Actor Biography
Kaitlin Olson continues to make a remarkable impact across television and the big screen. She is best known for her starring role on the critically acclaimed cultural phenomenon series "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" for FX. The 16th season premiered in June 2023 and has shattered the record as the longest-running live-action television sitcom in history. "Sunny" has been positioned as a cultural juggernaut on a global scale for its unapologetic satirizing of human nature – consistently delivering record-breaking ratings year after year.
Olson is currently in production for Drew Goddard's upcoming drama series "High Potential" on ABC. The series is based on the French detective series "HPI" and centers on Morgan (Olson), a single mom with three kids and an exceptional mind who helps solve an unsolvable crime when she rearranges some evidence during her shift as a cleaner for the police department. Olson also serves as a producer on the series.
Olson can currently be seen in the Emmy® Award-winning Max series "Hacks," opposite Jean Smart. For its sophomore season, she earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance as DJ. She recently reprised her role in the third season of "Hacks" and received critical acclaim on a global scale for her scene-stealing performance.
She was also nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama series for her for her role in "Flipped," a Quibi series in which she and Will Forte play a clueless, narcissistic couple trying to launch their own house flipping show. Prior to that, she starred in and executive produced "The Mick," where she plays Mackenzie "Mickey" Molng, a hard-living aunt forced to take care of her wealthy sister's spoiled kids after the mom flees the country to avoid criminal charges. The Hollywood Reporter called the show "an opportunity to put Olson and the things she does best front and center."
Olson has been praised for crafting unique and memorable characters that recur on several shows including Larry David's sister-in-law, Becky, on "Curb Your Enthusiasm"; one-armed neighbor Hartley Underwood on FX's "The Riches"; Mimi's nemesis, Traylor, on "The Drew Carey Show"; and as Ashley on "New Girl."
On the big screen, she was recently seen in Bobby Farrelly's "Champions," an English-language adaptation of the Spanish film of the same name which tells the story of a minor league basketball coach who is forced to do community service and decides to help coach a Special Olympics team. She stars alongside Woody Harrelson. Focus Features released the film domestically in March 2023. She will next be seen in Netflix's upcoming comedy feature "Incoming" from directors Dave and John Chernin, which will debut in fall 2024.
Olson's film credits include Pixar's "Finding Dory," the hit Fox comedy "The Heat, Arizona," and Universal's romantic comedy "Leap Year" in which she appeared opposite Amy Adams.
She currently resides in Los Angeles.