Before There Was ‘Rob Mac,’ the ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ Star Almost Changed His Name to ‘Rob Dumptruck’

The actor formerly known as Rob McElhenney now goes by Rob Mac, but the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star once wished he’d adopted a different moniker earlier in his TV career.

While discussing Tom Cruise’s stage name on an episode of the Always Sunny Podcast, Mac revealed that if he “had a time machine,” he’d choose to go back and change his surname to “Dumptruck.” 

The sentiment sparked an echo of “Rob Dumptruck” and a series of compliments from his cohosts. “Ooh, that’s tough,” Glenn Howerton said of the “masculine” name, while Charlie Day touted it as “cool.” 

Funnily enough, Mac’s actual name change earlier this summer didn’t go over nearly as well. Shortly before Mac filed to legally change his name, his wife Kaitlin Olson spoke about her husband’s then-potential decision to shave three syllables from his last name, revealing that the pair’s two children also weren’t exactly thrilled with their dad’s decision. 

“The kids are really not happy about it, because they have that last name,” the actress told Variety, noting that despite being billed as “Olson,” she’s also stuck with the McElhenney moniker legally.

Moreover, days after the actor filed to make his name change official, Always Sunny fans flocked to social media to sound off on Mac’s new name, a decision they largely panned — and pinned on the actor’s IRL bestie/Wrexham A.F.C. co-owner, Ryan Reynolds. 

“Someone said it’s crazy that a 50yr old is being groomed by Ryan Reynolds and I haven’t stopped thinking about it,” said one fan while another jokingly threatened to “kill” the Deadpool star. 

To a third fan, however, the call seemed to be coming not from inside the house, but from inside the actor’s mouth. “His veneers are taking over his body like the symbiote,” they theorized.  

That said, it’s not too late for Mac to do right by his fans and his family. He can still change his last name to Dumptruck.