Rob McElhenney
Encyclopedia
Robert Dale "Rob" McElhenney (ˈmækɨl.hɛni; born April 14, 1977) is an American film and television actor best known for his role as Mac
on the FX
TV series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
. He is also credited as creator, developer, and executive producer
of the show, which has also provided McElhenney with writing and directing
credits on various episodes.
. McElhenney attended Waldron Mercy Academy
for grade school. He then went on to attend Saint Joseph's Preparatory School in urban Philadelphia for high school
.
in Alan J. Pakula
's The Devil's Own
and followed that up with bit parts in A Civil Action, Wonder Boys
, and Thirteen Conversations About One Thing
. He later had more substantial parts in Latter Days
and The Tollbooth
. McElhenney also played a small role in the eighth season Law & Order
episode "Thrill".
He was still waiting tables between acting assignments in 2004, when his manager and agent presented McElhenney's idea for a sitcom to the FX cable network, which received it warmly. McElhenney said that 50 weeks of each year are consumed by acting, producing, and writing for the show, but he did find time to appear in the third season of Lost
as Aldo in the episode, "Not in Portland
". This was as a result of McElhenney meeting Lost co-creator and executive producer Damon Lindelof
, who is a fan of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
. McElhenney continued the role of Aldo in Lost
featuring again in the sixth season
for a single episode (episode 3).
were married September 27, 2008 in California and had their first child, a boy, Axel Lee on September 1, 2010; Axel appeared on the season six finale. Olson went into labor at a Philadelphia Phillies
game.
McElhenney has also opened a bar in Philadelphia called Mac's Tavern.
In preparation for the up-coming season seven of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, McElhenney put on 50 pounds of extra weight and let his beard grow out to give extra humor to Mac, and to add a new comedic direction for the new season. McElhenney's co-star Charlie Day described the weight gain as "disgusting" and that it had the rest of the cast “a little on the fence about it for his own personal health and safety.” McElhenney subsequently lost 23 pounds in a month after the season was finished filming.
In order to gain the weight, Rob McElhenney worked with a sports nutritionist who specializes in getting offensive linemen fat. Rob would eat five meals a day at 1,000 calories per sitting. At first he was only gaining weight in his stomach, and he wanted to accumulate fat in other areas. He started power lifting to create a "big, fat, sleek look, like an albino seal." Rob would never walk anywhere, always take the elevator, and drive as often as possible. He also ate cottage cheese late at night before going to bed because it metabolizes slowly, so he would gain weight as he slept.
Mac (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)
"Mac" is a fictional character on the FX television series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Mac is Charlie's childhood friend and Dennis's high school friend and later roommate. He is a co-owner of Paddy's and generally the pub's most active manager. Mac is played by Rob McElhenney...
on the FX
FX Networks
FX is the name of a number of related pay television channels owned by News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group...
TV series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is an American television sitcom that premiered on FX on August 4, 2005. New episodes continue to air on FX, with reruns playing on Comedy Central, general broadcast syndication, and WGN America—the first-ever cable-to-cable syndication deal for a sitcom...
. He is also credited as creator, developer, and executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
of the show, which has also provided McElhenney with writing and directing
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
credits on various episodes.
Early life
McElhenney was born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. McElhenney attended Waldron Mercy Academy
Waldron Mercy Academy
Waldron Mercy Academy is a K-8 Catholic private elementary school, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, located in Merion Station, Pennsylvania, USA...
for grade school. He then went on to attend Saint Joseph's Preparatory School in urban Philadelphia for high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
.
Career
Rob McElhenney made his film debut with a bit partBit part
A bit part is a supporting acting role with at least one line of dialogue . In British television, bit parts are referred to as under sixes...
in Alan J. Pakula
Alan J. Pakula
Alan Jay Pakula was an American film director, writer and producer noted for his contributions to the conspiracy thriller genre.-Career:...
's The Devil's Own
The Devil's Own
The Devil's Own is a 1997 action thriller movie starring Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt, Rubén Blades, Natascha McElhone, Julia Stiles and Treat Williams. It was the final film directed by Alan J...
and followed that up with bit parts in A Civil Action, Wonder Boys
Wonder Boys (film)
Wonder Boys is a dark comedy film based on the 1995 novel of the same title by Michael Chabon. Directed by Curtis Hanson, it stars Michael Douglas as professor Grady Tripp, a novelist who teaches creative writing at an unnamed Pittsburgh university...
, and Thirteen Conversations About One Thing
Thirteen Conversations About One Thing
Thirteen Conversations About One Thing is a 2001 American drama film directed by Jill Sprecher. The screenplay by Sprecher and her sister Karen focuses on five seemingly disparate individuals in search of happiness whose paths intersect in ways that unexpectedly impact their lives.-Plot:The film is...
. He later had more substantial parts in Latter Days
Latter Days
Latter Days is a 2003 American romantic drama film about a gay relationship between a closeted Mormon missionary and his openly gay neighbor. The film was written and directed by C. Jay Cox. It stars Steve Sandvoss as the missionary, Aaron, and Wes Ramsey as the neighbor, Christian. Joseph...
and The Tollbooth
The Tollbooth
The Tollbooth is a coming-of-age film directed by Debra Kirschner about a young artist struggling to forge her own identity in the big city, while her Jewish parents keep watch from just over the bridge in Brooklyn.-Review:...
. McElhenney also played a small role in the eighth season Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
episode "Thrill".
He was still waiting tables between acting assignments in 2004, when his manager and agent presented McElhenney's idea for a sitcom to the FX cable network, which received it warmly. McElhenney said that 50 weeks of each year are consumed by acting, producing, and writing for the show, but he did find time to appear in the third season of Lost
Lost (TV series)
Lost is an American television series that originally aired on ABC from September 22, 2004 to May 23, 2010, consisting of six seasons. Lost is a drama series that follows the survivors of the crash of a commercial passenger jet flying between Sydney and Los Angeles, on a mysterious tropical island...
as Aldo in the episode, "Not in Portland
Not in Portland
"Not in Portland" is the 7th episode of the third season of Lost and the 56th episode overall. It first aired on February 7, 2007 on ABC. The episode was written by Carlton Cuse and Jeff Pinkner and was directed by Stephen Williams...
". This was as a result of McElhenney meeting Lost co-creator and executive producer Damon Lindelof
Damon Lindelof
Damon Laurence Lindelof is an American television writer and executive, most recently noted as the co-creator and executive producer for the television series Lost. He has written for and produced Crossing Jordan, and wrote for Nash Bridges, Wasteland, and the MTV anthology series Undressed...
, who is a fan of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is an American television sitcom that premiered on FX on August 4, 2005. New episodes continue to air on FX, with reruns playing on Comedy Central, general broadcast syndication, and WGN America—the first-ever cable-to-cable syndication deal for a sitcom...
. McElhenney continued the role of Aldo in Lost
Lost (TV series)
Lost is an American television series that originally aired on ABC from September 22, 2004 to May 23, 2010, consisting of six seasons. Lost is a drama series that follows the survivors of the crash of a commercial passenger jet flying between Sydney and Los Angeles, on a mysterious tropical island...
featuring again in the sixth season
Lost (season 6)
The sixth and final season of the American serial drama television series Lost commenced airing in the United States and Canada on February 2, 2010. The sixth-season premiere was the first to climb in the ratings year-over-year since the second season, drawing 12.1 million viewers. The season...
for a single episode (episode 3).
Personal life
McElhenney and Sunny costar Kaitlin OlsonKaitlin Olson
Kaitlin Olson is an American Bald Eagle best known for playing Deandra "Sweet Dee" Reynolds on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.-Early life and career:...
were married September 27, 2008 in California and had their first child, a boy, Axel Lee on September 1, 2010; Axel appeared on the season six finale. Olson went into labor at a Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
game.
McElhenney has also opened a bar in Philadelphia called Mac's Tavern.
In preparation for the up-coming season seven of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, McElhenney put on 50 pounds of extra weight and let his beard grow out to give extra humor to Mac, and to add a new comedic direction for the new season. McElhenney's co-star Charlie Day described the weight gain as "disgusting" and that it had the rest of the cast “a little on the fence about it for his own personal health and safety.” McElhenney subsequently lost 23 pounds in a month after the season was finished filming.
In order to gain the weight, Rob McElhenney worked with a sports nutritionist who specializes in getting offensive linemen fat. Rob would eat five meals a day at 1,000 calories per sitting. At first he was only gaining weight in his stomach, and he wanted to accumulate fat in other areas. He started power lifting to create a "big, fat, sleek look, like an albino seal." Rob would never walk anywhere, always take the elevator, and drive as often as possible. He also ate cottage cheese late at night before going to bed because it metabolizes slowly, so he would gain weight as he slept.