If you have a hard time pronouncing Rob McElhenney’s name, you’re apparently not alone.
The “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” creator and star has filed papers in Los Angeles to legally change his name to Rob Mac, People has confirmed. Mac is the name of McElhenney’s character in his beloved FX comedy and is the first syllable in his family’s surname.
Mac will now be credited as Rob Mac in projects moving forward, Entertainment Weekly reports, although FX has already been crediting him by this name in its online materials.
The official name change comes shortly after the actor told Variety in May that he was toying around with the idea of legally changing his name because his company, More Better Productions, is expanding internationally.
“As our business and our storytelling is expanding into other regions of the world and other languages in which my name is even harder to pronounce, I’m just going by Rob Mac,” he said.
More Better was behind the docuseries “Welcome to Wrexham,” which chronicled Mac and actor Ryan Reynolds’ acquisition of the football club Wrexham AFC in the United Kingdom.
Although the name change might make it easier for people to pronounce his name, it seems that Mac’s immediate family — which includes his wife and “Always Sunny” co-star Kaitlin Olson — is a bit miffed by it.
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“The kids are really not happy about it, because they have that last name,” Olson told Variety. “And so do I, legally!”
The “Hacks” star, who still uses Olson professionally, and Mac share two sons, Axel, 14, and Leo, 13.
The two teens may want to follow their dad’s lead in the future, however. Mac told Variety that during a recent bash to celebrate his 48th birthday in April, some of his extended family members admitted they’ve been tempted to change the name as well. He also noted to Variety that he recently discovered some relatives had tweaked “McElhenney” over the years.
