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Kaitlin Olson
Headshot of Kaitlin Olson speaking at a conference
Olson at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Kaitlin Willow Olson

(1975-08-18) August 18, 1975 (age 49)
Alma mater University of Oregon
Occupation
  • Actress
  • comedian
Years active 2000–present
Spouse(s)
Rob Mac
(m. 2008)
Children 2

Kaitlin Willow Olson McElhenney (born August 18, 1975) is an American actress and comedian. She is famous for playing Deandra "Sweet Dee" Reynolds in the FX comedy show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. This show has been on TV since 2005.

Kaitlin also stars as Morgan Gillory in the ABC crime drama series High Potential, which started in 2024. She has appeared in other popular TV shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and Hacks. She was also the main character, Mackenzie "Mickey" Molng, in the Fox comedy series The Mick.

You might have seen her in movies too! She was in Leap Year (2010), The Heat (2013), and the animated film Finding Dory (2016). In Finding Dory, she voiced Destiny, a friendly whale shark. She also appeared in Champions (2023).

Kaitlin has been nominated for several awards, including three Primetime Emmy Awards. These nominations were for her roles in Flipped and Hacks.

Early life and education

Kaitlin Olson was born in Portland, Oregon, on August 18, 1975. Her father, Donald Lee Olson, was a publisher. Her mother, Melinda Leora, was a nurse and a CEO of an organics company. Soon after she was born, her family moved to Spokane, Washington, and then to Vashon Island, Washington. She lived there until she was eight years old.

Later, Kaitlin's family moved back to the Portland area. They settled in Tualatin, Oregon, where she grew up on a farm. When she was twelve, Kaitlin had a serious bicycle accident. She needed surgery after fracturing her skull.

Kaitlin finished high school at Tigard High School in Tigard, Oregon, in 1993. She then went to the University of Oregon to study theater. She earned a bachelor's degree in theater arts in 1997. After college, she moved to Los Angeles to start her acting career.

Acting career highlights

Kaitlin Olson began her acting journey in Los Angeles. She joined a comedy group called The Groundlings Sunday Company. She also traveled with the USO to entertain troops in places like Bosnia and Kosovo.

Early TV and film roles

In 2000, Kaitlin first appeared on TV in the HBO comedy show Curb Your Enthusiasm. She played Becky, a recurring character. She also had a small part in the movie Coyote Ugly (2000). Over the next few years, she made guest appearances in many TV shows. These included The Drew Carey Show and George Lopez.

Becoming "Sweet Dee"

Kaitlin became widely known when she was cast in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. She plays Deandra "Sweet Dee" Reynolds. This FX sitcom started in 2005. She is one of the main characters on the show. People have praised her acting, especially her funny physical comedy.

Voice acting and other comedies

Kaitlin has lent her voice to many animated shows. She was in Family Guy, Bob's Burgers, and The Simpsons. In 2016, she voiced Destiny, a whale shark, in Disney's movie Finding Dory.

She also starred in the Fox sitcom The Mick. This show premiered in 2017, and Kaitlin was also an executive producer. The show ran for two seasons.

Recent projects and awards

In 2020, Kaitlin starred in the comedy series Flipped. Her role as Cricket Melfi earned her a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award. She has also had a recurring role as Deborah "DJ" Vance Jr. in the HBO Max comedy-drama series Hacks. For her work in Hacks, she received two more Emmy nominations.

More recently, Kaitlin took on the main role of Morgan Gillory in the ABC crime drama series High Potential. This show started in 2024. She also made a guest appearance as Deandra "Sweet Dee" Reynolds in the ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary.

Personal life

Rob McElhenney and Kaitlin Olson (12063880473)
Olson with husband Rob Mac, 2010

Kaitlin Olson is married to her It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia co-star, Rob McElhenney. They got married in Malibu, California, on September 27, 2008. They had secretly started dating during the second season of their show.

In 2009, Kaitlin and Rob bought a bar in Philadelphia and renamed it Mac's Tavern. They have two sons. Their first son, Axel, was born in 2010. Their second son, Leo, was born in 2012.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2017 Kids' Choice Awards #SQUAD Finding Dory Won
2020 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Flipped Nominated
2021 Astra TV Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy Hacks Nominated
2022 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated
2024 Primetime Emmy Awards Nominated
Astra TV Awards Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated
Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Comedy Series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Kaitlin Olson para niños

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