People know Bob Odenkirk for his part in shows like Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul where he played the character of Saul Goodman. But recently, Odenkirk himself got to know some shocking trivia about his roots. On a show, he found out that he is the 11th cousin of King Charles III!
As the actor appears in Tuesday’s new episode of PBS’ genealogy series Finding Your Roots, host Henry Louis Gates Jr. revealed that Odenkirk’s sixth great-grandfather was Germany’s Duke of Plön, who was related to the royal families of Europe. And it was very surprising to Bob Odenkirk to know.
Bob Odenkirk is Related to Royalty and He Is Stunned to Know That
As Bob Odenkirk appeared on the Genealogy-based US television show Finding Your Roots, he got to learn that he is related to King Charles III. It was said that Odenkirk is the 11th cousin of King Charles III.
“You and King Charles III are eleventh cousins,” host Henry Louis Gates Jr. revealed, according to a preview clip of the episode. (Via YouTube)
But the actor was quick to assert that he’s “not a monarchist.”
“I’m an American,” Odenkirk said. “I don’t believe in, uh, that. You know, I feel like it’s a little twisted.”
He adds: “I understand why society built itself around monarchs and leaders. … But I think that we’ve gotten to a better place with democracy, and we should keep going down that road.”
Odenkirk went on to say that it’s not like he does not acknowledge the prevalence of royalty across the globe for generations, but, society has evolved to a more democratic place. He also expressed a wish that his mother could hear the news.
How Bob Odenkirk Is Related to King Charles
Bob Odenkirk‘s family is from Chicago, where he was raised. In the show, ancestry experts claim that Bob’s fifth great-grandfather, Friedrich Carl Steinholz, was born in Plön, Germany, in 1755. Host Henry Louis Gates Jr tells the actor that Steinholz was born out of wedlock with the Duke of Plön, a part of Europe’s royal family due to intermarriage.
“Well maybe I’ll change my mind on that!” he jokingly said “That’s so funny, man. Oh, that is crazy!”
According to a report by the Guardian, Bob Odenkirk is the second oldest of seven siblings born to his parents, Walter Odenkirk and Barbara Mary, who are Catholics of German and Irish descent. The actor was last seen in the hit show The Bear. In the show, he appeared as Uncle Lee.
Recently, Better Call Saul set an unfortunate record as it became the most nominated show in Emmys history but to win none. It got nominated in 53 nods so far with zero wins.
