Naperville Native Bob Odenkirk Named Hasty Pudding Man Of The Year

NAPERVILLE, IL — Naperville native Bob Odenkirk was recently honored as the 2023 Man of the Year by Hasty Pudding Theatricals, Harvard University's centuries-old theatrical institution.

A news release on the Hasty Pudding Institute website lauded Odenkirk for his five Emmy nominations and a recent win of the 2023 Critics Choice for Best Actor in a Drama Series for his work on "Better Call Saul."

"Mr. Odenkirk has truly made an indelible mark on the world as an actor, comedian, and filmmaker," the institute said in a statement.

The beloved writer, actor and comedian was honored at Harvard Square Thursday with a roast of his life career and a press conference.

Odenkirk told reporters, "Writing is the most challenging, but it is also the most rewarding...when you figure it out. Acting can be very hard, too, and in fact, I think when it's hard, that's when it's fun."

Hasty Pudding Theatricals launched its "Man of the Year" award in 1967 by honoring Bob Hope. The organization, founded in the late 1700s, has since paid tribute to the likes of James Steward, Robert DeNiro and Paul Rudd.

Actress Jennifer Coolidge was named the 2023 Woman of the Year by Hasty Pudding Theatricals.

Odenkirk, 60, graduated from Naperville North High School and moved to Chicago in the early 1980s to pursue a career in comedy, according to Chicago Magazine. He honed his craft at Second City before getting hired to write for Saturday Night Live.

The comedian and writer kicked off his career performing and writing sketch comedy with David Cross on "Mr. Show."

Just over a decade after he starred in his final Mr. Show episode, Odenkirk was cast as attorney Saul Goodman in the AMC series "Breaking Bad." The somewhat dramatic turn gained the actor newfound recognition, and he was later cast in the spinoff series "Better Call Saul."

In 2021, Odenkirk played the lead role in the action film "Nobody."Odenkirk will head to Naperville March 3 to promote his third book, "Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama," which will be released by Random House March 1.