Bob Odenkirk called himself an anti-monarchist before being told he's related to King Charles
Imagine being related to royalty!Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk found out he is one of the rare list of celebrities who is related to King Charles while participating in a television show.
The TV actor, whose fame skyrocketed from his role as lawyer Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad, took part in US show Finding Your Roots. It’s similar to the UK series, Who Do You Think You Are? where celebrities find out about their ancestors, family history and any other notable figures they are related to – and Bob Odenkirk realised he was linked to King Charles.
He joined a long list of stars who are connected to the monarch.
TV star’s connection to royalty
Although he is known for playing a con-loving attorney, behind the camera, his ancestry is more regal.
The show, which looks into stars’ genealogy, traced Bob Odenkirk’s family and found out he is related to King Charles. The actor is the 11th cousin of the monarch, and their connection can be traced back five generations.
Odenkirk’s family are from Chicago, Illinois, but they found out his fifth great-grandfather was born in Germany in 1755. His ancestor, Friedrich Carl Steinholz, was born out of wedlock with the Duke of Plon, related to the royal families of Europe from intermarriage.
When he’s told this, the star wasn’t impressed.
He explained to the host Henry Louis Gates Jr: “[It makes me feel] like a part of history that I didn’t think I was any part of, but I’m an American. I’m not a monarchist. I don’t believe in that.
“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. I understand that goes through every society, every civilisation.
“But I think that we’ve gotten to a better place with democracy and we should keep going down that road.”
Bob Odenkirk found out he was related to King Charles on TV
But as soon as he hears he’s connected to the king, he laughs.
He jokes: “Well maybe I’ll change my mind on that! That’s so funny, man. Oh, that is crazy!”
Later on in the show Bob Odenkirk says he wishes his mother was able to hear they were related to King Charles, exclaiming “that’s insane!”
After growing up in Chicago as one of seven siblings, he found fame later on his career.
Read more: Real reason King Charles’ and the royal family changed their surname 65 years ago
Celebrities related to King Charles
Bob Odenkirk isn’t the only number of celebrities related to King Charles and The Firm.
It’s said around two million people living now are related to Edward I, and millions more connected to Richard III.
But which famous faces are?
Madonna and Queen Camilla share the same ancestor, a French carpenter named Zacharie Cloutier. It makes the duo 10th cousins.
Hollywood movie star Benedict Cumberbatch is one of those individuals who is linked to Richard III. The actor is the king’s second cousin 16 times removed. While there are millions said to be related, Cumberbatch has multiple connections, making his stronger.
Read more: What would actually happen if King Charles chose to resign and announced his abdication
Another American has ties to British royalty, with Angelina Jolie related to the late Queen Elizabeth II. The Mr and Mrs Smith actress is the 26th cousin of the former monarch, through her mother’s side. Jolie’s mother, late actress Marcheline Bertrand, and her family can be traced back to the 12th century and is connected to King Phillip II of France.
She’s not the only one, either. Singer Beyonce is also a relative of the late monarch, being 25th cousins once removed, and Jolie’s ex-husband Brad Pitt is as well, but 25th cousins twice removed.
Did you know Bob Odenkirk was related to King Charles among other celebrities? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page.
