Bob Odenkirk collapsed on the set of AMC’s Better Call Saul and was rushed to the hospital Tuesday, sources confirm to The Hollywood Reporter.
Odenkirk was in Albuquerque, New Mexico, filming the sixth and final season of the Breaking Bad spinoff series when it happened. Crewmembers immediately surrounded the 58-year-old and called an ambulance. Odenkirk is still receiving medical care. The cause of his collapse is unknown.
Odenkirk is a four-time Emmy nominee for his role as slimy lawyer Saul Goodman, a part he originated on AMC’s Emmy-winning drama Breaking Bad. He reprises the role and leads the call sheet on prequel spinoff Better Call Saul. The series, which films in the same New Mexico production hub as Breaking Bad had, is in production on a sixth season that was originally slated to premiere this year. Pandemic-related delays have now pushed the highly anticipated final season to a likely 2022 return.
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Breaking Bad, and later Saul, helped define AMC as a network. The franchise, from exec producers Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, remains among the most valued properties at Sony Television, too. Odenkirk, like Gilligan and Gould, also has his own producing deal with Sony and is beloved by the studio’s Culver City-based TV execs.
More recently, Odenkirk earned strong reviews for his leading role as an action-star in the Universal feature Nobody, which required an intense training routine and was released in March. He also announced he was penning a memoir, about his career spanning time on Saturday Night Live to Better Call Saul. It, like Saul, is expected in 2022.
Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston issued a heartfelt statement Wednesday morning to his former co-star Odenkirk.
“Today I woke up to news that has made me anxious all morning,” Cranston said on Instagram. “My friend, Bob Odenkirk collapsed last night on the set of Better Call Saul. He is in the hospital in Albuquerque and receiving the medical attention he needs but his condition is not known to the public as yet. Please take a moment in your day today to think about him and send positive thoughts and prayers his way, thank you.”
Fellow Breaking Bad co-star Aaron Paul also gave support to Odenkirk on Wednesday, sharing a photo of the actor on Instagram and writing, “I love you my friend.” Better Call Saul star Michael Mando also tweeted, “Last night our dear Bob was rushed to the hospital after he collapsed on stage. Send all your positive energy and love to him and his family — let’s hope to have him back as soon as possible I love u so much, my friend xo.”
On Tuesday night, Odenkirk’s close friends and co-stars tweeted positive thoughts and hopes for the actor as well. David Cross, who starred with Odenkirk in the seminal HBO series Mr. Show With Bob and David, tweeted, “I will share what I know when I can but Bob is one of the strongest people I know both physically and spiritually. He WILL get through this.”
Michael McKean, Odenkirk’s Saul co-star, tweeted, “Sending huge love to our @mrbobodenkirk. You got this, brother.”
THR has reached out to representatives for Odenkirk, AMC and producers Sony Pictures Television and will update this story as more information becomes available.
TMZ was the first to report the Odenkirk news.
