Brandon Lee
Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks are co-stars in the hit TV series Breaking Bad and its spin-off Better Call Saul. Odenkirk plays lawyer Saul Goodman, while Banks portrays former cop Mike Ehrmantraut. The two actors have also been involved in the promotion of Better Call Saul, having been interviewed together ahead of the show's first season. While it is unclear whether the two are friends, they have been involved in multiple projects together and have been photographed together at a movie screening.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Worked together on | Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad |
| Friendship | No explicit mention of friendship |
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What You'll Learn
- Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks co-starred in *Breaking Bad* and *Better Call Saul*
- Jonathan Banks was cast in *Breaking Bad* because Bob Odenkirk was unavailable
- Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks have discussed each other's evolution as actors
- Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks have participated in joint interviews
- Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks's characters in *Better Call Saul* have backstories
Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks co-starred in *Breaking Bad* and *Better Call Saul*
Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks have co-starred in two of the biggest shows in television history, *Breaking Bad* and its spin-off, *Better Call Saul*. In *Breaking Bad*, Odenkirk played the role of lawyer Saul Goodman, while Banks portrayed Mike Ehrmantraut, Saul's problem solver.
Odenkirk and Banks' first project together, *Breaking Bad*, was almost not meant to be. Odenkirk was initially supposed to help Jesse (Aaron Paul) tidy up his apartment after Jesse's girlfriend Jane (Kristen Ritter) died from a drug overdose. However, due to a scheduling conflict, Odenkirk was unavailable, and the producers were forced to create a new character, which became Mike Ehrmantraut, portrayed by Banks.
Odenkirk and Banks would go on to reprise their roles in the *Breaking Bad* spin-off, *Better Call Saul*. In an interview, Banks praised Odenkirk's evolution as an actor, recalling how nervous Odenkirk was during the first episode of *Better Call Saul*. Despite his initial jitters, Banks was impressed by Odenkirk's performance, and the two would go on to become an integral part of the show's success.
The dynamic between Odenkirk and Banks' characters in both *Breaking Bad* and *Better Call Saul* showcases the range and depth of their acting abilities. Their on-screen chemistry and interactions have left a lasting impression on viewers, contributing to the enduring popularity of both series.
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Jonathan Banks was cast in *Breaking Bad* because Bob Odenkirk was unavailable
Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks are co-stars in the popular TV series *Breaking Bad* and its spin-off, *Better Call Saul*. While it is unclear whether the two actors are friends off-screen, it is known that Banks's role in *Breaking Bad* was a result of Odenkirk's unavailability.
Odenkirk played the character of lawyer Saul Goodman in *Breaking Bad*. In one of the episodes, Saul Goodman was supposed to help Jesse tidy up his apartment after his girlfriend Jane died of a drug overdose. However, due to a scheduling conflict, Odenkirk was unavailable for the shoot as he had to be on the set of the TV series *How I Met Your Mother*. As a result, the writers of *Breaking Bad* created a new character, Mike Ehrmantraut, played by Jonathan Banks, to pull the plot along.
In an interview on *The Rich Eisen Show*, actress Rhea Seehorn, who plays Kim Wexler in *Better Call Saul*, revealed:
> Bob was not available for Saul Goodman to clean up her body, and so Mike Ehrmantraut character was created. [Bob] was shooting something, and they wrote, when Krysten’s character dies, that he comes and cleans up the body in this very cold, unfeeling manner. And that was going to be where his character started to go, and he was simply not available, so they made up the Mike Ehrmantraut character. Thank goodness! Jonathan Banks played it, and now it’s like, you know, invaluable to the show, that character. And also, I’m so glad that that’s not how we saw Saul. That would’ve forever changed how we saw him as well.
Since his introduction, Mike Ehrmantraut became a fan favourite, leading to the writers deciding to keep him in the show. Banks received several accolades for his portrayal of the character, including six Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. He also reprised the role as a lead character in the spin-off series *Better Call Saul* and its sequel film, *El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie*.
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Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks have discussed each other's evolution as actors
Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks first worked together on Breaking Bad, where Banks joined the cast due to Odenkirk's unavailability for filming. The two actors would later star together in Better Call Saul, a spin-off of Breaking Bad.
In an interview for Deadline's Contenders TV, Jonathan Banks discussed Bob Odenkirk's evolution as an actor, expressing his amazement at Odenkirk's ability to take on a dramatic role in Better Call Saul despite his background in comedy writing. Banks recalled that when Odenkirk first came in to do Better Call Saul, he was "nervous as a cat" and had lost his voice, yet he still managed to pull off the performance. Banks, who has been acting professionally for over 50 years, joked that Odenkirk's success could have put an end to his own career.
Odenkirk, in turn, has praised Banks's performance as Mike Ehrmantraut in Breaking Bad, a role that was created due to Odenkirk's absence during filming. In an interview on The Rich Eisen Show, Odenkirk recalled how Banks's character was brought in to help Jesse (played by Aaron Paul) deal with the death of his girlfriend Jane (played by Krysten Ritter). Odenkirk expressed relief that he did not have to perform that particular scene, as it could have changed how viewers saw his character, Saul Goodman.
The mutual admiration between the two actors suggests a friendly relationship, with Odenkirk even taking to Twitter to share Banks's comment about Bryan Cranston's acting abilities during the Deadline interview. Their on-screen collaboration and mutual respect for each other's craft indicate a positive working relationship and a shared appreciation for their respective contributions to the Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul franchises.
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Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks have participated in joint interviews
Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks have participated in several joint interviews over the years. The two actors, who starred in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul together, have discussed their experiences on the shows, their characters' evolutions, and their thoughts on the storytelling and impact of the series.
In an interview for Breaking Bad Season 5, Odenkirk, Banks, and their co-star Aaron Paul engaged in a lively discussion about their characters' motivations and the dark paths their characters would embark on. Odenkirk joked about Walt quitting the drug business and returning to teaching high school, highlighting the escalating stakes of the show. Banks and Odenkirk also explored the idea of Walter White's rage and its impact on those around him.
In another joint interview, this time for Better Call Saul Season 2, Odenkirk and Banks delved into the show's storytelling and its ability to capture audiences. Banks praised Odenkirk for his performance as Jimmy McGill, acknowledging the risk they both took in joining the show and the impressive feat of pulling off such a compelling performance. The two actors also discussed the evolution of their characters, with Banks expressing his admiration for Odenkirk's transformation from a nervous comedy writer to a successful dramatic actor.
At Deadline's Contenders TV event, Banks praised Odenkirk's evolution as an actor, recalling his nervousness during the early days of Better Call Saul. He highlighted Odenkirk's ability to take on a dramatic role despite his comedy background. The two actors also engaged in playful banter, with Banks jokingly thanking Odenkirk for joining the show and preventing him from "ending [his] career."
Odenkirk and Banks have also participated in roundtable discussions and panels, such as the one at Comic Con, where they discussed the new season of Breaking Bad, as well as the past and upcoming seasons. Their joint interviews showcase a mutual respect for each other's craft and a shared passion for the impactful storytelling of their respective shows.
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Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks's characters in *Better Call Saul* have backstories
Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks' characters in *Better Call Saul* have backstories that are explored in the series. Odenkirk's character, Saul Goodman, is a lawyer and the protagonist of the show. Saul is a former con artist and scammer who embraces his tendencies and becomes a criminal lawyer, representing criminals and becoming increasingly involved in Albuquerque's criminal underworld. Saul's real name is revealed to be James McGill, or Jimmy, and his hometown is established as Cicero, Illinois, a reference to Odenkirk's own upbringing near Chicago. Jimmy is shown to be a dedicated and competent lawyer, able to find loopholes to protect his clients, but he also has a flamboyant and over-the-top personality. The character first appeared in the second season of *Breaking Bad*, created to provide comic relief and a guide for the criminal activities of the main characters.
Jonathan Banks portrays Mike Ehrmantraut, a private investigator, fixer, and hitman who works for Gus Fring and occasionally Saul Goodman. Mike is a former Philadelphia police officer who engaged in corrupt activities that indirectly led to the death of his son, Matt. Consumed by guilt, Mike moves to Albuquerque to watch over and financially support his daughter-in-law, Stacey, and granddaughter, Kaylee. He takes on various jobs in the criminal underworld, including working as a parking lot attendant, where he frequently deals with Jimmy. Mike is a calm and calculating character with extensive knowledge of both sides of the law and combat situations. He is one of the few characters to appear in *Breaking Bad*, *Better Call Saul*, and the film *El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie*.
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Frequently asked questions
It is not known if the two actors are friends, but they have worked together on the TV shows Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.
Yes, they both appeared in the show Breaking Bad. Bob Odenkirk played Saul Goodman, and Jonathan Banks played Mike Ehrmantraut.
No, but Jonathan Banks was cast in Breaking Bad because Bob Odenkirk was unavailable for filming on a particular day.
Yes, they both appeared in the show Better Call Saul. Bob Odenkirk played Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman, and Jonathan Banks played Mike Ehrmantraut.
Yes, they have appeared together in interviews and panels for Better Call Saul.
