'I was gone, I turned gray': Bob Odenkirk recalls 2021 heart attack on 'Better Call Saul' set

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Bob Odenkirk just dropped a pretty intense memory from 2021, and it’s honestly hard to hear. In an interview with The Times of London, he opened up about suffering a heart attack while filming 'Better Call Saul'.

He said the incident hit out of nowhere on set, turning an ordinary shoot day into a medical emergency. Co-stars Rhea Seehorn and Patrick Fabian immediately realized something was seriously wrong. They rushed to him and started shouting for a medic as soon as they understood what was happening.

Odenkirk chillingly described the moment, saying it felt like his body "turned gray" and that he was briefly "gone." He recalled how sudden and disorienting it all was. The situation escalated fast, but the quick reaction from his colleagues helped him get urgent medical attention in time.

Bob Odenkirk talks about his on-set heart attack

Speaking to the publication, Odenkirk revealed, "I went down, and Rhea Seehorn 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. Eventually, the on-set medic showed up, and he didn’t know what to do. He’d never done CPR. I was gone. I turned gray, " Odenkirk recalled.

The actor recalled how chaotic the moment felt on set, with confusion slowing down the response before help fully kicked in. He also said the experience wasn’t anything like the dramatic life flashing before your eyes stories people often talk about.

"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?'" he added. "None of that for me. The first memory I have is leaving the hospital a week after I got there." 

Odenkirk described the aftermath as more blank and disorienting than cinematic. As per the publication, the heart attack was caused by "a build-up of plaque that blocked an artery."

Bob Odenkirk reflects on recovery after heart attack

Despite the terrifying incident, Odenkirk said it ultimately changed how he sees life more positively. He called his recovery "such a gift," and added, "I felt just very, very delighted and engaged."

Shortly after that incident, he took to social media to thank fans for the support he received. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, "Hi. It’s Bob. Thank you. To my family and friends who have surrounded me this week. And for the outpouring of love from everyone who expressed concern and care for me. It’s overwhelming. But I feel the love and it means so much"