Odenkirk shares wisdom with SIU students during return visit to campus | College of Arts and Media | SIU

In April, Bob Odenkirk, a 1984 SIU Carbondale graduate turned actor, comedian, filmmaker and author, returned to his alma mater for two main purposes – to receive the bachelor’s degree in radio-television that he earned as a student and an honorary doctorate and to interact with students and faculty within the College of Arts and Media.

Odenkirk’s career includes writing for “Saturday Night Live,” where he helped create beloved sketches such as “Da Bears” and “Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker”; co-creating the HBO sketch comedy show “Mr. Show with Bob and David,” and portraying Saul Goodman on AMC’s “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.” Most recently, he has released his children’s book “Zilot & Other Important Rhymes,” illustrated by his daughter, Erin Odenkirk.

Nearly 2,000 people came to SIU’s Banterra Center on April 3 for Odenkirk’s degree ceremony and Q&A session. Earlier in the day, Odenkirk met with two CAM classes during his visit. The first was in the Northlight Room of the Communications Building, and the second was in the Christian H. Moe Theater.

“SIU offered me the freedom to make stuff and do stuff,” he said. “If you don’t believe you can do it, you won’t try. You have to take a risk.”

Throughout the day, he spoke fondly of his time at SIU, particularly his experience at the student radio station WIDB. He imparted wisdom, shared stories and advice, and answered numerous questions.

“You can’t guarantee excellence,” he told the nearly 100 students and faculty in the Northlight Room. “You can just do your best all of the time.”

During his session in Moe Theater, he worked with multiple pairs of students as they performed various scenes. He offered the students cues and notes on everything from how to conceptualize the scene as a whole to how to deliver particular words.

“It means a lot to me that someone whose time is so valuable made an effort to work with us in our creative space,” said Uriel Achilleus, one of the students who worked with Odenkirk in Moe Theater. “Mr. Odenkirk made it clear that he was working through his own creative process with us; he showed us what goes through his mind when analyzing a scene and portraying a character. It feels like a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get to work with someone as successful and experienced as he is.”

Odenkirk also made it a priority to stop by the former location of the WIDB radio station, which is now recognized by a plaque behind the towers on East Campus.

“I thrived here, and I always think of it fondly,” he said.