Rob McElhenney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rob McElhenney
Rob McElhenney in 2016
Born	Robert McElhenney III (1977-04-14) April 14, 1977 (age 48) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation	Actor writer producer podcaster businessman
Years active	1996–present
Spouse(s)	Kaitlin Olson ​ (m. 2008)​
Children	2
Relatives	Marcus McElhenney (cousin)

Robert McElhenney III (pronounced MAK-əl-hen-ee; born April 14, 1977) is an American actor, writer, and producer. He is famous for playing the character Mac in the TV comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He also created and helped develop this show, which started in 2005.

McElhenney also stars as Ian Grimm in the Apple TV+ comedy series Mythic Quest, which began in 2020. He helped create this show too. In September 2020, Rob McElhenney and actor Ryan Reynolds became the co-owners of the Welsh football (soccer) club Wrexham A.F.C.. Their journey with the team is shown in the Emmy Award-winning TV series Welcome to Wrexham.

Early Life and Education

Robert McElhenney III was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 14, 1977. His parents were both from Ireland. He was raised in the Catholic faith. When he was eight years old, his parents divorced. He and his two younger brothers were mostly raised by their father. His parents remained good friends after the divorce. He also has a half-sister and a step-brother from his father's later marriage.

McElhenney went to Waldron Mercy Academy and St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia. He later attended Temple University for a short time. He also lived on the Fordham University campus with friends, but he did not enroll there.

Acting and Show Creation

McElhenney in July 2016

Rob McElhenney started his acting career with small roles in films like A Civil Action and Wonder Boys. He also appeared in an episode of Law & Order. When he was 21, he wrote a screenplay that was almost made into a movie, but the project did not happen.

At age 25, McElhenney moved to Los Angeles. He was working as a waiter between acting jobs. He met Glenn Howerton through his agent and Charlie Day while working on a horror film. McElhenney had an idea for a sitcom (a funny TV show) starring himself, Howerton, and Day. They filmed a pilot episode for only $200.

Many TV networks were interested in their show idea. McElhenney chose to work with FX because they gave him more creative freedom. The show was named It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. McElhenney became the showrunner, which means he was in charge of the show's production. Howerton and Day were executive producers.

McElhenney spends most of the year working on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He acts, produces, and writes for the show. He also had guest roles in the TV series Lost and Fargo. In 2019, he made a small appearance as an extra in an episode of Game of Thrones.

In 2020, McElhenney co-created the comedy series Mythic Quest for Apple TV+ with Charlie Day and Megan Ganz. He also stars in the show as Ian Grimm. The series has been highly praised by critics.

Since November 2021, McElhenney, Day, and Howerton have hosted The Always Sunny Podcast. They talk about various topics, often discussing episodes of their show and sharing behind-the-scenes stories. Other cast members sometimes join them.

Business Ventures

In 2009, Rob McElhenney and his wife Kaitlin Olson bought a bar in Philadelphia called Skinner's Bar. It is now known as Mac's Tavern.

On September 23, 2020, it was announced that McElhenney and Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds were planning to buy the Welsh football (soccer) team Wrexham A.F.C.. On November 16, 2020, they officially took over the club. Under their ownership, Wrexham was promoted to League Two in April 2023. They also became champions of the National League. This was a big moment, as it marked Wrexham's return to the English Football League after 15 years.

In June 2022, McElhenney launched a new entertainment technology company called Adim. He co-founded it with Chase Rosenblatt, Melissa Kaspers, Spencer Marell, and Richard Rosenblatt.

In 2023, McElhenney and his It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia co-stars Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day started an Irish American Whiskey company. They named their whiskey "Four Walls" as a tribute to the bar in their TV show.

In June 2023, Ryan Reynolds and McElhenney also became part of a group of investors who bought a 24% share in the Alpine F1 Team, a Formula 1 racing team.

Personal Life

Rob McElhenney and his wife Kaitlin Olson in July 2010

Rob McElhenney hired actress Kaitlin Olson to play Dee Reynolds on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He became interested in her during the show's second season. They got married in California on September 27, 2008. They have two sons together.

In July 2023, McElhenney shared that he had been diagnosed with some learning differences.

Body Changes for Roles

For the seventh season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, McElhenney gained 60 pounds (27 kg) and grew a beard. He did this to make his character funnier and to add new comedic ideas to the show. After filming the season, he lost 23 pounds (10 kg) in just one month. He lost the rest of the weight later that year for the next season.

For the show's 13th season, he changed his body again. This time, he became very fit and muscular. He joked on Instagram, "Look, it’s not that hard. ..... I don’t know why everyone’s not doing this. It’s a super realistic lifestyle and an appropriate body image to compare oneself to. #hollywood ".

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Web Series

Music Videos

Video Games

See also

In Spanish: Rob McElhenney para niños