Bob Odenkirk’s Astonishing Career Pivot: From Comedy King to Action Star and Beyond
It’s rare to witness an artist defy genre expectations so profoundly, but Bob Odenkirk has achieved just that, transitioning from beloved sketch comedy icon to award-winning dramatic actor and, now, a formidable action star. This career reinvention, particularly his late-career surge into physically demanding roles, offers a compelling case study in artistic evolution and the potential for unexpected success in the entertainment industry.
The Unforeseen Trajectory of Bob Odenkirk
Odenkirk’s path to stardom was anything but linear. After honing his comedic chops on *Saturday Night Live* in the late ’80s and co-creating the cult classic *Mr. Show with Bob and David* in the ’90s, few would have predicted his dramatic turn. Yet, his late 40s and 50s saw him deliver critically acclaimed performances as the morally flexible lawyer Saul Goodman and Jimmy McGill in *Breaking Bad* and its prequel, *Better Call Saul*. This dual mastery of comedy and drama was a significant feat, earning him seven Emmy nominations.
From McGill to Mansell: The Action Hero Emerges
The biggest surprise in Odenkirk’s career arc came with his embrace of the action genre. In 2019, he starred in and produced *Nobody*, portraying Hutch Mansell, a seemingly ordinary family man with a hidden past as a deadly assassin. Released in March 2021, the film garnered strong reviews and achieved a respectable box office of $57.5 million against a $16 million budget, a welcome success during the pandemic. Odenkirk’s commitment to the role was evident; he underwent rigorous training, following a program developed by the same minds behind Keanu Reeves’ transformation into John Wick.
“It was more that you’ve got to exercise when you get older,” Odenkirk told The Hollywood Reporter, highlighting the demanding yet rewarding nature of the training, which draws from diverse fight traditions like jiu-jitsu, karate, and boxing.
This intense regimen, designed by David Leitch and Chad Stahelski’s 87North and 87eleven, not only prepared him for the physical demands of *Nobody* but also proved life-saving. In July 2021, Odenkirk suffered a near-fatal heart incident on the set of *Better Call Saul*. Miraculously, after recovering, he recommitted to his *Nobody* training, demonstrating an inspiring resilience.
Personal Echoes in Reel Life: Family and Waterparks
The narratives within the *Nobody* franchise are deeply rooted in Odenkirk’s personal experiences. The initial home invasion that sets Hutch Mansell’s dormant skills alight was inspired by actual break-ins his family endured. For *Nobody 2*, the inspiration shifted to family vacations. Odenkirk drew from his own childhood memories of traveling to the Wisconsin Dells with his large family in the 1970s, a trip characterized by youthful disappointment when the reality didn’t match the childhood memory.
“The family I grew up in, we went on two vacations in my life,” Odenkirk recalled. “There were seven kids in my family, and we didn’t have enough money to go to Hawaii or Disneyland. So we went to the Wisconsin Dells in a station wagon, and the kids were in the back, sweating and complaining.”
This nostalgic, yet slightly melancholic, inspiration fueled the script for *Nobody 2*, blending the high-octane action of the first film with elements reminiscent of a family road trip comedy, like *National Lampoon’s Vacation*. The film aims to capture the relatable parental struggle of wanting to create magical experiences for children, only to face their modern-day cynicism and the inherent imperfections of such trips.
Navigating the Demands of a Multifaceted Career
Odenkirk’s involvement in *Nobody 2* extended beyond acting. He was deeply immersed in the writing process, a demanding endeavor that, coupled with his rigorous training schedule (often two workouts a day), led to a noticeable weight loss that concerned those around him. Despite this, Odenkirk maintained he felt fine, attributing the physical toll to the intensity of his commitments.
“I don’t have a writer’s credit, but I was deep into the writing on these films, especially the second film,” Odenkirk explained. “So I didn’t go home and have a massage and go to sleep. I went home and worked on the next day’s screenplay.”
His dedication to the craft is further exemplified by his relationship with Daniel Bernhardt, who trained him for the action sequences. Odenkirk expressed immense respect for Bernhardt, his trainer and a recurring actor in the *John Wick* universe, suggesting he’d be a permanent fixture in any future action projects.
The Enduring Appeal of the “Ordinary” Action Hero
Odenkirk finds a creative parallel between crafting intricate action sequences and his early days writing sketches. Both forms, he notes, require a narrative arc within a contained structure, with each movement and beat serving a purpose. This appreciation for storytelling within action is a key element that elevates the *Nobody* franchise.
While Odenkirk is open to further installments, stating he “would do a third or fourth [Nobody] film,” he is also exploring other avenues, including a comedy project and the recently completed action film *Normal*. His continued exploration of diverse roles suggests a career that prioritizes creative satisfaction over strict genre adherence.
Beyond Action: A Continued Connection to His Roots
Despite his success in action films, Odenkirk remains closely connected to his *Breaking Bad* and *Better Call Saul* collaborators. His reunion with Rhea Seehorn at the *Nobody 2* premiere, coupled with his anticipation for her new series *Pluribus*, underscores the strong bonds formed over years of working together. He famously devoted 14 years to playing Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman, a complex character he admits was challenging to inhabit continuously.
“Both Hutch Mansell in Nobody and Saul Goodman in Better Call Saul have a lot of impacted frustration inside them,” Odenkirk shared. “They’re guys who, for different reasons, have pretty big chips on their shoulders, and that’s hard to play after a while.”
While he is content moving on from the legal intricacies of Saul Goodman, Odenkirk remains enthusiastic about further exploring the evolving dynamics of the Mansell family in future *Nobody* films. His journey from sketch comedy to dramatic acting and now action stardom demonstrates a remarkable ability to reinvent and adapt, proving that age and prior success are merely launchpads for new creative endeavors.
What are your thoughts on Bob Odenkirk’s genre-bending career? Share your favorite roles in the comments below!
