Rob McElhenney Biography
Robert McElhenney III (/maeklhni/; born April 14, 1977) is a comedian, actor, producer, writer, podcaster, and sports executive from the United States. He is best known for his role as Ronald “Mac” McDonald on the FX/FXX comedy series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-present), which he co-created with Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton and is still an executive producer and writer on. He is also recognized for his role as Ian Grimm in the Apple TV+ comedy series Mythic Quest (2020-present), which he co-created with Day and Megan Ganz.
McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds became co-owners of the Welsh football club Wrexham A.F.C. in September 2020; this was featured in the FX sports documentary series Welcome to Wrexham (2022-present), on which he is an executive producer.
Early life
On April 14, 1977, Robert McElhenney III was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. McElhenney’s parents were both of Irish origin. He was raised in a Catholic household. He is a cousin of Olympic rower Marcus McElhenney through his father. His parents split when he was eight years old, after his mother came out as a lesbian. His father raised him and his two younger siblings, despite their parents stayed close following their divorce. He has two gay siblings and identifies himself as having “always been a part of the gay community.” He also has a half-sister and a step-brother from his father’s later marriage.
McElhenney attended Philadelphia’s Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School. Later, he briefly attended Temple University and then resided on the Fordham University campus with pals before declining to enroll.
Career
McElhenney received his first major acting role in the 1997 film The Devil’s Own, albeit his part was deleted from the final cut. He then appeared in small roles in A Civil Action, Wonder Boys, and Thirteen Conversations About One Thing. He later had larger roles in the films Latter Days and The Tollbooth, as well as a cameo appearance on Law & Order: SVU’s “Thrill” episode. A screenplay he authored was optioned with Paul Schrader attached to direct when he was 21, but the project fell through after a year of editing and rewrites.
McElhenney went to Los Angeles at the age of 25 after starting his career in New York City. At the age of 27, he was waiting tables between acting jobs and met Glenn Howerton through his agent, as well as Charlie Day while filming a horror film in New York City. His concept for a sitcom starring himself, Howerton, and Day was inspired by a request made by one of his closest childhood friends. The pilot was shot on a $200 budget and offered to various cable networks.
McElhenney chose FX after receiving offers from many networks because they gave him greater creative freedom, and the show was eventually titled It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. McElhenney was hired as showrunner, and Howerton and Day were credited as executive producers.
McElhenney has stated that acting, producing, and writing for It’s Always Sunny takes up 50 weeks of his year, however he did find time to appear in the Lost episode “Not in Portland” in 2012. This came about as a result of his meeting Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof, who is a fan of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Later, he returned to his Lost character in another episode. He enjoys Game of Thrones and was delighted when the show’s creators, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, approached him about writing an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He and his co-producers accepted the offer, and the episode “Flowers for Charlie” premiered in 2013.
He had a surprise appearance as an extra in the Game of Thrones episode “Winterfell” in 2019.
McElhenney was confirmed as the director of the planned animated Minecraft film by Mojang in July 2015, however he later abandoned the project.
McElhenney featured as a police officer in the renowned Fargo episode “The Law of Non-Contradiction” in 2017. Critics praised his performance, seeing many of his character’s mannerisms and plot aspects as parallels to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
McElhenney co-created the Apple TV+ comedy series Mythic Quest with Charlie Day and Megan Ganz in 2020. On the show, he also plays Ian Grimm and works as a writer and executive producer. The series has gained critical acclaim, with an approval rating of 89% on the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes.
McElhenney, Day, and Howerton have been releasing The Always Sunny Podcast since November 2021. The three talk about a variety of topics, with the primary structure of the podcast focused on the creators discussing each episode of the show, revealing behind-the-scenes information, and what was going on to inspire the episodes. Cast members from the show also make appearances to talk about their characters and how they got on the show.
Business interests
The Wrexham Supporters Trust reported on September 23, 2020, that McElhenney and Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds had formed a business partnership and were in talks to purchase the Welsh football team Wrexham AFC. After securing the endorsement of the Wrexham Supporters Trust, it was confirmed on November 16, 2020, that the two had successfully taken over the club. Wrexham were promoted to League Two and National League champions under their control on April 22, 2023. Wrexham has returned to the English Football League after a 15-year sabbatical.
McElhenney announced the debut of Adim, a new entertainment-tech firm co-founded by himself, Chase Rosenblatt, Melissa Kaspers, Spencer Marell, and Richard Rosenblatt, on June 7, 2022.
Personal life
McElhenney hired Kaitlin Olson to portray Dee Reynolds on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and fell in love with her “around season 2” of the show. She has been dubbed “the funniest woman in show business” by him. On September 27, 2008, they married in California. They have two children, Axel Lee McElhenney (born September 1, 2010) and Leo Grey McElhenney (born April 5, 2012. Olson gave birth to their first child while attending a Philadelphia Phillies game.
In 2009, McElhenney and Olson announced the purchase of Skinner’s Bar in Philadelphia, which they renamed Mac’s Tavern.
Body
McElhenney took on 60 lb (27 kg) of fat and let his beard grow out in preparation for the seventh season of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia to add further humor to his character and a new comedic direction for the season. Charlie Day, his co-star, called the weight gain “disgusting,” adding that the rest of the cast was “a little on the fence about it for his own personal health and safety.” McElhenney then lost 23 lb (10 kg) in a month after the season wrapped, and the rest of the weight was removed later in the year in time to film the next season.
In preparation for the show’s 13th season, he altered his body once more, becoming overly fit and athletic. In an Instagram post afterwards, he joked that it was “a super realistic lifestyle and an appropriate body image to compare oneself to.”
Influences
McElhenney’s comedic influences include The Marx Brothers, Woody Allen, Carl Reiner, Norman Lear, George Carlin, Gary David Goldberg, Larry David, and David Sedaris.
Did Rob McElhenney meet his wife on Always Sunny?
The It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia performers met on the set of the show in 2005 and began dating covertly, hoping to keep their romance hidden from their coworkers. “They said, ‘We have something to tell you guys.'” Kaitlin bursts into tears and declares, ‘I love [Rob.]’
How much is Rob McElhenney?
Rob McElhenney’s net worth is estimated to be over $50 million as of 2023.
How many houses and cars does Rob McElhenney have?
He currently owns a number of residences and has a large automobile collection. He has a Rolls Royce, a Mercedes Benz, a Mitsubishi Lancer, and many more luxury vehicles.
How much does Rob McElhenney make annually?
Rob is doing well financially and is currently living the life that every human desires. McElhenney is paid $5 million each year.
How much does Rob McElhenney charge per show?
It is unknown how much he charges per show.
How many businesses does Rob McElhenney own?
He owns a number of enterprises. He created, produced, and starred in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Mythic Quest.
What brands does Rob McElhenney own?
As of now, little is known about the brand Rob owns.
How many Endorsement deals has Rob McElhenney?
As of now, nothing is known regarding the sponsorship arrangements he has signed.
How many charities has Rob McElhenney donated to?
He has currently donated to various causes. However, the total number is yet unknown.
How many Philanthropy works has Rob McElhenney supported?
Nothing is known regarding the number of charitable causes he has funded.
