Relating to celebrities with distinctive names, Rob McElhenney is among the many most well-known of the bunch. The actor, producer, author and sports activities staff proprietor’s surname not solely displays his Irish heritage but additionally his rising model. So it’s considerably shocking for me to see that McElhenney is reportedly taking steps to legally change his identify. Whereas he beforehand mentioned making such a shift, I assumed it was both a joke or simply an concept he was simply pondering.
Robert McElhenney III filed the mandatory paperwork in Los Angeles this previous week. In keeping with TMZ, the A-lister is trying to change his identify to “Rob Mac.” It is a important step, contemplating that McElhenney apparently needs this to be his full authorities identify versus a stage moniker. The paperwork was reportedly signed on Thursday, which signifies that the method is now in movement. As of this writing, McElhenney himself has not offered a proper touch upon the matter.
There have definitely been celebrities who’ve modified their identify. Nonetheless, in contrast to on this state of affairs, loads of situations must do with forming stage names, like Jamie Foxx has performed. Brie Larson even shaped her title with the assistance of an American Woman doll. Arguably of probably the most high-profile identify modifications to happen over the previous a number of years is that of Kanye West, who modified his identify to Ye in 2021 after initially expressing curiosity in 2018. Ye had a biblical motive for the swap, however “Rob Mac” has a special objective in thoughts.
Whereas this will’t be stated definitively, it will appear that Rob McElhenney’s resolution to alter his identify has to do together with his enterprise endeavors. He and his spouse, fellow star Kaitlin Olson, participated in a joint interview with Selection earlier this yr, throughout which McElhenney mentioned his multimedia firm, Extra Higher Industries. He defined that as a result of company’s worldwide dealings, he was contemplating swapping his identify, which I didn’t take significantly. On the time, McElhenney shared one particular motive for making the change:
As our enterprise and our storytelling is increasing into different areas of the world and different languages during which my identify is even more durable to pronounce, I’m simply going by Rob Mac.
“McElhenney” will not be a surname that some individuals outdoors the U.S. could possibly pronounce. But it’s a really distinctive identify that Rob appears to be pleased with. He even admitted that he wrestled with whether or not such a selection could be disrespectful in direction of his lineage. His considerations had been soothed, nevertheless, when the Mythic Quest co-creator discovered that family had been aiming to alter their names and that others had performed so up to now. So it appears the actor is critical, however given his humor, are you able to blame me for considering it was a joke?
Rob McElhenney’s skilled profile has undoubtedly grown, notably up to now a number of years. He’s turn out to be a profitable sports activities entrepreneur, as he at present serves as co-owner of the Welsh soccer membership Wrexham A.F.C. alongside buddy Ryan Reynolds. Their efforts to shepherd the staff to success are chronicled on the Emmy-winning docuseries, Welcome to Wrexham (which is streamable with a Hulu subscription). Other than being an enormous identify in soccer, McElhenney continues to star alongside his spouse on It’s At all times Sunny in Philadelphia, which can be returning for its seventeenth season shortly on the 2025 TV schedule.
No matter identify he decides to go by, Rob McElhenney is entitled to no matter he feels is greatest for himself in that regard. I’d be mendacity if I stated “Rob Mac” isn’t going to take some getting used to. Nonetheless, possibly it could work in McElhenney’s favor in an enormous manner. (Personally, I’d say there’s a cheeky collaboration with McDonald’s to be solid right here.)
You’ll be able to see the person quickly to be often known as Rob Mac on It’s At all times Sunny in Philadelphia Season 17, when it debuts on July 9 on FXX.