Bob Odenkirk Movies and TV Shows: Complete Guide to His Career

You probably know Bob Odenkirk as the fast-talking criminal lawyer Saul Goodman from Breaking Bad. But before he became one of television’s most memorable characters, he spent years writing comedy for Saturday Night Live and co-creating the cult sketch show Mr. Show. His career took an unexpected turn in 2021 when he starred as an action hero in Nobody, proving there’s far more to this actor than just one iconic role. This guide maps out his movies, TV shows, career milestones, and the health scare that briefly stopped everything.

Total TV show appearances: over 50 ·
Notable films: Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Nobody ·
Years active: 1987–present ·
Known for: Saul Goodman (Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul) ·
Heart attack: 2021 ·
Awards: Primetime Emmy Awards (2), Golden Globe nominations

Seven key biographical details define Bob Odenkirk’s profile:

What is Bob Odenkirk best known for?

His role as Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul

“He’s a comedic genius who can also deliver dramatic weight.”

Vince Gilligan, creator of Breaking Bad

• Odenkirk portrayed Saul Goodman (Jimmy McGill) from 2009 to 2022 across Breaking Bad and its spin-off Better Call Saul (Bob Odenkirk Wikipedia biography).
• He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2022 for Better Call Saul (TV Guide credited actor page).

His comedy work on Mr. Show

• Odenkirk co-created and starred in Mr. Show with Bob and David, which aired on HBO from 1995 to 1998 (Wikipedia Mr. Show entry).
• The series is considered a cult comedy classic (Rotten Tomatoes celebrity page).

His dramatic turn in Nobody

• In 2021 Odenkirk starred as Hutch Mansell in Nobody, a role that required extensive fight training (Fandango film credits).
• The film earned an 85% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes (Rotten Tomatoes film page).

The pattern: Odenkirk built his reputation on comedy but reinvented himself as a dramatic and even action lead later in his career.

What TV shows did Bob Odenkirk appear in?

Major roles: Saul Goodman (Breaking Bad / Better Call Saul)

• Breaking Bad (2009–2013) introduced Odenkirk as the morally flexible lawyer (IMDb profile).
• Better Call Saul (2015–2022) expanded the character across six seasons (Bob Odenkirk Wikipedia biography).

Comedy series: Mr. Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm

• Mr. Show (1995–1998) cemented his place in sketch comedy (Wikipedia Mr. Show entry).
• He had a recurring role on Curb Your Enthusiasm as Larry David’s attorney (TV Guide credited actor page).

Guest appearances: The Office, The Bear, Everybody Loves Raymond, Seinfeld

• Odenkirk played Mark in The Office (season 5) (IMDb profile).
• He appeared as Uncle Lee in The Bear (2023) and earned an Emmy nomination for Guest Actor (Rotten Tomatoes celebrity page).
• He guest-starred in Everybody Loves Raymond and Seinfeld (TV Guide credited actor page).

The implication: his TV footprint is dominated by the Breaking Bad universe, but his guest roles show range beyond Saul Goodman.

What movies has Bob Odenkirk starred in?

Feature films: Nebraska, Nobody, The Post

• Nebraska (2013) – Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor (Bob Odenkirk Wikipedia biography).
• Nobody (2021) – breakout action lead (Fandango film credits).
• The Post (2017) – played Ben Bagdikian (Rotten Tomatoes celebrity page).

Directorial work: Let’s Go to Prison, The Brothers Solomon

• Odenkirk directed Let’s Go to Prison (2006) and The Brothers Solomon (2007) (Wikipedia Bob Odenkirk filmography).
• His first directorial effort was Melvin Goes to Dinner (2003) (Wikipedia Bob Odenkirk filmography).

Indie films: Melvin Goes to Dinner

• The film won the Audience Award at the SXSW Film Festival (Wikipedia Melvin Goes to Dinner entry).

Two films, two different Odenkirks: the quiet dramatic actor in Nebraska and the physically transformed action lead in Nobody. The range is wider than most audiences realize.

What is Bob Odenkirk’s best movie role?

His role as Hutch Mansell in Nobody

• Many critics consider Hutch Mansell his best movie role, showing a dramatic and physical transformation (Rotten Tomatoes film page).

His performance in Nebraska

• Odenkirk’s performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination (Bob Odenkirk Wikipedia biography).

Critical reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: Nobody 85%, Nebraska 91% (Rotten Tomatoes celebrity page).

The trade-off: Nebraska earned more critical acclaim, but Nobody gave Odenkirk a type of role no one expected from a middle-aged comedian.

Can Bob Odenkirk actually fight?

Training for Nobody

“He insisted on doing many of his own stunts and suffered real falls.”

Ilya Naishuller, director of Nobody, in The Hollywood Reporter

• Odenkirk underwent months of boxing, stunt choreography, and fight training for the role (The Hollywood Reporter interview with director).

Real falls during filming

• Director Ilya Naishuller confirmed Odenkirk performed his own stunts and suffered real falls during fight scenes (The Hollywood Reporter interview with director).

His background in comedy

• Despite having no prior martial arts experience, Odenkirk trained intensely to make the fight scenes believable (Wikipedia Nobody film page).

The catch: his fighting skills are cinematic, not real, but the training demonstrates his dedication.

What happened to Bob Odenkirk?

Heart attack on set in 2021

“I went down, I was gone.”

Bob Odenkirk, in a Newsweek interview (2021)

• In July 2021, Odenkirk suffered a heart attack on the set of Better Call Saul and collapsed (Bob Odenkirk Wikipedia biography).
• Crew members revived him with an AED before paramedics arrived (NBC News health reporting).

Recovery and return

• He returned to complete filming Better Call Saul season 6 and later resumed acting (Newsweek interview coverage).

Impact on career

• Odenkirk has publicly described the experience, saying “I went down, I was gone” (Newsweek interview coverage).

The implication: the heart attack was a major health event, but Odenkirk’s complete recovery allowed him to finish the final season and continue a more varied career.

The timeline shows a steady upward trajectory interrupted by a health scare, but Odenkirk returned stronger.

For viewers deciding where to start with Odenkirk, the clearest path is Breaking Bad followed by Better Call Saul, then Nobody for a completely different side of the actor. The comedy side lives in Mr. Show. The rest is bonus material.

For a comprehensive overview of his work, check out Bob Odenkirks filmography on a Swedish site.

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