Kaitlin Willow Olson McElhenney (born August 18, 1975) is an American actress and comedian. She is best known for her roles as Deandra "Sweet Dee" Reynolds in the FX comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005–present), Mackenzie "Mickey" Molng in the Fox comedy series The Mick (2017–2018), Deborah "DJ" Vance Jr. in the HBO Max comedy-drama series Hacks (2021–present), and Morgan Gillory in the ABC crime drama series High Potential (2024–present).
Olson began her career in the Sunday Company at the Groundlings in Los Angeles. She played minor roles in various television comedies, including Becky in the HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000–2020), before she was cast in It's Always Sunny. Since then, she has gone on to appear in several comedy films, including Leap Year (2010), The Heat (2013), Vacation (2015), Finding Dory (2016), Arizona (2018), and Champions (2023).
Olson received her first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her role as Cricket Melfi in the Quibi comedy series Flipped (2020), in the category of Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series. She went on to receive two more Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2022 and 2024 for her role in Hacks.
Early life
Olson was born in Portland, Oregon, on August 18, 1975 to Donald Lee Olson, a publisher, and Melinda Leora, a nurse. Shortly after she was born, Olson moved with her family to Spokane, Washington then to Vashon Island, Washington in Puget Sound. Olson lived there until she was eight. Kaitlin's family went back to the Portland area, settling in Tualatin, where she grew up on a farm. Her father worked as the publisher of the Portland Tribune from 2000 to 2001.
At age twelve, Olson was in a serious bicycle accident involving a vehicle, resulting in a fractured skull requiring reconstructive surgery. She graduated from Tigard High School in Tigard, Oregon in 1993. She studied theater at the University of Oregon, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in theater arts in 1997. After college, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting professionally.
Career
Olson was a member of The Groundlings Sunday Company, along with Dax Shepard. She toured with the USO to Bosnia, Kosovo and Norway.
In 2000, Olson made her debut television appearance in the HBO comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm as the recurring role of Becky, Cheryl Hines's sister. She also had a minor role in the film Coyote Ugly (2000). Olson went on to make guest appearances in several television series, including The Drew Carey Show (2002–2004), Punk'd (2003), Miss Match (2003), George Lopez (2004), and Out of Practice (2006).
Olson received wider recognition when she was cast as Deandra "Sweet Dee" Reynolds in the FX sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-present), one of the then-four (later five) main characters on the series. She garnered critical acclaim for her performance, with particular praise for her physical comedy.
In 2007, Olson played a recurring role as Hartley Underwood, the "one-armed" neighbor in the FX drama series The Riches. She had voice roles in numerous animated series, including Family Guy (2009–2011), Brickleberry (2012), Bob's Burgers (2015–2019), and The Simpsons (2016). She also had roles in the comedy film Weather Girl (2009), the romantic comedy film Leap Year (2010), and the animated film Escape from Planet Earth (2013). In the action comedy film The Heat (2013), Olson appeared as a Bulgarian drug addict who engages in an exchange of cultural perspectives (and insults) with Melissa McCarthy's character. She also appeared as an Arizona cop in the road comedy film Vacation (2015).
In 2016, Olson provided the voice of Destiny, a nearsighted whale shark, in Disney's animated sequel film Finding Dory. Olson then starred as Mackenzie "Mickey" Molng in the Fox sitcom The Mick, which premiered in January 2017. She also served as an executive producer for the series. The second season of The Mick premiered in September 2017. Fox canceled the series after the season ended in April 2018.
Olson went on to appear in the dark comedy thriller film Arizona (2018) and guest starred in the Netflix workplace comedy series Space Force (2020). She also starred 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.
Since 2021, Olson has guest starred as Deborah "DJ" Vance Jr. in the HBO Max comedy-drama series Hacks. For her performance in the series, she received two nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.
In 2023, Olson had a voice role in the Netflix animated series Agent Elvis and starred in the sports comedy-drama film Champions. The next year, she appeared in the teen comedy film Incoming.
Since 2024, Olson has starred in the lead role of Morgan Gillory in the ABC crime drama series High Potential, a remake of the French-Belgian series HPI. She also guest starred as Deandra "Sweet Dee" Reynolds in the ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary.
Personal life
Olson married her It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia co-star, Rob McElhenney, in Malibu, California on September 27, 2008. The couple secretly started dating during the second season of the series.
In 2009, McElhenney and Olson announced their purchase of Skinner's Bar in Philadelphia; it was renamed Mac's Tavern. In 2010, Olson went into labor at a Los Angeles Dodgers home game against the Philadelphia Phillies; their son Axel was born in their California home as planned. Their second son was born in 2012.
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 narrated the stories of the people killed there.
Filmography
Film
Television
Video games
Web
Music videos
Awards and nominations
References
External links
- Kaitlin Olson at IMDb
