Illinois native Bob Odenkirk worked frequently as a stand-up at the Second City Theater in Chicago before joining "Saturday Night Live" (NBC) as a writer for four seasons (1987-91). After a stint as executive story editor for Fox's "Get a Life" (1991-92), he wrote and performed for the short-lived "The Ben Stiller Show" (Fox, 1992-93). With fellow "Stiller" writer David Cross, he formed a comedy partnership and financed (using $18,000 of their own money) a series of showcase stage versions of what would become HBO's "Mr. Show with Bob and David". Since its debut in 1995, "Mr. Show" has amassed a cult following and rave reviews, the LOS ANGELES TIMES calling it "some of television's smartest and darkest comedy." Odenkirk also plays the recurring role of Stevie Grant, Shandling's agent, on HBO's "The Larry Shandling Show" (1992-98) and has appeared on "Roseanne", "Seinfeld" and "Everybody Loves Raymond", among other series. His feature films include "Wayne's World 2" (1993), "The Cable Guy" (1996), as Matthew Broderick's brother, and "The Truth About Cats and Dogs" (1996), starring good friend Janeane Garofalo.
- Also Credited As:
Robert Odenkirk
- Born:
October 22, 1962 in Berwyn, Illinois, USA
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Job Titles:
Actor, Comedian, Screenwriter, Producer
Family
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Brother: Bill Odenkirk. writes for Mr Show ; born c. 1966
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Daughter: Erin Jane Odenkirk. born on November 24, 2000
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Father: Walter Odenkirk. died 1995
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Mother: Barbara Odenkirk.
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Son: Nathan William Odenkirk. born on December 3, 1998
Education
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Columbia College, Chicago, Illinois, radio and TV, 1984
Milestones
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1987 Writer for NBC s Saturday Night Live
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1987 Moved to NYC
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1991 Executive story editor for Fox s Get a Life
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1992 Apppeared in episodes of Comedy Central series The A-List
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1992 Introduced to David Cross by mutual friend Janeane Garofalo
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1992 Wrote and performed for The Ben Stiller Show (Fox)
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1993 Had recurring role as Stevie Grant, Shandling s agent, on The Larry Sanders Show (HBO)
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1993 Played a concert nerd in Wayne s World II
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1994 Wrote for Late Night with Conan O Brien (NBC)
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1995 Co-creator and co-star with Cross of HBO s Mr. Show (also known as Mr. Show with Bob and David)
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1996 Played Matthew Broderick s brother in The Cable Guy
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1996 Seen as bookstore man in The Truth About Cats and Dogs , starring Garofalo
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1997 Appeared in Hacks , the feature directorial debut of TV writer Gary Rosen
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2000 Provided character voice for NBC animated series Sammy
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2002 Co-wrote and co-starred in Run Ronnie Run, a movie spin-off of the popular HBO sketch comedy show Mr. Show
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2003 Directed Melvin Goes to Dinner, a film adaptation of Michael Blieden s play Phyro-Giants!
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2006 Directed Let s Go to Prison a comedy starring Dax Shepard, Will Arnett and Chi McBride
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2007 Helmed the comedy Brothers Solomon reuniting him with Will Arnett and Chi McBride
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Grew up in Napierville, IL (a suburb of Chicago)
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Worked frequently as stand-up at Chicago s Second City Theater