswalt in thefirst season of theFX anthology seriesFargo (2014) and earned a nomination for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role inThe Bear (2024).
Odenkirk made his directorial feature debut withMelvin Goes to Dinner (2003) followed byLet's Go to Prison (2006), andThe Brothers Solomon (2007), and also wroteRun Ronnie Run! (2002), andGirlfriend's Day (2017). He took supporting roles in films such asNebraska (2013),The Post (2017),Incredibles 2 (2018), andLittle Women (2019). He starred in the action filmsNobody (2021) and its sequel,Nobody 2 (2025), both of which he also produced. On stage, he received a nomination for theTony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play with hisBroadway debut inGlengarry Glen Ross (2025).
Robert John Odenkirk was born inBerwyn, Illinois, then raised inNaperville. He is the second oldest of seven siblings born to Walter Henry Odenkirk (1930–1986), who was employed in the printing business, and Barbara Mary (née Baier) Odenkirk (1936–2021),[4][5][1] Catholics of German and Irish descent.[6][7][8] His parents divorced in part due to Walter'salcoholism, which influenced Bob's decision toavoid alcohol as much as possible. He describes his father as "remote, fucked-up, and not around".[9] Odenkirk would later say that he grew up "hating" Naperville as a 15-year-old because "it felt like a dead end, like Nowheresville. I couldn't wait to move into a city and be around people who were doing exciting things."[6] Walter Odenkirk died of bone cancer in 1986.[1][7] Odenkirk's younger brotherBill Odenkirk is also a comedy writer, and helped Bob's early career.[10]
Odenkirk attendedNaperville North High School and graduated at 16; he was "tired of high school", and because he had enough credits, he was able to leave high school when he was still ajunior.[11] Because he was so young and thought he would be awkward at any college,[11] he decided to attend the localCollege of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.[12] After a year,[11] he went toMarquette University inMilwaukee, Wisconsin, then transferred toSouthern Illinois University inCarbondale, Illinois, "honing his sketch-writing and performance skills with live shows on both colleges' radio stations".[1] He began his foray into comedy writing as a radioDJ for WIDB, the local non-broadcastcollege station atSIU. At WIDB he created a late-night (midnight to 4 am) radio comedy show calledThe Prime Time Special. After three years of college, Odenkirk was three credits short of graduating when he decided to try writing and improv in Chicago. He completed the credits atColumbia College Chicago and received his bachelor's degree in communications from SIU in 1984.[13] First studying withDel Close, Odenkirk attended thePlayers Workshop where he metRobert Smigel, and they began a collaboration that would last for years and take Odenkirk toSaturday Night Live.[6] He also performed at theImprov Olympic alongside futureSaturday Night Live cast membersChris Farley andTim Meadows.[citation needed]
Odenkirk sharpened his stand-up and improv skills at Elmhurst's now defunct Who's on First comedy club, then part ofThe Steve and Leo Show.[citation needed]
Odenkirk visited Chicago'sSecond City Theater at the age of fourteen. He said his strongest comedic influence wasMonty Python's Flying Circus, primarily due to its combination ofcerebral humor and silliness, which Odenkirk characterized as "laugh-out-loud" humor.[14] Other influences included radio personalitySteve Dahl,SCTV,Steve Martin'sLet's Get Small,Woody Allen,The Credibility Gap, andBob and Ray.[14]
Odenkirk was hired as a writer atSaturday Night Live in 1987 and worked there through 1991. Working alongsideRobert Smigel andConan O'Brien, he contributed to many sketches they created but felt uncertain of the efficacy of his writing at the show.[15] WhenSNL took its 1988 summer break, Odenkirk returned to Chicago to perform a stage show with Smigel and O'Brien, titledHappy Happy Good Show. The following summer he did a one-man show,Show-Acting Guy, directed by Tom Gianas. During his final summer hiatus, he wrote and acted in the Second City Mainstage show,Flag Burning Permitted in Lobby Only. In that particular show, he wrote the character "Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker" for Chris Farley, which would later be reprised onSNL.[14]
He acted in several small roles on the show, most visibly during a 1990 parody commercial for Bad Idea Jeans.[16] During his final year atSNL, he worked alongsideAdam Sandler,David Spade,Chris Rock andChris Farley, but eventually he decided to leave the show in order to pursue performing.[15] He has creditedSNL with teaching him many lessons about sketch writing, from senior writers likeJim Downey andAl Franken, as well as his friends Smigel and O'Brien.[14] In 1991, Odenkirk relocated toLos Angeles and was hired to write for the TV showGet a Life, which starredLate Night with David Letterman alumnusChris Elliott.[17] He wrote forThe Dennis Miller Show.[18]
Odenkirk's friendship withBen Stiller, with whom he briefly shared an office atSNL, would lead to his being hired for the cast ofThe Ben Stiller Show in 1992. Working as both a writer and actor on the show, he created and starred in the memorable sketch "Manson Lassie", and helped the show win anEmmy Award for writing. However, the show had already been canceled by the time it won the award.[3] Odenkirk served as a writer onLate Night with Conan O'Brien for the show's 1993 and 1994 seasons.[19] Odenkirk metDavid Cross atBen Stiller; shortly afterward, the pair began performing live sketch shows, which eventually evolved intoMr. Show with Bob and David.[19] In 1993, Odenkirk began a recurring role onThe Larry Sanders Show asLarry Sanders' agent, Stevie Grant. He would continue the character through 1998.[19] Also in 1993, he had brief acting roles onRoseanne[20] andTom Arnold'sThe Jackie Thomas Show.[21] Odenkirk's first movie roles were very minor parts in films such asWayne's World 2,The Cable Guy,Can't Stop Dancing andMonkeybone. Odenkirk briefly attempted a stand-up career in the mid-1990s, but abandoned it soon after, admitting he "hated telling the same joke twice."[22]
Created by Odenkirk andDavid Cross,Mr. Show ran onHBO for four seasons. The series featured a number of comedians in the early stages of their careers, includingSarah Silverman,Paul F. Tompkins,Jack Black,Tom Kenny,Mary Lynn Rajskub,Brian Posehn andScott Aukerman. While nominated for multiple Emmy awards in writing and generally well-liked by critics, it never broke out of a "cult" audience into larger mainstream acceptance due to being a premium cable show. AfterMr. Show, Bob and David and the writers from the staff wrote the movieRun, Ronnie, Run. The film was an extension of a sketch from the show's first season. However, the studio took production control away from Cross and Odenkirk during the editing stages, and the pair disowned the final product.[citation needed]
Odenkirk starred in numerous television shows and some films. He has written and produced many TV pilots, includingThe Big Wide World of Carl Laemke andDavid's Situation, but most didn't make it to air and none were picked up as a series.[23] In 2003, Odenkirk directedMelvin Goes to Dinner and played the role of Keith. The film received positive reviews from critics and won theAudience Award at theSXSW Film and Music Festival.
In 2004, Odenkirk received an unsolicited package including the work ofTim Heidecker andEric Wareheim. Inspired by their unique voice, he connected with them and helped them develop a semi-animated show forAdult Swim calledTom Goes to the Mayor. He assisted Tim and Eric with the development of their second series,Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job. He had several small featuring roles on TV shows, includingEverybody Loves Raymond,Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist,NewsRadio,Just Shoot Me!,Joey,Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 1, Episode 3),Arrested Development,Entourage,Weeds, andHow I Met Your Mother.[19]
Odenkirk was considered for the role ofMichael Scott in the pilot ofThe Office, a role that ultimately went toSteve Carell.[24] Odenkirk finally guested in the final season ofThe Office as a Philadelphia manager strongly reminiscent of Michael Scott.[25] In 2006, Odenkirk directedLet's Go to Prison, which was written byThomas Lennon andRobert Ben Garant, and starredWill Arnett,Dax Shepard andChi McBride. The film received a 12% "All Critics" score from the websiteRotten Tomatoes[26] and had a totalbox office gross of a little more than US$4.6 million.[27] The following year Odenkirk directedThe Brothers Solomon, written byWill Forte and starring Forte, Will Arnett andKristen Wiig. The film received a 15% "All Critics" score from Rotten Tomatoes[28] and had a total box office gross of approximately $1 million.[29]
In 2009, Odenkirk joined the cast ofAMC'sBreaking Bad as corrupt lawyerSaul Goodman. WriterPeter Gould, as well as several others, had been quickly drawn to Odenkirk for this role based on hisMr. Show performances. The Goodman role was intended to be only a three-episode guest spot in thesecond season, but Odenkirk's performance led Gould andVince Gilligan to extend the character as an ongoing role. Odenkirk became a series regular as Goodman for the show'sthird throughfifth and final season.[30]
In 2011, Odenkirk wrote and developedLet's Do This! forAdult Swim, starring Cal Mackenzie-Goldberg a "two-bit movie mogul and head of Cal-Gold Pictures as he leads a collection of crazy, fame-hungry strivers chasing Hollywood dreams". The pilot can be seen on Adult Swim's website.[31] Odenkirk executive produced the sketch comedy showThe Birthday Boys, which starred the comedy group of the same name. Odenkirk also appeared in and directed a number of the sketches on the show.[32] It premiered onIFC on October 18, 2013. In 2014, Odenkirk played Police Chief Bill Oswalt inFX's miniseriesFargo. In fall of 2014, Odenkirk played Dr. Stork, apodiatrist who specializes in cutting off people's toes, inAdult Swim's anthology seriesTim & Eric's Bedtime Stories.[33]
After starring inBreaking Bad, Odenkirk began to have more prominent roles in critically successful films, such asIncredibles 2,Little Women,The Post,The Disaster Artist,The Spectacular Now, which received theSpecial Jury Award for Acting at the2013 Sundance Film Festival, and theAlexander Payne-directedNebraska, which was nominated for aPalme d'Or at the2013 Cannes Film Festival.[34][35]
It was reported in April 2015 that Odenkirk was teaming with former co-starDavid Cross to produce a new sketch comedy series based on their previous production,Mr. Show, calledW/ Bob and David. The series was commissioned byNetflix with the first season having been released in November 2015, featuring four 30-minute-long episodes, along with an hour-long behind-the-scenes special. Odenkirk and Cross both write, star in, and produce the show.[36] Odenkirk has expressed interest in doing more seasons.[37]
Odenkirk starred in the title role ofBetter Call Saul, aBreaking Badspinoff. Primarily set in the early 2000s, years before the character's debut inBreaking Bad, the series follows lawyerSaul Goodman's journey from court-appointed defense attorney origins to his eventual status as a successful, though unscrupulous, criminal defense lawyer. He is also credited as a producer for the series.[38]
The first season consists of ten 47-minute-long episodes, with asecond andthird season of ten episodes apiece following in early 2016 and 2017, respectively.[39]The fourth season was available on Netflix as of August 6, 2018, andthe fifth season premiered on AMC on February 23, 2020. The show'sfinal sixth season, which started production in February 2020 but was delayed due toCOVID-19, started airing on April 18, 2022.[40]
In 2017, Odenkirk published his first book,A Load of Hooey, a collection of comedic sketches and essays. Odenkirk co-wrote, produced, and starred inGirlfriend's Day, aNetflix original film. This film-noir comedy about a greeting card writer was directed byMichael Stephenson and influenced byChinatown. It was a movie Odenkirk had wanted to make for 16 years, afterMr. Show writer Eric Hoffman sent him the original script and they began developing it.[37] In April 2020, with the end ofBetter Call Saul in sight, Odenkirk established his own production company Cal-Gold Pictures, with formerComedy Central vice president Ian Friedman as head of television, and signed a first-look deal withSony Pictures Television.[41]
In March 2021, Odenkirk starred as Hutch Mansell in the action-thriller filmNobody, which opened at number one at the US box office, with $6.7 million in ticket sales.[42] To prepare for his role inNobody, Odenkirk underwent an intensive two-year physical training program focused on developing functional strength, mobility, and combat conditioning. His regimen began with regular cardio warm-ups, such as cycling for 10–15 minutes, followed by high-volume circuit training consisting of box jumps, push-ups, squats, and abdominal exercises.[43] He also incorporated pull-ups and boxing drills, performing multiple three-minute rounds of pad work to improve striking skill and endurance.[44] Odenkirk’s trainer and stunt team, includingDaniel Bernhardt ofJohn Wick fame, designed the sessions to prioritise movement efficiency and coordination over heavy lifting, reflecting a focus on practical combat readiness rather than traditional bodybuilding strength, so he could, as Bernhardt put it, perform "99 percent of his own stunts."[45]
Odenkirk received his star on theHollywood Walk of Fame on April 18, 2022, the date of the premiere of the final season ofBetter Call Saul. Odenkirk's star is located next to the star of hisBreaking Bad co-starBryan Cranston.[46] In 2022, a new series starring Odenkirk was announced forAMC, entitledLucky Hank, based on the novelStraight Man by Richard Russo. It premiered on March 19, 2023.[47] In 2022, Odenkirk published his memoir,Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama. This was followed by a collection of children's poetry in 2023,Zilot & Other Important Rhymes, written with his daughter, Erin.
In 2023, Odenkirk acted in theFX seriesThe Bear playing Uncle Lee in the episode "Fishes".[48] The performance earned him a nomination for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.[49] In 2025, Odenkirk made hisBroadway debut as Shelly Levene in a revival of theDavid Mamet playGlengarry Glen Ross, headlining oppositeKieran Culkin andBill Burr.[50] Odenkirk's performance was critically acclaimed and earned a nomination for theTony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play; marking the polarizing revival's sole nomination.[51]
InNormal (2025), he plays Ulysses, a substitute sherriff in a sleepy town that has a crooked mayor. The screenplay is byDerek Kolstad and runs in the same vein as theNobody films.[52]
Odenkirk will appear as the lead character of Johnny inThe Room Returns!, a remake of the infamously bad 2003 filmThe Room, currently in post-production.[53]
In the early 1990s, Odenkirk was linked romantically to fellow comedian, actress and writerJaneane Garofalo, who introduced him toMr. Show with Bob and David co-creatorDavid Cross.[54]
In 1997, Odenkirk married Naomi Yomtov, who was later the executive producer ofW/ Bob and David.[36] They have two children, a son and a daughter.[55]
When discussing costume choices onBetter Call Saul, Odenkirk stated he has partialcolor blindness and that he leavescostume selection for his roles to the costume department.[56]
On December 15, 2019, Odenkirk'salma mater SIU announced it had awarded him thehonorary degree of Doctor of Performing Arts.[57]
On July 27, 2021, Odenkirk was hospitalized in Albuquerque after having what he described as a "smallheart attack" onthe set ofthe sixth season ofBetter Call Saul.[58][59] Three days later, on July 30, Odenkirk reported that he would "be back soon",[60] and on September 8 he reported he had returned to work.[61] In 2022, Odenkirk revealed that he had twostents placed in hiscoronary arteries shortly after thewidow-maker heart attack due toarterial plaque build-up, which he had been diagnosed with in 2018. He also said that his condition was more severe than had initially been understood, disclosing that hisheart stopped and he requiredcardiopulmonary resuscitation anddefibrillation to recover a pulse.[62][63][64]Better Call Saul showrunnerPeter Gould later stated that had Odenkirk not recovered, he and the producers would not have continued on and likely would have dropped the show.[65]
On thePBS showFinding Your Roots, Odenkirk learned that he is descended from an illegitimate son ofFrederick Charles, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön, making him an eleventh cousin to KingCharles III.[66] He also learned one of his ancestors, Jean Jacques Fricker, was a French soldier during theNapoleonic Wars who fought at theBattle of Aspern-Essling.[67][68]
As an actor, he is known for his role asSaul Goodman/Jimmy McGill onBreaking Bad (2009–2013) and its spin-offBetter Call Saul (2015–2022). For the latter, he received six nominations for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, which ties the record for most nominations in the category without a win. For the role, he also received five nominations for theGolden Globe Award for Best Actor, five nominations for theScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, and six nominations for theCritics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series, winning the award three times, along with three nominations for theTelevision Critics Association Award for Individual Achievement in Drama. As a producer onBetter Call Saul since its premiere, he has also received seven nominations for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series.
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2013 | Hollywood Said No!: Orphaned Film Scripts, Bastard Scenes, and Abandoned Darlings from the Creators of Mr. Show |
| 2014 | A Load of Hooey |
| 2022 | Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama: A Memoir |
| 2023 | Zilot & Other Important Rhymes |
