From Mr. Show to Better Call Saul: Bob Odenkirk's legendary career

Bob Odenkirk (Image via Instagram/@therealbobodenkirk)
Bob Odenkirk (Image via Instagram/@therealbobodenkirk)

Bob Odenkirk is a popular American actor, writer, and comedian. He began his career in humor. This was mainly done before he got famous for more serious parts. He is most known for two shows. These mainly include Mr. Show with Bob and David and Better Call Saul.

Mr. Show was a humorous sketch comedy series. It ran specifically on HBO. This was from 1995 to 1998. It had hilarious and inventive sketches. This was mainly done with David Cross and other comedians.

Moreover, Better Call Saul is a drama series. There, Bob portrays Jimmy McGill. He is a lawyer, as per the storyline. He eventually becomes Saul Goodman. It's a prelude to Breaking Bad. This shows Bob's incredible acting abilities.


More about Bob Odenkirk's legendary career

Bob Odenkirk's development in the entertainment industry is quite unique. From an eccentric comedic writer to a serious performer nominated for an award, it all began there.

Beginning in Chicago's live comedy scene, Odenkirk gained notoriety for his witty and unconventional humor while writing for Saturday Night Live in the late 1980s. He continued to strive to be more than just a writer because of his inventiveness and passion for performing.

In the mid-1990s, he co-created Mr. Show with Bob and David with comic David Cross. At that time, it did not have widespread success. However, the program eventually became a cult classic. Today, it is regarded as a pioneer in sketch comedy. It also boosted the careers of other comedians. This helped cement Odenkirk's reputation as a daring and unique voice in comedy.

Odenkirk acted in tiny parts on hit series. This included How I Met Your Mother and Curb Your Enthusiasm for years. This was until everything changed in 2009. He was chosen to play AMC's Breaking Bad's brash. He was the ethically ambivalent lawyer Saul Goodman.

Odenkirk's ability to combine comedy and emotional depth made the character, who was originally meant to be comedic relief, an immediate favorite among fans. Saul was memorable due to his flamboyant outfits and witty one-liners. However, the multi-layered performance was what really created an impression.

His performance in Breaking Bad gradually became quite memorable. It inspired the highly praised spin-off Better Call Saul. Here, Odenkirk takes center stage as Jimmy McGill—Saul prior to the name change. Over six seasons, he portrayed empathy, tenderness, and nuance in the part.

This way, Bob Odenkirk established himself as a dramatic force. The program won him multiple Emmy nods and great acclaim for redefining what a "comedian-turned-actor" might do.

He shocked viewers once more in 2021. This was mainly because he starred in the action thriller Nobody. This showcased yet another aspect of his skill. That same year, he survived a heart attack on set but made a full recovery—returning to work with the same passion and perseverance that has distinguished his career.

The career of Bob Odenkirk is evidence that hard effort, risk-taking, and reinvention can result in extraordinary success, from sketch comedy stages to captivating television drama.

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Edited by Sohini Biswas