(Above) Bob Odenkirk interacts with the SIU community during a recent visit to the SIU campus. (Photo by Caleb Hale) (Below) Like his brother, Bill Odenkirk has had a successful career in show business. (Photo provided)
September 04, 2025
Bob Odenkirk’s return visit to Southern Illinois includes public event at The Varsity
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale alumnus Bob Odenkirk will return to the region in September. He and his brother Bill Odenkirk will meet with SIU students and others, and their visit includes a public event at The Varsity Center from 3-5 p.m. Sept. 12.
Bob and Bill Odenkirk will speak with H.D. Motyl, an associate professor in SIU’s School of Media Arts, about their careers in the entertainment industry and Bob’s experience at SIU (note: no questions will be taken from the audience or the media). SIU students have been given first priority for tickets. A limited number of tickets are available to the public and are expected to be claimed quickly. To get free tickets, click here to visit The Varsity Center’s online box office (tickets will not be available at the door).
Bob Odenkirk, a 1984 SIU graduate, has had a successful career as a comedy writer, including “Saturday Night Live” and “Mr. Show With Bob and David.” In 2009, he joined the cast of AMC’s “Breaking Bad” and then starred in the “Breaking Bad” spinoff “Better Call Saul.” His recent credits include the hit movie “Nobody” and its sequel “Nobody 2,” along with the AMC series “Lucky Hank,” based on the novel “Straight Man” by former SIU English professor Richard Russo.
Bill Odenkirk’s work has been behind the scenes. He began as a writer on the HBO sketch comedy show “Mr. Show With Bob and David.” Later he moved on to the animated series “Futurama” – earning the first of his four Emmys. He wrote 14 episodes for “The Simpsons,” where he did design oversight as well. Since then, he has written on “Spitting Image” and “Disenchantment” and returned to work on the latest iteration of “Futurama” for Hulu.