Kaitlin Olson

Kaitlin Willow Olson (born August 18, 1975) is an American actress, comedian, and producer. She began her career in the Groundlings, an improvisational group in Los Angeles, California. She had minor roles in several television series before being cast as Deandra "Sweet Dee" Reynolds on the long-running FX comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005–present).

Kaitlin Olson
Born
Kaitlin Willow Olson[1]

(1975-08-18) August 18, 1975
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Oregon
Occupation
  • Actress
  • comedian
  • producer
Years active2000–present
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2008)​
Children2

Olson starred as Mackenzie "Mickey" Molng in the Fox comedy series The Mick (2017–2018)[2] and as Cricket Melfi in the Quibi comedy series Flipped (2020), which earned her a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series.[3]

Olson has also appeared in films, including Leap Year (2010), The Heat (2013), Vacation (2015), Finding Dory (2016), and Arizona (2018).

Early life

Olson was born in Portland, Oregon[4] to Donald Lee Olson, a publisher, and Melinda Leora, a nurse.[5] Shortly after her birth, Olson relocated with her family to Spokane, Washington,[6] then to Vashon Island, Washington, in Puget Sound, 13 mi (21 km) west of Seattle, where she lived until age eight.[7] Her family subsequently relocated back to the Portland area, settling in Tualatin, where Olson grew up on a farm.[8][9] Her father worked as the publisher of the Portland Tribune[8] from 2000 to 2001.[10] At age twelve, Olson was involved in a serious bicycle accident involving a vehicle, resulting in a fractured skull requiring reconstructive surgery.[8][11] She graduated from Tigard High School in Tigard, Oregon in 1993.[10][12]

Olson studied theater at the University of Oregon, graduating with a bachelor's degree in theater arts in 1997.[5] After college, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting professionally.

Career

Olson was a member of the improvisational group The Groundlings.[8] She toured with the USO to Bosnia, Kosovo and Norway. She made several guest appearances in films and television series such as Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Drew Carey Show, The Jamie Kennedy Experiment, Out of Practice, Miss Match, Family Guy, and Punk'd. She had a minor role in the film Coyote Ugly.[13]

In 2004, she was cast as Deandra "Sweet Dee" Reynolds in the FX sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.[14] She also voiced Ethel in the first season of the Comedy Central animated series Brickleberry. In the 2013 film The Heat she appeared as a Bulgarian druggie who engages in an exchange of cultural perspectives and insults with Melissa McCarthy's character.

She played a recurring role as Hartley Underwood, the "one-armed" neighbor in the FX series The Riches. In June 2016, the Human Rights Campaign released a video in tribute to the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting; in the video, Olson and others told the stories of the people killed there.[15][16] Also in 2016, Olson provided the voice of Destiny in Walt Disney's Finding Dory.[17]

Olson starred in the Fox sitcom The Mick, which premiered in January 2017. She also serves as an executive producer for the series.[18] She returned in the second season of The Mick, which premiered in September 2017. However, Fox cancelled the series after its second season, ending in April 2018.[2]

Personal life
Olson with husband Rob McElhenney, 2010

Olson married her It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia co-star, Rob McElhenney, in California on September 27, 2008.[19][20][21] The couple started dating secretly during the second season of the series.[22][23]

In 2009, McElhenney and Olson announced their purchase of Skinner's Bar at 226 Market Street in Philadelphia (39.949895°N 75.144795°W / 39.949895; -75.144795). It was renamed Mac's Tavern.[24] They had their first child, a boy named Axel Lee, on September 1, 2010. Olson went into labor at a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies, and Axel was born in their California home as planned. Their second son, Leo Grey McElhenney, was born on April 5, 2012.[25][26]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2000 Eyes to Heaven Unknown
2000 Jacks Jocelyn
2000 Coyote Ugly Bidding Customer
2001 Fugly Cha Cha Short film
2003 Scapegoats Jeannie Short film
2009 Weather Girl Sherry
2010 Leap Year Libby
2010 Held Up Rocky II
2012 Trading Up Barbara Manzer Short film
2013 Escape from Planet Earth 3D Movie Girl (voice)
2013 The Heat Tatiana
2015 Vacation Arizona Cop
2016 Finding Dory Destiny (voice)
2018 Arizona Vicki

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2000–2020 Curb Your Enthusiasm Becky 7 episodes
2002–2004 The Drew Carey Show Traylor 12 episodes
2002 Meet the Marks Kaitlin Marks Main role; 7 episodes
2003 Punk'd Field Agent 2 episodes
2003 Miss Match Jillian Episode: "Who's Sari Now?"
2004 Significant Others Lauren Episode: "The First Time"
2004 George Lopez Janet Episode: "Home Sweet Homeschool"
2005 Kelsey Grammer Presents: The Sketch Show Various roles 6 episodes; also writer
2005–present It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Deandra "Sweet Dee" Reynolds Main role; 154 episodes
2006 Out of Practice Debbie Episode: "Model Behavior"
2007 The Riches Hartley Underwood 5 episodes
2011 Family Guy Brenda Quagmire (voice) 2 episodes
2012 Unsupervised Carol / Danielle (voice) 7 episodes
2012 Brickleberry Ethel (voice) Main role; 10 episodes
2014–2015 New Girl Ashley 2 episodes
2015–2019 Bob's Burgers Helen (voice) 2 episodes
2016 Cassius & Clay Ordwood Cassius (voice) Unsold pilot
2016 The Simpsons Quinn (voice) Episode: "The Girl Code"
2017–2018 The Mick Mackenzie "Mickey" Molng Lead role; 37 episodes[2]
Also executive producer
2018 Mean Jean Birdie Unsold pilot
2020 Flipped Cricket Melfi Main role; 11 episodes
2020 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Herself Episode: "Dr. Phil, Katlin Olson & Lauren Lapkus"
2020 Space Force Edison Jaymes Episode: "Edison Jaymes"

Video games
Year Title Role Notes
2015 Disney Infinity 3.0 Destiny (voice)

References
  1. "Kaitlin Willow McElhenney". Ancestry.com.
  2. Swift, Andy (May 10, 2018). "The Mick Cancelled at Fox". TVLine. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  3. "2020 Primetime Emmy® Awards – Nomination Press Release" (PDF). Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  4. Valentino, Silas (November 15, 2013). "Q&A with Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenny from 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'". The Daily Emerald. Archived from the original on November 5, 2014. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  5. Fullmer, Chelsea (December 12, 2013). ""It's Always Sunny" Star Returns to Her Alma Mater". CAS. University of Oregon. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  6. Olson, Kaitlin (July 18, 2018). "Armchair Expert" (Interview). Episode 23. Interviewed by Dax Shepard.
  7. "One on One with Kaitlin Olson". Hobotrashcan.com (Interview). Interviewed by Joel Murphy. September 18, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
  8. Bartels, Eric (June 27, 2006). "Comedian gets funny in Philly". Portland Tribune. Retrieved March 20, 2007.
  9. "Q&A: Kaitlin Olson, Tualatin native, stars in 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. September 15, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  10. Haynes, Dane (April 10, 2017). "Kaitlin Olson Turn Shining Star". Portland Tribune. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  11. "Kaitlin Olson's Plastic Surgery - The Truth!". Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  12. Baker, Jeff (April 28, 2014). "18 actors you (maybe) didn't know were from Portland". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  13. "Seen on the screen". News & Observer. 20 September 2007. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  14. Cunningham, Amrie (September 13, 2007). "Interview: Kaitlin Olson". thetvaddict.com. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
  15. "49 Celebrities Honor 49 Victims of Orlando Tragedy | Human Rights Campaign". Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  16. Rothaus, Steve (June 12, 2016). "Pulse Orlando shooting scene a popular LGBT club where employees, patrons 'like family'". The Miami Herald. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  17. "Ty Burrell, Kaitlin Olson star in animated film, Finding Dory". FOX5. FOX Beat. Washington, D.C. June 16, 2016. Archived from the original on April 5, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  18. Littleton, Cynthia (February 2, 2016). "Fox Orders Comedy Pilot 'The Mick'". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  19. Gross, Dan (September 8, 2007). "It's Sunny for McElhenney". Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original on January 19, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  20. "'It's Always Sunny' Stars Wed!". UPI.com. October 3, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  21. "OK! Exclusive: Kaitlin Olson & Rob McElhenney Wed". OK!. October 1, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
  22. "Still 'Sunny' after all these years: Kaitlin Olson talks 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'". Metro. September 16, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  23. Rainey, Candice (November 11, 2009). "Interview with actress Kaitlin Olson". Elle. Retrieved November 12, 2009.
  24. "Mac and Dee from "Always Sunny" getting into bar business for real | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/17/2009". Philly.com. 2009-12-17. Retrieved 2011-11-16.
  25. Johnson, Zach (April 10, 2012). "Meet Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney's Son Leo Grey!". US Magazine. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  26. Wihlborg, Ulrica (September 2, 2010). "Kaitlin Olson, Rob McElhenney Welcome Son Axel Lee". People. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
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