Rob McElhenney’s path to success was a long and interesting one. He had a strong desire to become a famous actor, but often found himself in mediocre projects. Eventually, he decided to take matters into his own hands and create his own path to global recognition. He wrote a comedic story about two friends that would later become a cult classic TV series. Read on to learn more about how this Philly native became a successful actor and to see his filmography at philadelphia-trend.
Childhood and First Steps into Film
Rob McElhenney was born the third of three brothers on April 14, 1977, in the City of Brotherly Love. He grew up in an Irish-American family. A notable family connection is that his close relative, Marcus McElhenney, is an Olympic rowing champion.
The future TV star was educated at the local Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School. He was expected to continue his education and receive a college degree, but instead, he decided to pursue acting.
His first film experience was in a movie called The Devil’s Own. It was an incredible opportunity for him at the time, but unfortunately, all of his scenes were cut from the final version.
Despite this setback, Rob couldn’t give up. Without a college degree, it would be difficult to land a high-paying job. So he actively tracked all available film projects and went to every audition he could.
Rejection after rejection, he eventually landed roles in films like A Civil Action, Wonder Boys, and Thirteen Conversations About One Thing. Over time, more serious producers took notice of the young Philadelphian, inviting him to appear in films like The Last Days of Disco and The Tollbooth. He also had a guest role in an episode of Law & Order. In his youth, Rob also had his first experience writing a script—a year-long process of drafting, editing, and rewriting—only to have it ultimately rejected.
The Making of an Acting Career
At the age of 25, the future Hollywood star was working a service industry job at a restaurant in Philadelphia. When he found the time, he would act in films, where he met Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day. He became close friends with Charlie Day and decided to collaborate. He pitched an idea for a series of comedic sketches. His goal was to make himself and his colleagues popular actors.
The pilot was filmed on a budget of just $200 and was pitched to various cable networks. Eventually, the TV studio FX agreed to fund their project. The parties had long discussions about the plot and title, but eventually settled on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
McElhenney was the creative force behind the sitcom about Philadelphia residents, and who could play a Philadelphian better than a Philly native himself?
During his career as a modern TV star, he has participated in projects such as Lost, Game of Thrones, and Fargo. It is also worth noting that his work on Minecraft never came to fruition, as Rob’s animated film, which was supposed to be his directorial debut, failed.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he teamed up with his old friends to create a new comedy series called Mythic Quest. The show was well-received by critics, with an overall approval rating of almost 90%.
One particularly cherished project for Rob McElhenney’s fans is The Always Sunny Podcast. The show is available on various podcast platforms, where in each episode, McElhenney, Day, and Howerton discuss different topical issues, joke around, and share interesting behind-the-scenes stories from their show. 
