Charlie Day

Charlie Day is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer from New York City. Born Charles Peckham Day on February 9, 1976, he has built a career spanning over two decades across film and television. He is best known as the co-creator and star of the long-running FX/FXX dark comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, where he plays the wild-eyed, conspiracy-minded Charlie Kelly. Day has been with the show since its 2005 debut, also serving as a writer and executive producer. His performance earned him nominations for a Critics' Choice Television Award and a Satellite Award in 2011. He later co-created the Apple TV+ comedy Mythic Quest (2020-2025) alongside Rob McElhenney and Megan Ganz.

In film, Day has shown range from blockbuster sci-fi to raunchy comedies. He played Dr. Newton Geiszler in Guillermo del Toro's giant-monster epic Pacific Rim (2013) and Dale Arbus in the hit comedies Horrible Bosses (2011) and its 2014 sequel. He also starred as Andy Campbell in the 2017 school-day brawl comedy Fist Fight. Day's voice work includes roles in Pixar's Monsters University (2013), the Lego Movie franchise (2014-2019), and voicing Luigi in The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) and its upcoming sequel The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026). He made his directorial debut with the 2023 satire Fool's Paradise, which he also wrote and starred in.

Across more than 30 films and dozens of television episodes, Day has established himself as a versatile comedic talent. His distinctive high-energy delivery and everyman charm have made him a familiar face in both live-action and animation. Whether navigating the absurd schemes of the Always Sunny gang or battling kaiju in a Jaeger, Day brings a manic sincerity that audiences have come to love.[edit]

Day grew up in Middletown, Rhode Island, in a musically inclined household. His father taught music history at Salve Regina University, and his mother was a pianist and teacher. He attended Portsmouth Abbey School, a Catholic boarding school where he first discovered acting in school plays. At Merrimack College, he earned a history degree while performing with the improv troupe The Dirty Pigeons. After graduating in 1998, he moved to New York and studied at the William Esper Studio. To pay the bills, he worked as a production assistant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, spending his nights doing stand-up and improv.

The turning point came in the early 2000s. During an improv show in Los Angeles, Day met Rob McElhenney and Glenn Howerton. The three clicked immediately and began developing a short film that would become It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Day had also trained at The Groundlings, where he met his future wife, Mary Elizabeth Ellis. By 2005, the trio had pitched their show to FX, and the rest is television history.[edit]

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia debuted on FX in 2005. Day co-created the series with McElhenney and Howerton, and it went on to become the longest-running live-action comedy in American TV history, airing 16 seasons through 2025. Day plays Charlie Kelly and serves as writer and executive producer. The show earned him Critics' Choice and Satellite Award nominations in 2011.

His first major film role came in 2011 with Horrible Bosses, playing Dale Arbus. The comedy grossed over $209 million worldwide and led to a 2014 sequel. In 2013, he starred as Dr. Newton Geiszler in Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim, which earned $411 million globally. That same year, he voiced Art in Pixar's Monsters University. He voiced Benny in The Lego Movie (2014) and its 2019 sequel, both box-office hits. In 2017, he led the comedy Fist Fight.

In 2020, Day co-created Mythic Quest for Apple TV+, playing video game designer Ian Grimm. The show ran four seasons through 2025. In 2023, he voiced Luigi in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed over $1.36 billion. He also made his directorial debut with Fool's Paradise, a satire he wrote and starred in. The Sunny gang reunited for season 17, and Day is set to reprise Luigi in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in 2026.[edit]

Day is known for his high-energy, manic comedic style. He often plays naive, obsessive characters with a wild-eyed intensity. His signature look as Charlie Kelly includes a scruffy beard and a Philadelphia Eagles beanie. Media portrayals highlight his versatility and work ethic, from absurd sitcom antics to blockbuster voice work. Fans of It's Always Sunny, known as Sunny fans, frequently quote the show's catchphrases like Wildcard, bitches! and attend live screenings. Day's Instagram presence is casual and self-deprecating, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at his projects.[edit]

The cultural mythology surrounding Charlie Day is inextricably linked to his role as Charlie Kelly on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, a series born from the real-life experiences of Day and his co-creators while working at a Los Angeles bar. This origin story serves as the foundation for a highly organized fanbase that sustains the show through nearly two decades of renewal and active engagement on social platforms where Day maintains a significant following. Fans frequently reference inside jokes such as "Charlie's Song" and the chaotic behavior of The Gang, rituals that have become pivotal moments for the character's emotional arc in recent seasons. A specific legendary moment involves Day's portrayal of Luigi in the Mario franchise, which culminated in an April 2026 viral incident where he shouted out Luigi Mangione during a press event, creating immediate internet folklore due to the juxtaposition of the innocent video game character and a real-world tragedy. Despite this widespread recognition and critical acclaim for his transformative performance in Kill Me, the iFANN Global Fame Engine has evaluated Charlie Day but does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings. He remains unranked within the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list, indicating a status where influence exists without a quantifiable position in the current hierarchy. While the fanbase lacks a formal moniker like those assigned to other pop culture icons, their collective impact is evident in the show's ability to secure chart performance support and sustain its relevance on cable television. The audience drives streaming pushes and engages directly with Day through events like SXSW, where his work continues to draw attention beyond the sitcom genre.[edit]

Day wrote the song 'The Nightman Cometh' for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which became a cult hit and was performed live in 2009. He is a classically trained singer who sang in a barbershop quartet during college. A devoted fan of the New York Yankees and Giants, he bears a tattoo of a leprechaun on his left bicep. He was considered for the role of Phil Miller in The Last Man on Earth but lost to Will Forte. Day suffers from a fear of heights and refuses to fly on small planes. In April 2026, at a press event for the Super Mario animated films, Day was asked to pick his favorite 'Luigi' and shouted out Luigi Mangione, the alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The moment went viral and became a point of cultural controversy. Earlier that year, his performance in Kill Me, premiering at SXSW, was lauded by critics as a career best, with the film holding a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Fans often retell the story of how the show evolved from the trio's time working at a bar into a dark comedy about five self-destructive friends. Another widely cited legend involves the Season 18 musical outburst known as "Charlie's Song," which served as a meta-commentary on the show's history and resonated deeply with long-time viewers.[edit]

Day married actress Mary Elizabeth Ellis on March 4, 2006. The couple met in 2001 while performing at The Groundlings. Ellis plays the waitress on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the object of Charlie Kelly's obsession. They have one son, Russell Wallace Day, born in December 2011. The family lives in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. Day's parents are Dr. Thomas Charles Day, a former music history professor, and Mary Peckham, a pianist and teacher. He has described his upbringing as middle-class and musically rich, though he gravitated toward comedy.[edit]

Day frequently collaborates with Rob McElhenney and Glenn Howerton, his co-creators on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Mythic Quest. He has worked with Kaitlin Olson, Danny DeVito, and Megan Ganz. His film collaborators include Guillermo del Toro (Pacific Rim), Seth MacFarlane (Horrible Bosses), and Chris Pratt (The Super Mario Bros. Movie).[edit]

Day's only known relationship is with actress Mary Elizabeth Ellis. They met in 2001 while performing together at The Groundlings in Los Angeles. The couple married on March 4, 2006, in a small ceremony. Ellis is best known for playing the waitress on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, a role that adds an extra layer of comedy since Day's character Charlie Kelly obsesses over her. They have one son, Russell Wallace Day, born in December 2011. As of 2026, Day and Ellis remain married and continue to work together frequently.[edit]

iFANN currently estimates Charlie Day's net worth at $50 million. The bulk of his wealth comes from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, where he reportedly earned $500,000 per episode in later seasons, plus backend profits as co-creator and executive producer. He also earned an estimated $1-2 million per season for Mythic Quest. Film salaries include $1 million for Horrible Bosses and $2 million for Pacific Rim. Residuals from syndication and streaming deals for Always Sunny, a top Hulu performer, add significant income. Day has endorsement deals with Old Spice and AT&T. He owns a home in Los Feliz, Los Angeles, purchased for $2.5 million in 2013. His production company, RCG Productions (with McElhenney and Howerton), produces both of his TV series.[edit]