Bob Odenkirk

Bob Odenkirk: biography

Bob Odenkirk is an American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer best known for his roles in "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul".

Childhood and youth

Bob Odenkirk was born on October 22, 1962, in Berwyn, Illinois, USA, to Walter and Barbara Odenkirk. He grew up in Naperville, Illinois, with six siblings. His father was a printing company owner, and his mother was a homemaker.

As a child, Odenkirk was interested in comedy and would often put on comedy shows for his family and friends. He also wrote and performed in plays in high school. After graduating from Naperville North High School in 1980, he attended Southern Illinois University, where he studied radio and television.

After college, Odenkirk moved to Chicago, where he began performing stand-up comedy and writing for local comedy shows. In 1987, he became a writer for "Saturday Night Live" for one season before moving on to write for "The Ben Stiller Show" and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien".

In the early 1990s, Odenkirk co-created and co-starred in the sketch comedy series "Mr. Show with Bob and David," which aired on HBO from 1995 to 1998. The show became a cult hit and earned Odenkirk critical acclaim for his writing and performing.

Odenkirk continued to work in television and film, writing and producing for "The Chris Rock Show" and appearing in movies such as "The Cable Guy" and "Magnolia".However, it was his role as Saul Goodman/Jimmy McGill in the hit TV series "Breaking Bad" and its spin-off "Better Call Saul" that cemented his status as a top-tier actor and performer.

Movie career

Bob Odenkirk began his career as a comedy writer and performer, but he has also made a name for himself in the movie industry as an actor and director. He has appeared in a variety of movies over the years, showcasing his range as a performer.

One of Odenkirk's earliest movie roles was in the 1996 dark comedy "The Cable Guy", starring Jim Carrey. He played the role of Steven's (Matthew Broderick) best friend, who gets caught up in the antics of the unstable cable installer, played by Carrey.

Odenkirk continued to work in comedy movies, appearing in movies such as "Run Ronnie Run" (2002) and "Let's Go to Prison" (2006). However, he also started to take on more dramatic roles in movies like "The Post" (2017) and "Little Women" (2019).

In "The Post", directed by Steven Spielberg, Odenkirk played the role of Ben Bagdikian, a journalist who helps expose the Pentagon Papers. His performance earned him critical acclaim and showcased his ability to play a serious character.

In "Little Women", directed by Greta Gerwig, Odenkirk played the role of Father March, the patriarch of the March family. His portrayal of the caring and supportive father earned praise from critics and audiences alike.

Odenkirk also made his directorial debut with the 2006 movie "Let's Go to Prison," a dark comedy about a career criminal who seeks revenge on the judge who sentenced him to jail. The movie received mixed reviews, but it showed that Odenkirk was not only a talented actor but also a capable director.

In addition to his film work, Odenkirk has also lent his voice to several animated movies. He voiced the character of Captain Peralta in the 2016 movie "The Incredibles 2" and the character of Winston Deavor in the 2019 movie "The Incredibles 2" He also provided the voice for the character of Manny in the 2021 movies "The Mitchells vs. the Machines".

However, it was Odenkirk's role as Saul Goodman/Jimmy McGill in the hit TV series "Breaking Bad" and its spin-off "Better Call Saul" that brought him widespread recognition and critical acclaim. The character was initially introduced as a sleazy lawyer who helps Walter White (Bryan Cranston) launder money, but he later became the main character of his own spin-off series.

Odenkirk's performance as Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman earned him four Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He has also won several other awards for his work on the show, including a Critics' Choice Television Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

In summary, Bob Odenkirk has had a varied and successful movie career, with roles in both comedy and drama films. He has also shown his versatility as a performer by voicing characters in animated movies and directing his own film. However, it is his portrayal of Saul Goodman/Jimmy McGill in "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul" that has made him a household name and earned him critical acclaim.

Personal life

During the early 1990s, Bob Odenkirk was rumored to be in a romantic relationship with fellow comedian, actress, and writer Janeane Garofalo. It was through Garofalo that Odenkirk was introduced to David Cross, the co-creator of Mr. Show with Bob and David. This collaboration marked the beginning of Odenkirk's successful career in comedy.

In 1997, Bob Odenkirk tied the knot with Naomi Yomtov, who later became the executive producer of W/ Bob and David, a sketch comedy television series that Odenkirk starred in. The couple has been blessed with two children, and while Odenkirk prefers to keep his family life private, he has spoken about the importance of balancing his career with spending quality time with his loved ones.

Odenkirk has spoken in interviews about the challenges of balancing his career and family life. He has talked about how important it is to him to be present for his children and to make time for his family despite his busy schedule.

In addition to his family, Odenkirk is also known for his love of music. He has played guitar since he was a teenager and has performed with several bands over the years. In the early 2000s, he formed a band called The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show, which went on to tour the United States and release an album.

Odenkirk has also been involved in various charitable causes. In 2013, he participated in a celebrity auction to raise funds for the charity Homes for Our Troops, which builds homes for injured veterans. He has also been a supporter of the Children's Hospital Los Angeles and has participated in fundraisers for the organization.

Overall, while Bob Odenkirk keeps his personal life private, he has shared some details about his family, his love of music, and his involvement in charitable causes.

Filmography

Film:

• Wayne's World 2 (1993)
• The Cable Guy (1996)
• Can't Stop Dancing (1999)
• The Independent (2000)
• Run Ronnie Run! (2002)
• Melvin Goes to Dinner (2003)
• Let's Go to Prison (2006)
• The Brothers Solomon (2007)
• Super High Me (2007)
• Dealin’ with Idiots (2012)
• Hell and Back (2015)
• The Post (2017)
• Incredibles 2 (2018)
• Little Women (2019)
• Nobody (2021)

Television:

• Saturday Night Live (1987-1991)
• Get a Life (1991-1992)
• The Ben Stiller Show (1992-1993)
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993-1994)
• Mr. Show with Bob and David (1995-1998)
• Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000)
• The Andy Dick Show (2001)
• How I Met Your Mother (2008-2012)
• Breaking Bad (2009-2013)
• American Dad! (2009)
• Fargo (2015)
• Better Call Saul (2015-2022)

This is not a comprehensive list but includes some of the notable works of Bob Odenkirk in Film and TV.

Awards

Emmy Awards:

• 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 - Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Better Call Saul) - Nominated

Golden Globe Awards:

• 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama (Better Call Saul) - Nominated

Screen Actors Guild Awards:

• 2017 - Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (Better Call Saul) - Nominated
• 2018 - Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (Better Call Saul) - Won
• 2019 - Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (Better Call Saul) - Nominated
• 2020 - Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (Better Call Saul) - Nominated

Critics' Choice Television Awards:

• 2015 - Best Actor in a Drama Series (Better Call Saul) - Nominated
• 2016 - Best Actor in a Drama Series (Better Call Saul) - Nominated
• 2017 - Best Actor in a Drama Series (Better Call Saul) - Nominated
• 2018 - Best Actor in a Drama Series (Better Call Saul) - Nominated
• 2019 - Best Actor in a Drama Series (Better Call Saul) - Won
• 2020 - Best Actor in a Drama Series (Better Call Saul) - Nominated

Writers Guild of America Awards:

• 1996 - Best Writing in a Comedy/Variety Series (Mr. Show with Bob and David) - Nominated
• 2016 - Best Episodic Drama (Better Call Saul) - Nominated
• 2017 - Best Episodic Drama (Better Call Saul) - Nominated
• 2019 - Best Episodic Drama (Better Call Saul) - Won
• 2020 - Best Episodic Drama (Better Call Saul) - Nominated

This is not a comprehensive list but includes some of the notable awards and nominations received by Bob Odenkirk throughout his career.