Kaitlin Olson

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/FXX comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (since 2005) and Morgan Gillory in the ABC crime comedy drama series High Potential (since 2024).

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 (2021–2026). 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 three more Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2022, 2024 and 2026 for her role in Hacks.

Early life Olson was born in Portland, Oregon, on August 18, 1975, Shortly after she was born, Olson's family moved to Spokane, Washington, then to Vashon Island, Washington, in Puget Sound. Olson lived there until she was eight. Her 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

At age 12, Olson was in a serious bicycle accident involving a vehicle, resulting in a fractured skull requiring reconstructive surgery. She studied theater at the University of Oregon, graduating with a bachelor's degree in theater arts in 1997.

Career After moving to Los Angeles, Olson became a member of theater comedy troupe The Groundlings Sunday Company. She trained with Sunday Company for a year, which led to her receiving a recurring role on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

In 2000, Olson made her debut television appearance in the HBO comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm as Becky, Cheryl Hines's character's sister. The same year as her television debut, Olson also had a minor role in the film Coyote Ugly. She received more regular work after being cast on The Drew Carey Show (1995–2004). Carey would end up working closely with Olson, stating he knew she was "headed for stardom." He later cast Olson in the Green Screen Show (2004–2005). She also toured Bosnia, Kosovo, and Norway with Carey and several other comedians, providing entertainment for U.S. military troops through the USO.

She went on to make guest appearances in several television series, including Punk'd in 2003, Miss Match in 2003, George Lopez in 2004, and Out of Practice in 2006. 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 near-sighted 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. For her performance in the series, she received three nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, in 2022, 2024, and 2026. She 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 her It's Always Sunny character, Deandra "Sweet Dee" Reynolds, in the ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary during a cross-over event in 2025.

Personal life

Olson married her It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia co-star, Rob McElhenney, in Malibu, California, on September 27, 2008, which was a week after Soundgarden bassist Ben Shepherd turned 40 on September 20, 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 was born in their California home as planned. Their second son was born in 2012. They have two dogs, a cat, and a gerbil.

In June 2016, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) 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 Year Title Role Notes 2000 Eyes to Heaven Unknown Jacks Jocelyn Coyote Ugly Bidding Customer 2001 Fugly Cha Cha Short film 2003 Scapegoats Jeannie Short film 2009 Weather Girl Sherry 2010 Leap Year Libby Held Up Rocky II 2012 Trading Up Barbara Manzer Short film 2013 Escape from Planet Earth 3D Movie Girl Voice role The Heat Tatiana 2015 Vacation Arizona Cop 2016 Finding Dory Destiny Voice role 2018 Arizona Vicki 2022 It's a Wonderful Binge Mayor Spengler 2023 Champions Alex 2024 Incoming Ms. Nielsen

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 2003 Punk'd Field Agent 2 episodes Miss Match Jillian Episode: "Who's Sari Now?" The Man Show Crazy Hot Girl in the Bar Season 5, Episode 20 2004 Significant Others Lauren Episode: "The First Time" 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 2006 Out of Practice Debbie Episode: "Model Behavior" 2007 The Riches Hartley Underwood 5 episodes 2011 Family Guy Brenda Quagmire Episode: "Screams of Silence: The Story of Brenda Q"; voice role 2012 Unsupervised Carol / Danielle 7 episodes; voice role Brickleberry Ethel Anderson Main role; voice role 2014–2015 New Girl Ashley 2 episodes 2015–2019 Bob's Burgers Helen 2 episodes; voice role 2016 Cassius & Clay Ordwood Cassius Unsold pilot; voice role The Simpsons Quinn Episode: "The Girl Code"; voice role 2017–2018 The Mick Mackenzie "Mickey" Molng Main role; also executive producer 2018 Mean Jean Birdie Unsold pilot 2020 Flipped Cricket Melfi Main role Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Herself Episode: "Dr. Phil, Kaitlin Olson & Lauren Lapkus" Space Force Edison Jaymes Episode: "Edison Jaymes" 2021–2026 Hacks DJ Vance Recurring role 2023 Agent Elvis CeCe Ryder Main role; voice role 2024–present High Potential Morgan Gillory Main role; also producer 2025 Abbott Elementary Deandra "Sweet Dee" Reynolds Crossover episode: "Volunteers"

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2015 Disney Infinity 3.0 Destiny Voice role

Web Year Title RoleNotes 2022–2023 The Always Sunny Podcast Herself 6 episodes

Music videos Year Artist Title Role Notes 2021 Imagine Dragons "Follow You" Herself Co-starring with Rob McElhenney

Awards and nominations