In a surprising revelation on the genealogy-based television show Finding Your Roots, Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk discovered that he is actually related to King Charles III, making them 11th cousins. The 61-year-old American actor and comedian initially declared himself as not a monarchist, stating, "I'm an American, I'm not a monarchist. I don't believe in that." However, moments later, he was left visibly shocked and laughing as the host, Henry Louis Gates Jr., revealed the connection.

Ancestry experts traced Odenkirk's family back five generations and found that his fifth great-grandfather, Friedrich Carl Steinholz, was born in 1755 in Pl?¶n, Germany. Steinholz was born out of wedlock to Maria Catharina and the Duke of Pl?¶n, who was related to the royal families of Europe through intermarriage. Initially, Odenkirk didn't seem impressed by this information, stating that he felt like a part of history that he didn't think he was any part of. He acknowledged the historical significance of monarchs and leaders but expressed his belief in democracy and the progress society has made in that regard.

However, in a teaser clip published on YouTube, Odenkirk's disbelief and amusement were evident as his ties to King Charles III were revealed. He exclaimed, "That is crazy!" and repeated “11th cousins” in astonishment. Gates Jr. jokingly chided Odenkirk for “trashing” his newfound royal family, saying, "You ought to be ashamed of yourself. You ain't been royal more than five minutes!"

The Duke of Pl?¶n, Frederick Charles, was a member of a cadet branch of the Danish royal family. He died in 1761 without a male heir from his marriage to Countess Christine Armgard von Reventlow. However, he had children with two mistresses, including Maria Catharina, who was Odenkirk's fifth great-grandfather's mother. The Duke recognized and legitimized all his children born out of wedlock and bestowed land, titles, and money to their mothers.

Other clips from the show revealed Odenkirk laughing and declaring, "That's insane!" He also expressed his wish that his mother could have heard the revelation. Odenkirk, who was raised in a suburb near Chicago, comes from a Catholic family of German and Irish descent. He has been married to his wife Naomi for 26 years, and they have two children together.

This episode of Finding Your Roots, featuring Bob Odenkirk, will air on January 30 on PBS. The show traces celebrities' family trees and uncovers surprising connections and ancestral stories. Odenkirk's discovery of his royal ties adds another layer to his already impressive career as an actor and comedian.