Los Angeles, California — Rob McElhenney, the creator and star of the long-running series “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” is making a significant change by filing legal documents to officially alter his name to Rob Mac. This shift aims to simplify pronunciation for fans and audiences worldwide.
The name “Mac” is a nod to both McElhenney’s character in the hit FX comedy and the first syllable of his family name. Going forward, he will be credited as Rob Mac in all upcoming projects, a change that has already begun to take effect in online materials from FX.
The decision comes as part of a broader strategy to accommodate the expansion of McElhenney’s production company, More Better Productions. In May, he mentioned to Variety that as the company explores storytelling across different languages and regions, adopting a simpler name could make operations smoother.
More Better Productions has gained attention for its successful docuseries “Welcome to Wrexham,” which follows McElhenney and fellow actor Ryan Reynolds as they navigate owning the Wrexham AFC football club in Wales. This project has garnered a strong fanbase, highlighting the growing international appeal of McElhenney’s work.
While the name change may facilitate his professional endeavors, it appears to have caused some discontent within his family. Kaitlin Olson, McElhenney’s wife and co-star on “It’s Always Sunny,” revealed that their children, Axel and Leo, are less than thrilled about their father’s new moniker. She noted in an interview that the boys are unhappy since they carry the McElhenney surname.
It’s a change that may not be as easy for the entire family, with Olson keeping her own last name professionally. However, McElhenney mentioned that some relatives have toyed with the idea of rebranding themselves after noticing how the name has been altered over the years.
As McElhenney embraces this transition in his career, fans can expect to see more of Rob Mac on screen and beyond, signaling a fresh chapter for the beloved actor. With this new identity, he aims to make his mark in the entertainment world more accessible, inviting an even larger global audience to join in on the fun.