Bob Odenkirk Reflects on Heart Attack and Memory Loss

Bob Odenkirk shared that his daughter played a crucial role in helping him regain his memory after he suffered a heart attack in 2021, which briefly erased his recollection of the event.

During a conversation with Michael Rosenbaum on the podcast “Inside of You,” Odenkirk revealed that the circumstances surrounding his heart attack while filming “Better Call Saul” felt particularly perilous. He mentioned being far from the set during a time when everyone was on high alert due to the coronavirus pandemic, making it even more challenging to get immediate help.

Initially, those nearby mistakenly thought the laughter of his castmates, Rhea Seehorn and Patrick Fabian, was a jovial response rather than a reaction to his distress. He recalled the moment vividly: while heading to his stationary bike, he told Seehorn, “I don’t feel very well,” and then it quickly escalated from there.

Though his family visited him daily following his surgery, Odenkirk admits he couldn’t remember anything for an entire week afterward. “My daughter made me a dry erase board to document what happened during that time, which was so helpful,” he said. “I woke up in the hospital and didn’t even recognize the faces around me.”

During that confusing week, he kept asking questions like, “Where am I? Why am I here?” Odenkirk noted the odd humor in a video his wife shot while he was in recovery, where his children asked him if he understood why he was hospitalized. To which he hilariously replied, “Because I heard you guys were here.” He expressed amazement at how our brains create narratives to make sense of uncertain situations.

He emphasized that despite ongoing conversations with his family, he felt stuck in a loop of confusion. “I was fooled,” he joked, adding that he hadn’t experienced any of the classic near-death phenomena like seeing bright lights or having his life flash before his eyes.

Reflecting on those moments, Odenkirk shared that coming out of the experience allowed him to appreciate life in new ways. It can really change your perspective, he suggested, thinking about what you truly value and how precious time is.

On a personal note, he found it difficult to shake off the notion of immortality. “Sometimes I think, what kind of films will I be making in 30 years?” he pondered, acknowledging how confronting his mortality can serve as a catalyst for reevaluating one’s use of time.

He admitted to wrestling with his age and family history, mentioning, “I’m 63 years old, my father lived to be 56, so what do I do with my time?” It became clear he wasn’t simply contemplating work. Odenkirk highlighted the importance of adding depth to life beyond professional achievements, suggesting that it’s essential to cultivate a richer, fulfilling existence.