With Better Call Saul ending this week, many fans will leave the series talking about the talents of its lead actor, Bob Odenkirk, especially in the run-up to the Emmys. The Breaking Bad spin-off had an impressive six-season run and has been regarded by fans of the original show as equaling the quality of its predecessor.
Bob Odenkirk takes on a more dramatic role in Better Call Saul but has spent much of his career in comedy, notably as a writer for Saturday Night Live and starring on the sketch show Mr. Show. Since then, he has also starred in successful films like Little Women and Nobody. With such a varied career, there are many interesting aspects of Odenkirk's career.
He Lived With His Better Call Saul Co-Stars During Production
One of Better Call Saul's best aspects is the chemistry between the main cast, most notably between Saul Goodman/Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) and Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn), his romantic interest, and a fellow lawyer. It will likely come as no surprise to fans that in real life, the cast members have a strong bond.
Odenkirk revealed that he and Seehorn, as well as fellow co-stars Patrick Fabian and Josh Faden share a home while filming the show on-location in Albuquerque, New Mexico. "I love getting home and somebody, Patrick especially, will make dinner for everybody", Odenkirk explained, adding, "It’s better than being alone out there (via NME).
His Brother Writes For The Simpsons
Bob Odenkirk is not the only member of his family that works in show business, or even in comedy. His brother, Bill Odenkirk, is a writer and executive producer for The Simpsons, widely considered one of the best animated sitcoms of all time.
Bill even wrote an episode that featured his actor brother in a guest role, for the season 31 episode "The Fat Blue Line". Bob played a lawyer representing mob leader Fat Tony, in a role that parodies Saul Goodman's role in the Breaking Bad franchise (via Entertainment Weekly).
He Almost Wrote For The Simpsons Himself
Bob Odenkirk has had an extensive career as a writer for comedy shows, most notably for Saturday Night Live and Late Night With Conan O'Brien. What may be a surprise to fans, is that Odenkirk was offered a life-changing job to write for The Simpsons.
Odenkirk explained in his book, Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama, that he was offered the job during the show's early years. "I wouldn't have survived the focus the show demanded, but I was in awe of what they were creating", he wrote.
He Had Never Seen Breaking Bad When He Was Cast As Saul Goodman
Saul Goodman made his debut on Breaking Bad pretty early on in the show's run, at the beginning of season 2. At the time, the show had not garnered the large cult following that it generated towards the end of its run, and Odenkirk had not seen the show when he was cast in the role of Saul.
Bob revealed that he had only seen 10 minutes of the show before he started filming, and his co-star Bryan Cranston picked up on this when they shot a scene together, and he referred to a character Saul disliked with an overly-friendly tone. Cranston said, “That guy’s not your friend, don’t say it like that. You don’t watch the show, do you?”, according to Odenkirk (via The Hollywood Reporter).
He Wrote SNL's Most Famous Sketch
The "Matt Foley: Motivational Speaker" sketch is regarded as one of SNL's best skits, thanks to the manic energy of the late comedian Chris Farley, best known for the line "you'll be living in a van down by the river!". The sketch was originally conceived by Farley and Bob Odenkirk during their time at the Second City comedy troupe, before the pair joined SNL.
Bob Odenkirk appeared as an interviewee in the documentary I Am Chris Farley which paid tribute to Farley's life and comedy. Odenkirk recalled that his daughter asked what the best moment of his career was, and the actor and writer responded that writing the sketch with his close friend is by far his favorite.
He Hated Another One of SNL's Most Famous Sketches
Chris Farley is now considered one of the best SNL cast members in the history of the show. As well as the Matt Foley sketches, he played opposite actor and dancer Patrick Swayze in the "Chippendales Audition" sketch, a skit that was a hit with viewers and solidified Farley's star status on SNL.
Now, the skit is viewed by many as rather mean-spirited and made Farley the butt of the joke through body-shaming. Odenkirk, a former SNL writer and close friend of Farley, described the skit's popularity as "a huge bummer", and that "it confirmed Chris's worst instincts about being funny, which was how he proved his worth — that getting laughed at was as good as getting a laugh" (via Entertainment Weekly).
His Role In Nobody May Have Saved His Life
In July 2021, Bob Odenkirk collapsed from a heart attack while filming the final season of Better Call Saul in New Mexico. Fortunately, Odenkirk recovered from the incident and resumed filming once his health improved.
Odenkirk credits getting into shape for the 2021 action-comedy film Nobody may for helping him survive the incident. In an interview, Bob explained that he was informed that "more blood was able to go to my heart during CPR because these veins were just a little bit bigger from a lot of working out" (via NME).
He Was Bankrupt Before Breaking Bad
Bob Odenkirk had a rather prolific acting and writing career on television prior to Breaking Bad. Surprisingly, the actor confessed in an interview with Howard Stern that he had declared bankruptcy when he was offered the role of Saul Goodman in 2009.
Odenkirk explained that a failed attempt at a directing career left him in "a financial hole". He had never seen Breaking Bad, which had yet to gain worldwide notoriety at that point. His manager advised him "don't say no" to the part offered to him in order to clear his debts (via Insider).
He Makes A Cameo In Halloween Kills
Fans of both the Breaking Bad and Halloween franchises may have easily missed a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo in the 2021 movie Halloween Kills. A photo of a young Bob Odenkirk appeared on a televised news report detailing the murder of Bob Simms, who died in the original 1976 movie.
"I wanted to have acknowledgment of all the deaths from the previous film, but we couldn't track [the actor] down or get the rights," director David Gordon Green explained. After Googling "Bob '70's High School", a photo of Odenkirk popped up, and Green thought "he's probably easier to find; let's go get him!" (via Digital Spy).
He Almost Played Michael Scott In The Office
Bob Odenkirk made a cameo in the season 9 episode of the beloved sitcom The Office as Mark Franks, a prospective boss for Pam as she searches for a new job. Pam quickly discovers that Mark is highly similar to her former boss Michael Scott, portraying many Michael-like mannerisms during her visit.
The cameo is a wink towards the fact that Odenkirk very nearly played Michael Scott when the sitcom was being cast back in 2004. Released audition footage shows many actors, such as Seth Rogen and Nick Offerman, trying out for various parts in the show, with Odenkirk auditioning to play Michael Scott (via Mental Floss).