| Rob McElhenney | |
|---|---|
McElhenney (left) at the San Diego Comic-Con International in July 2008. |
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| Born | Robert Dale McElhenney April 14, 1977 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, director, producer, writer |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Spouse | Kaitlin Olson (2008-present) |
Robert Dale "Rob" McElhenney (pronounced /ˈmækɨl.hɛni/;[1] 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.
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McElhenney was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. McElhenney attended Waldron Mercy Academy for grade school. He then went on to attend the prestigious Saint Joseph's Preparatory School in urban Philadelphia for high school.
Rob McElhenney made his film debut with a bit part 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.[2] 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).
McElhenney and Sunny costar Kaitlin Olson were married September 27, 2008 in California[3] 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.[4]. In late October 2011, the couple confirmed that they are expecting their second child, also a boy, in spring 2012. 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.[5]
In order to gain the weight, Rob McElhenney worked with a sports nutritionist who specializes in aiding offensive linemen in gaining weight. 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.[6]