Comedian and podcaster Marc Maron recently spoke on SiriusXM’s Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend about Bob Odenkirk’s heart attack, which occurred in 2021 while filming the final season of Better Call Saul. Maron shared his experience exchanging texts with Odenkirk during the health crisis and offered insights into how the actor faced this life-threatening moment.
Text Conversations Reveal Odenkirk’s Humor During Crisis
Maron recounted to Conan O’Brien that Odenkirk’s heart attack took place in Albuquerque, the city where Maron himself grew up. He noted that Odenkirk was admitted to a local hospital once associated with Maron’s father. Maron shared,
“He had a heart attack in Albuquerque, which is where I grew up,”
and added,
“I was texting with him, and he was so funny. I said, ‘Glad you’re okay. It’s scary. It’s Maron.’ This is after he had the heart attack.”
Odenkirk’s reply combined humor with sincerity:
“Super scary, Marc. I basically died for a little while. And I have to say, I saw nothing. But this great crew with some amazing people kept me going, and then the hospital did a great job with some challenging surgery. I hope you’re doing great. I’m feeling good. Take care,”
Maron recalled.
Continuing their exchange, Maron shared another message from Odenkirk, highlighting the actor’s wit even after the ordeal:
“Then I said, ‘Glad my hometown hospital was there for you. Welcome back from the nothing.’ And then he says, again, this is why he’s so f—ing funny, he goes, ‘Big time, excellent docs and nurses at Presbyterian, on the ball. I’m doing great. By the way, I saw exactly no light when I was dead. The whole heaven thing is a hoax. Follow the money.’”
Odenkirk’s Personal Account of Memory Loss After the Incident
Bob Odenkirk, now 62, described the heart attack as “small” but traumatic, occurring mid-production on the sixth and final season of Better Call Saul. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter a year after the event, Odenkirk revealed he has no recollection of the day he collapsed or the scene he was filming, describing this memory loss as a strange and unusual experience.
He explained,
“The strangest thing about it is that I really have no memory of that day,”
adding,
“I’m really watching something that I don’t have any memory of acting in, which is a rare thing. I mean, usually you watch [something], and you have some recall of that even if it was shot months ago. But in this case, it’s such a complete blank. It’s very strange. I gotta tell you, it’s a weird thing to have lost basically about a week and a half. Clean, just clean, clean nothing. That’s a strange experience anyway. Otherwise, I’m fine.”
Significance and Impact of Odenkirk’s Health Scare
Bob Odenkirk’s near-death experience and recovery highlight the unpredictable nature of heart attacks, even for individuals who appear healthy and active. His candid discussions about memory loss and his humorous take on the afterlife during his hospitalization humanize the experience behind headlines and bring awareness to sudden cardiac events. For fans and colleagues like Marc Maron, the incident underlined the importance of immediate medical care and the support of dedicated healthcare professionals, particularly those at the Presbyterian hospital in Albuquerque.
The actor’s openness about his ordeal may encourage others to pay attention to heart health while offering reassurance that recovery and humor can coexist after such a significant health scare.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Marc Maron still sober?
A. Maron has candidly discussed his struggles with alcohol and drug use in the 1990s during his performances and on his podcast. He has been sober since August 9, 1999. However, Maron has also faced challenges with an eating disorder that began in his childhood.
