Bob Odenkirk, the star of the “Better Call Saul” TV series, recently learned he is related to a European king.
During an episode of “Finding Your Roots,” Odenkirk was informed he’s the 11th cousin of Britain’s King Charles.
Better Call Saul
Bob Odenkirk has become one of the most popular actors on television in recent years, due to his portrayal of the crooked lawyer Saul Goodman on the shows “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.”
However, he will now have another claim to fame that won’t come from his acting skills. Instead, he’s related to a member of the British royal family.
Finding Your Roots
Odenkirk was made aware of his relation to British royalty when he appeared on the popular PBS show, “Finding Your Roots.”
The 61-year-old actor was shocked when he was told by the show host, Henry Louis Gates Jr., that he’s King Charles’s 11th cousin.
Odenkirk Was Shocked by the News
A clip of the upcoming episode, which stars Odenkirk, came into the possession of Rolling Stone.
In the video, Odenkirk can be heard saying, “That is crazy,” followed by a string of laughter.
Relation Comes from Father’s Side
The show “Finding Your Roots” aims to help celebrities learn more about their ancestry.
According to the show, Odenkirk’s relation to King Charles comes from his father’s side of the family.
Father Left When Odenkirk Was Young
Odenkirk admits he knew very little of his father’s ancestral lineage as he left the family when the “Better Call Saul” star was still a teenager.
Gates Jr. eased into the results by first informing Odenkirk that his father’s fifth great-grandfather was the son of the Duke of Plön.
Not a Believer in Royal Lineages
Before Gate Jr. announced the news of Odenkirk’s relation to King Charles, the actor was quick to denounce any allegiance to monarchies.
“I’m an American. I’m not a monarchist. I don’t believe in, uh, that,” Odenkirk said.
Passed Down Through the Generations
However, Odenkirk explained that he understands why people in the medieval era followed monarchies.
“You know, I feel like it’s a little twisted. I understand why society built itself around monarchs and leaders, and they passed them down through generations,” said Odenkirk.
Odenkirk Prefers Democracy
The “Better Call Saul” star went on to say he prefers democracy over any form of monarchy.
“I understand that goes through every society, every civilization. But I think that we’ve gotten to a better place with democracy, and we should keep going down that road,” said Odenkirk.
Gates Jr. Reveals the News
After speaking about monarchies for several minutes, Gates Jr. finally revealed to Odenkirk that he was King Charles’s 11th cousin through his realtion to the Duke of Plön.
To this news, Odenkrik replied, “Well, maybe I’ll change my mind on that,” speaking in reference to his views on the monarchy.
Other Celebrities Related to British Royalty
Odenkirk isn’t the only celebrity who’s related to British royalty.
According to Business Insider, actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are distant cousins of the former British Queen, Elizabeth II.
Relation to King Henry II
Paris Hilton has also claimed to be distantly related to King Henry II, who ruled during the 12th century.
Other psychics have said I’m related to Marilyn Monroe and things like that. My mom just did one of those 23andMe DNA kits, and I am related to Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth,” said Hilton during an interview in 2020.
