If you’ve watched even five minutes of Better Call Saul, you know Jimmy McGill—the slick-talking, corner-cutting lawyer from Cicero, Illinois. He feels authentic. The way he talks about Chicago street names like Cermak Road or grabs a hot dog at Henry’s isn't just good scriptwriting. It’s because the man playing him actually lived it.
Where is Bob Odenkirk from? While fans often associate him with the neon-soaked deserts of Albuquerque, New Mexico, his real story begins in the flat, suburban sprawl of the American Midwest. Specifically, Robert John Odenkirk was born in Berwyn, Illinois, on October 22, 1962.
But if you ask Bob, Berwyn was just the starting line. He actually grew up in Naperville, Illinois, a town he famously dubbed "Nowheresville" during his more angsty teenage years.
The Suburban Grind in Naperville
Naperville today is a wealthy, bustling satellite of Chicago. In the 1960s and 70s, it felt different. For a young, creative kid with a "conscience muscle that is a hammer," it felt like a dead end. Bob was the second of seven children born to Barbara and Walter Odenkirk. His household was, by his own admission, pretty chaotic.
His father, Walter, worked in the printing business but battled severe alcoholism. He eventually left the family when Bob was still young. This isn't just trivia; it’s the bedrock of Bob’s work ethic. He saw the "remote and fucked up" nature of his father and decided, early on, to be the opposite. He doesn't drink. He doesn't coast. He works.
Growing up Catholic in a house with six siblings meant you had to be loud or funny to be heard. Bob and his brother Bill (who later became a writer for The Simpsons and Futurama) spent their time doing zany imitations. They were basically putting on a two-man variety show in their living room to keep the peace.
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Escaping "Nowheresville" Early
Bob was in a hurry to leave. Honestly, who can blame him?
He was so over high school that he managed to graduate from Naperville North High School at just 16 years old. He had enough credits and zero interest in sticking around for prom.
His path out of the suburbs was a bit of a zigzag:
- College of DuPage: A local stop in Glen Ellyn, IL, because he was too young to feel comfortable at a major university.
- Marquette University: A brief stint in Milwaukee.
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU): This is where the magic actually started.
At SIU, Bob found his tribe. He worked at the campus radio station, WIDB, where he created a late-night comedy program called The Prime Time Special. This was his first real sandbox. He’d stay up until 4:00 AM doing bits that were purposely weird and often bitingly satirical. He once spent a segment pretending to be a fire-and-brimstone preacher from the "Church of Bob," mocking the evangelical campus visitors.
The Chicago Comedy Forge
Even though he was three credits short of graduating, Odenkirk ditched SIU and headed for the big city. Chicago is where Bob Odenkirk truly "became" Bob Odenkirk.
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He threw himself into the improv scene at The Second City. Think about the people he was rubbing elbows with in the late 80s: Chris Farley, Tim Meadows, and Robert Smigel. It was a pressure cooker of talent.
One of the most legendary pieces of SNL history—the Chris Farley "Matt Foley" sketch—actually started in a Chicago basement. Bob wrote that character for Farley while they were performing in a stage show called Flag Burning Permitted in Lobby Only. He saw Farley’s physical energy and knew exactly how to channel it.
From the Midwest to Hollywood (and Back)
By 1987, Bob was hired as a writer for Saturday Night Live. He won an Emmy by 1989. He went on to write for The Ben Stiller Show and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. Then came the cult classic Mr. Show with Bob and David.
But here’s the thing: despite the Hollywood success, that Midwestern "plain-talk" never left him. When he was cast as Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad, the writers eventually leaned into his Illinois roots. They made Jimmy McGill a "Slippin' Jimmy" from Cicero.
Why? Because Bob knows how a guy from the Chicago suburbs talks. He knows the specific brand of desperation that comes from wanting to be a big shot in a city that doesn't care about you.
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The Finding Your Roots Surprise
Recently, Bob’s "where are you from" story took a bizarre turn. On the PBS show Finding Your Roots, he discovered he’s actually the 11th cousin of King Charles III.
His 5th great-grandfather was Friedrich Carl Steinholz, the illegitimate son of the Duke of Plon. When the host told him this, Bob—true to his Naperville roots—was skeptical. He’s not a fan of royalty. He’s a guy who grew up hating the idea of someone being "better" just because of their birth. He’s a Midwesterner through and through, even if he has "blue blood" tucked away in his DNA.
Why It Matters Where He's From
Understanding that Bob Odenkirk is from the Chicago suburbs explains his entire career.
- The Work Ethic: He didn't hit it big as an actor until he was nearly 50. Most people would have quit.
- The Voice: That raspy, fast-talking cadence? That’s pure Illinois.
- The Humility: Even after five Emmy nominations for Better Call Saul, he still talks about himself like a lucky comedy writer who happens to have a job.
If you want to understand the man, you have to look at the map. He isn't a product of Hollywood glamour. He’s a product of cold winters, Catholic guilt, and a desperate need to make his siblings laugh in a house that felt a little too small.
Actionable Insight for Fans: If you want to see the "real" Bob Odenkirk before the Saul Goodman fame, track down his memoir, Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama. It’s a raw, hilarious look at his time in the Chicago trenches. Also, if you’re ever in the Chicago area, a trip to Berwyn or Naperville will give you a sense of the "Nowheresville" vibe that fueled his desire to create. Just don't ask for ketchup on your hot dog if you go to a local stand—some Midwestern traditions are non-negotiable.