Kaitlin Olson

Kaitlin Willow Olson McElhenney (born August 18, 1975) is an American actress and comedian. She is best known for her role as Deandra "Sweet Dee" Reynolds in the FX comedy series ''It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'' (2005–present). She currently stars as Morgan Gillory in the ABC crime drama series '' High Potential'' (2024–present).

Also on television, she has portrayed recurring characters such as Becky in the HBO sitcom ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' (2000–2020) and Deborah "DJ" Vance Jr. in the HBO Max comedy-drama series '' Hacks'' (2021–present). She played Mackenzie "Mickey" Molng, the lead role in the Fox comedy series '' The Mick'' (2017–2018). She has appeared in several comedy films, including ''Leap Year'' (2010), '' The Heat'' (2013), ''Finding Dory'' (2016), 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 appeared 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. 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, 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''.

Olson took the leading-star role as the character Morgan Gillory in the ABC crime drama series '' High Potential'' in 2024, 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

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Olson, Kaitlin
Living people
1975 births
20th-century American actresses
20th-century American comedians
21st-century American actresses
21st-century American comedians
Actresses from Portland, Oregon
Actresses from Washington (state)
American film actresses
American people of Dutch descent
American people of Scandinavian descent
American television actresses
American voice actresses
American women comedians
Comedians from Portland, Oregon
Comedians from Washington (state)
People from Tigard, Oregon
People from Vashon, Washington
University of Oregon alumni