'He just froze': Bob Odenkirk says he had a heart attack on 'Better Call Saul' set on medic's first day

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Bob Odenkirk is revisiting the day when he had a "small heart attack,” while adding a few more details about the fateful day.

The 61-year-old actor suffered a heart attack on the set of ‘Better Call Saul’ on July 28, 2021, while filming for the show in New Mexico. 

While he was rushed to the hospital soon, the preliminary CPR was performed by the on-set medic. But as it turned out to be, it was the very first day of his job on the ‘Better Call Saul’ sets.

Bob Odenkirk shares additional details about his heart attack

Recently appearing for an interview with the ‘Multiple Talking Women’ podcast on April 12, the actor revisited the fateful day while sharing interesting information.

Recalling how his heart “pretty much stopped,” The ‘Nobody’ actor shared that the organ slowed down to a pace where he "turned gray and stopped breathing," per PEOPLE.

Odenkirk then went on to describe the medic’s reaction after seeing his condition. The ‘Breaking Bad’ actor shared, “The medic came around the corner and he froze in his tracks. It was his first day,” before adding, "And he said, 'Oh no.' And he didn’t move.”

Odenkirk shared that he had no memory of what followed next. It was probably for the better as it was the medic’s first day at work and it was also the first time he was doing CPR.

The ‘Incredibles 2’ star shared on the podcast with a laugh, "Weeks later when I came back, he said, 'I’m so sorry. It was my first day, I have been a firefighter' — he was retired — 'I’ve never done CPR. l have only ever seen other people do it.’”

Five weeks after suffering his "small heart attack," per Entertainment Weekly, Odenkirk returned to the set in September to finish filming the last season of 'Better Call Saul' that aired in 2022.

Internet reacts to Bob Odenkirk's words

After Odenkirk shared his story, the internet had a lot to say about the fateful day. While a section of the fans opined that the medic was "Saul-coded," another group quipped that it is the perfect plot for an episode of the immensely popular show.

One of the fans said, "Man that was one of the scariest times ever. I remember refreshing my feed for hours while we waited for an update."

Someone else quipped, "The medic was kinda saul coded."

Another fan added, "Thank goodness Bob survived!"

"That's such a Better Call Saul thing to happen tbh 😂," remarked someone else.

"He winged that shit just like Saul would!" said a social media user.

Another fan chimed in, "This straight up looks like a Better Call Saul episode."

A social media user punned, "All the best sir, this is called Better call to soul and listen your body."

Someone else commented on the medic's first day, saying, "Is the medic trying to give him a second heart attack?"

"Thank God that Bob is still with us. He’s a true miracle," remarked another.

Another fan, however, observed, "He was a firefighter and had never done CPR?? Firefighters have to be certified - they are usually first on scene for accidents and start life saving process until ambulance gets there. Was this person a volunteer firefighter???? Seems peculiar."

Meanwhile, someone else slammed the network, writing, "Of course.... no one performs CPR on a heart attack.... CPR is for cardiac arrest. I'd chalk this up to Odenkirk missing one or two of those worlds. AND ALSO. If AMC is hiring medics who have never done CPR.... up your budget @AMC_TV."

Bob Odenkirk opens up about his doctor

Odenkirk previously opened up about how his conservative doctor was right in judging his health condition, per Entertainment Weekly.

Appearing on Tig Notaro's ‘Don’t Ask Tig’ podcast in September 2023, the actor shared that personal friction with his doctor of 20 years led him to reject his medical advice.

"My doctor was a conservative. He got crankier and crankier the older he got," shared the actor.

Odenkirk continued, "When I was 50, I went in, he was a heart doctor, Cedar-Sinai, and he had signs up all around his office at this point [saying] 'We do not accept Obamacare,' and I hated this side of him that I only learned over time."

He continued, "I'd been with him for 20 years, and he said, 'You need to start taking statins right now.' And I said, 'Well, I don't know. I don't have heart disease in my family.' He goes, 'Just take 'em.'"

However, the actor went for a second opinion and the other doctor said he did not need medication yet. Odenkirk continued, "And I had a heart attack. And I think the first doctor was right.”

"The cranky conservative jackass was right because he was a goddamn good doctor,” admitted the actor before continuing, “His political point of view doesn't have anything to do with his ability to judge your health and your health choices and needs."

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