Bob Odenkirk Opens Up About Shocking Health Scare on ‘Better Call Saul’ Set: ‘I Turned Gray

Bob Odenkirk recently revisited the heart attack he suffered in 2021 while filming Better Call Saul.

Odenkirk revisited the moment he collapsed on set during production of the hit series, explaining how quickly things escalated and how chaotic the response was in the early moments. He described how cast members tried to get help while confusion spread across the set.

He said, “I went down and Rhea [Seehoorn] and Patrick [Fabian] grabbed me and they were screaming, but [the crew members who noticed] thought they were laughing. So there were delays in reacting because we were all so far apart from each other. I was gone. I turned gray. Eventually the on-set medic showed up and he didn’t know what to do. He’d never done CPR.”

He also reflected on what he experienced after the medical emergency, saying there was no dramatic “life review” moment that people often talk about in near-death situations. Instead, his memory simply cuts forward to his recovery.

He said, “A lot of people get that wonderful reel of film of their life, or they have a person who says, ‘Do you want to go back?’ None of that for me. The first memory I have is leaving the hospital a week after I got there.”

The actor explained that while the event was frightening, it ultimately changed how he views his life and work. He said the experience gave him a stronger sense of appreciation for everyday moments and recovery.

He described the aftermath as unexpectedly positive in some ways, saying, “Such a gift. I felt just very, very delighted and engaged.”

According to The Times of London, Odenkirk was 58 at the time of the incident in July 2021. The heart attack occurred while filming a Season 6 episode of Better Call Saul and was later linked to a buildup of plaque that blocked an artery.

Since then, he has made lifestyle and medical changes, including cutting back on sugar and taking prescribed medication such as statins, aspirin, and a beta-blocker to manage his condition.

Shortly after recovering, Odenkirk also thanked fans for their support in a message posted on social media, expressing gratitude for the response he received during his health scare.

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