Mac And Charie In Game Of Thrones

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Photograph of Murray McArthur for newspaper article 'An Actor's Life: Murray McArthur' published in the 'Midweek Herald' on 7 October 2017
Born4 May 1966 (age 53)
Alma materDrama Studio London
OccupationActor
Years active1993–present

Murray McArthur (born 4 May 1966) is an English stage, television and film actor.

Early life[edit]

McArthur was born and brought up in Devon.[1] The son of a mushroom farmer, of Scottish parentage and red-haired, he often plays Scottish roles. He attended King's School, Ottery St Mary, received a BA (Joint Hons) degree in English and Drama at Loughborough University and went on to study acting at the Drama Studio London. He was a member of the Devon County Youth Theatre.

Career[edit]

He has appeared in many stage-plays in British regional theatres and on London's West End[2] (including the Royal National Theatre and Shakespeare's Globe). Much of his stage work has taken him overseas (Ahmanson Theatre,[3] Los Angeles & Panasonic Globe Theatre, Tokyo). His performance as Joe Gargery in Great Expectations at the Gate Theatre, Dublin was described by Irish Independent critic Bruce Arnold:[4] 'Emphasis on the heart-warming relationship between Pip and Joe Gargery is a crucial part of the story, and the blacksmith, played by Murray McArthur in the best performance of the evening, achieves this'.

Murray appeared as Hasten,[5] the Viking who breaks the Doctor's sonic sunglasses,[6] in episode The Girl Who Died[7][8] of Doctor Who.[9]

McArthur portrayed a Wildling chieftain in the fifth season episode Hardhome[10] of the HBO series Game of Thrones. His character returned in the sixth season episode The Broken Man[11] with the character name Dim Dalba. He speaks for the Wildlings of The Gift when asked by Jon Snow (character), Tormund Giantsbane, Sansa Stark and Davos Seaworth to join them in the battle against the forces of Ramsay Bolton.

Murray is set to appear in the next Robert Eggers Viking revenge film The Northman. However, production on the film has been halted for six weeks due to the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic.[12]

Personal life[edit]

Married to Geraldine with two children, Orla and Freya, he lives in South East London.

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

YearFilmRoleDirectorProducer
2001EndgameDet. Const. KennyGary WicksVarious Films Ltd
2005Finding NeverlandStagehandMarc ForsterMiramax
2005Keeping MumVicar's Convention Master of CeremoniesNiall JohnsonSummit Entertainment
2008Made of HonorDonaldPaul WeilandColumbia Pictures
2007The Last LegionTertiusDoug LeflerDino De Laurentiis Company
2009A Congregation of GhostsGeorge TreddinickMark CollicottWhitechapel Films
2018A Midsummer Night's DreamSnug (A Midsummer Night's Dream)Sacha BennettParkhouse Pictures
2018Viking DestinyLokiDavid L.G. HughesFatal Black
2019Virtual Viking - The AmbushSkaldErik GustavsonRidley Scott Associates
2020The NorthmanHakonRobert EggersNew Regency

Television[edit]

YearSeriesEpisodeRoleDirectorProducer
1994EastEndersEpisode 950P.C. BainesJo JohnsonBBC
1994Stanley's DragonTV MovieSoldierGerry PoulsonGranada Television
1995The Famous Five (1990s TV series)Five Fall into AdventureRed TowerMichael KerriganTyne Tees Television & Zenith North
1996Tales from the CryptEscapeGeorge HeathcotePeter MacDonald (director)HBO
1996Black Hearts in BatterseaTV SeriesBoatswain MorganDavid BellBBC
1997AquilaThe Eagle Has LandedPolicemanDavid BellBBC
1998Human BombTV MovieKesslerAnthony PageGriffin
1999TaggartBloodlinesAlan BuchananAlan MacmillanSTV Productions
2000HeartbeatThe Fool on the HillCharlie OsbornePaul WalkerYorkshire Television
2000BurnsideExposed: Parts 1 & 2DC McVeaghBruce MacDonaldThames Television
2002Falling ApartTV MovieGarethBrian Hill (director)Century Films
2006The Complete Guide to ParentingEpisode #1.1Mr. FranklinMandie FletcherTalkback Thames
2006DoctorsA Very Important DateAl BurgessFred AidroosBBC
2006Friends and CrocodilesTV MovieSoup Man 1Stephen PoliakoffBBC
2006Foyle's WarThe French DropPrivate KnoxGavin MillarITV
2007Murphy's LawEpisode #5.2Terry WestgateColm McCarthy (director)Tiger Aspect Productions
2007The BillAssault on Sun HillSgt. Michael BrindleyDarcia MartinTalkback Thames
2008John AdamsUnite or DieThe MagistrateTom HooperHBO
2008Lark Rise to Candleford (TV series)Episode #1.2Bailiff GriggsCharles Palmer (director)BBC
2008Summerhill (TV series)TV MovieFire Officer SibtonJon EastTiger Aspect Productions
2009CasualtyPalimpsestRoy HydeAlan GrintBBC
2015Doctor WhoThe Girl Who DiedHastenEdward BazalgetteBBC
2015Game of ThronesHardhomeDim DalbaMiguel SapochnikHBO
2016Barbarians RisingEpisode: 'Revenge'EgusSimon GeorgeOctober Films Limited & History Channel
2016Game of ThronesThe Broken ManDim DalbaMark MylodHBO
2018DoctorsA Safe PlaceBarney RutgerPaul GibsonBBC
2018Watership Down (miniseries)Episodes 2-4FarmerNoam MurroNetflix & BBC
2019Pitching In (TV series)Episodes 2-3Sir HenryNoreen KershawLA Productions & BBC Cymru Wales

Stage[edit]

YearPlayRoleDirectorProducer
1993On The PisteChris BaxterNeil SissonsHull Truck Theatre
1994A Midsummer Night's DreamLysanderPhilip JosephNational Theatre Studios
1995Great ExpectationsBentley DrummleJohn DurninNorthcott Theatre
1995Abigail's PartyTonyTim CarrollNorthcott Theatre
1996The Grapes of Wrath (play)Noah JoadJohn DurninNorthcott Theatre
1996A Doll's HouseAnthony PageThelma Holt & Playhouse Theatre
1997An Enemy of the PeopleEngstrandSir Trevor NunnOlivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre & Ahmanson Theatre
1997Peter PanGreat Big Little PantherJohn Caird (director)Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre
2002King LearBarry KyleShakespeare's Globe & Panasonic Globe Theatre
2008Great ExpectationsJoe GargeryAlan StanfordGate Theatre

References[edit]

  1. ^McArthur, Murray. 'An Actor's Life: Murray McArthur'. midweekherald.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  2. ^McGuinness, Frank (10 September 1996). 'PlayographyIreland'. Irish Theatre Institute. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  3. ^Hofler, Robert (24 July 1998). 'Review: 'An Enemy of the People''. Variety. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  4. ^Arnold, Bruce (29 November 2007). 'Festive fare for all the family lives up to the greatest of expectations'. Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  5. ^Times, Radio (12 October 2015). 'Doctor Who Series 9 Episode 5 The Girl Who Died'. Radio Times. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  6. ^Claire, Planet (18 October 2015). 'The Girl Who Died'. planetclaire.tv. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  7. ^BBC Media Centre (30 March 2015). 'Doctor Who reveals Maisie Williams as guest star', BBC. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  8. ^Variety (30 March 2015). 'Game of Thrones’ Actress Maisie Williams to Guest Star on ‘Doctor Who’', Variety. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  9. ^White, James (30 March 2015). 'Maisie Williams Scores Doctor Who Guest Spot'. Empire. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  10. ^Rosenberg, Alyssa (31 May 2015). ''Game of Thrones' Season 5, Episode 8 Review: 'Hardhome''. The Washington Post. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  11. ^'The Broken Man – Game of Thrones: Season 6, Episode 7'. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  12. ^'Coronavirus fears halt Line of Duty filming in Northern Ireland'. Belfast Telegraph. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  • Variety (30 March 2015). 'Game of Thrones’ Actress Maisie Williams to Guest Star on ‘Doctor Who’', Variety. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  • Radio Times (12 October 2015). 'Doctor Who Series 9 Episode 5 The Girl Who Died', Radio Times. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  • BBC Media Centre (30 March 2015). 'Doctor Who reveals Maisie Williams as guest star', BBC. Retrieved 30 March 2015.

External links[edit]

  • Murray McArthur on IMDb
  • 'Hardhome' at HBO.com
  • 'Hardhome' on IMDb
  • 'The Broken Man' at HBO.com
  • 'The Broken Man' on IMDb
  • Official website Barbarians Rising at History Channel
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murray_McArthur&oldid=949569688'
McElhenney in 2013
Born
April 14, 1977 (age 43)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation
Years active1996–present
Spouse(s)
Kaitlin Olson (m.2008)
Children2

Robert McElhenney III (born April 14, 1977) is an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. He is known for playing Mac on the FX/FXX comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He is also one of the developers, executive producers, and the co-creator of the show, which has provided him with writing and directing credits for various episodes.

Early life[edit]

McElhenney was born in Philadelphia, the eldest of three children.[1] Both of his parents are of Irish descent.[2] He was raised Roman Catholic.[1] When he was eight years old, his parents divorced after his mother came out as a lesbian.[1] McElhenney was primarily raised by his father, but has said that his parents remained close after their divorce.[1] McElhenney also has two brothers that are gay, and has 'always been part of the gay community'.[3] Through his father's subsequent marriage, he also has a half-sister and stepsister. One of his closest friends, Joseph Dougherty Jr. of Delaware County, suggested the idea for what later would become It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia.[1]

He attended Saint Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia.[4][5] After graduating, he attended Temple University. McElhenney moved to New York City, temporarily lived on the Fordham University's campus with friends, but chose not to enroll.[1]

Career[edit]

McElhenney at Comic Con 2016

McElhenney scored his first major role with a small part in The Devil's Own, followed by small parts in A Civil Action, Wonder Boys, and Thirteen Conversations About One Thing, though his role in The Devil's Own was cut out of the final edit. He later had more substantial parts in Latter Days and The Tollbooth, and a small role in the Law & Order episode 'Thrill'. At the age of 21, a debut script by McElhenney was optioned with writer-director Paul Schrader attached to direct, before the project fell through after one year of edits and rewrites.[6]

Initially based in New York City after his graduation from high school, McElhenney moved to Los Angeles at the age of 25.[6] In 2004, McElhenney was waiting tables between acting jobs, and had met Glenn Howerton through his agent, and Charlie Day in New York while shooting a horror film.[6] His idea for a sitcom, starring himself, Howerton and Day, was filmed on a budget of $200 and pitched to many cable networks.[7] After receiving offers from many of the stations, McElhenney chose to sign with FX as they allowed him more creative freedom. McElhenney was contracted as It's Always Sunny's showrunner, and both Howerton and Day were listed as executive producers.[6]

McElhenney claims that 50 weeks of each year are consumed by acting, producing, and writing for the show, but he did find time to appear in the third season of Lost in the episode 'Not in Portland'. This was a result of McElhenney meeting Lost co-creator and executive producer Damon Lindelof, who is a fan of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. McElhenney continued the role in Lost, featured again in the sixth season for a single episode. McElhenney is a fan of Game of Thrones and was thrilled that the series' writers, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, asked to write an episode of It's Always Sunny. He and his co-producers accepted the offer,[8] resulting in the Season 9 episode 'Flowers for Charlie' in 2013. In 2019, McElhenney made a cameo appearance as an extra in the Season 8 premiere episode 'Winterfell'.

On July 21, 2015, McElhenney was confirmed by Mojang as the director of the upcoming animated Minecraft movie.[9] He has since left the project.[10]

In 2017, he appeared as a guest in the acclaimed Fargo episode 'The Law of Non-Contradiction'. He received praise for his performance from critics, who saw his character as a reference to It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.[11][12]

Personal life[edit]

Before the first season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia went into production, McElhenney hired actress Kaitlin Olson to play the role of Dee Reynolds. He became romantically interested in Olson 'around season 2' of the series, believing her to be the funniest woman in show business.[6] They were married in California on September 27, 2008.[13]

Thrones

In 2009, McElhenney and Olson announced their purchase of Skinner's Bar at 226 Market Street in Philadelphia (39°57′00″N75°08′41″W / 39.949895°N 75.144795°W). It was renamed Mac's Tavern.[14] They had their first child, Axel Lee McElhenney, on September 1, 2010. Olson went into labor at a Philadelphia Phillies game.[15] The couple's second son, Leo Grey McElhenney, was born on April 5, 2012.[16]

In preparation for the seventh season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, McElhenney put on 60 lbs of extra weight and let his beard grow out to give extra humor to his character and add a new comedic direction for the season. His co-star Charlie Day described the weight gain as 'disgusting' and said that the rest of the cast were 'a little on the fence about it for his own personal health and safety'. McElhenney subsequently lost 23 lbs in a month after the season was finished filming.[17][18] He lost more later in the year to film the next season.

Through his father, McElhenney is the first cousin of Olympic Medalist, attorney, and activist Marcus N. McElhenney.

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997The Devil's OwnKevinScenes deleted[1]
1998A Civil ActionTeenager on property
2000Wonder BoysStudentScenes deleted[1]
2001Thirteen Conversations About One ThingChris Hammond
2001Campfire StoriesRicky
2002Long Story ShortTrent
2003Latter DaysElder Harmon
2004The TollboothSimon Stanton

Television[edit]

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997Law & OrderJoey TimonEpisode: 'Thrill'
2004ERAndy FeshEpisode: 'Where There's Smoke'
2005–presentIt's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaRonald 'Mac' McDonaldAlso creator, writer, producer and director
2007, 2010LostAldo2 episodes
2011–2012How to Be a GentlemanConsulting producer
2012Living LoadedPilot; also creator and executive producer
2012UnsupervisedExecutive producer
2014–2017The Mindy ProjectLouis 'Lou' Tookers[19]4 episodes[19][20]
2015On the Record with Mick Rock.Executive producer
2017FargoOfficer Oscar HuntEpisode: 'The Law of Non-Contradiction'
2018–2019The Cool KidsCo-Executive producer
2019SpikefaceExecutive producer
2019Game of ThronesIronborn soldierEpisode: 'Winterfell'
Cameo
2020–presentMythic Quest: Raven's BanquetIanCo-creator, actor, writer, and executive producer

References[edit]

  1. ^ abcdefghMcElhenney, Rob (July 9, 2016). 'Interview with Rob McElhenney'. WTF Podcast (Interview). Interviewed by Marc Maron.
  2. ^''It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's' Rob McElhenney talks about upcoming 'gay marriage' episode'. Greg in Holywood magazine. August 7, 2010.
  3. ^''It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia' Season Finale: Rob McElhenney On Keeping The Gang Together For A Shining Season'. deadline.com. November 7, 2018.
  4. ^''It's Always Sunny' star Rob McElhenney returns to St. Joe's Prep'. Philly.com. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  5. ^''It's Always Sunny's' Rob McElhenney spoke at St. Joe's Prep today'. Philly.com. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  6. ^ abcde'WTF with Marc Maron: Episode 582 – Rob McElhenney'.
  7. ^'McElhenney interview'. Archived from the original on 2007-12-26. Retrieved 2007-11-03.
  8. ^Huffington Post, Retrieved January 2, 2015
  9. ^'We've chosen a director for the Minecraft movie!'.
  10. ^'Minecraft Movie Delayed After Rob McElhenney Leaves Project'. Destructoid.
  11. ^'Gloria heads to Hollywood for a Fargo highpoint'. The A.V. Club. May 3, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  12. ^''Fargo' Review: Carrie Coon Heads to La La Land in Bananas Episode That Upends Expectations For Year 3'. IndieWire. May 3, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  13. ^'OK! Exclusive: Kaitlin Olson & Rob McElhenney Wed'. OK!. 2008-10-01. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
  14. ^'Mac and Dee from 'Always Sunny' getting into bar business for real | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/17/2009'. Philly.com. 2009-12-17. Retrieved 2011-11-16.
  15. ^'Kaitlin Olson, Rob McElhenney Welcome Son Axel Lee'. People.com. 2010-09-02. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
  16. ^Johnson, Zach. 'Meet Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney's Son Leo Grey!'. US Weekly. US Magazine. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  17. ^'Fat Mac: Rob McElhenney Goes Into Graphic Detail About 'Sunny' Weight Gain'. Reuters. 2011-08-10.
  18. ^Maerz, Melissa (2011-09-16). 'Rob McElhenney: How To Get Fat for TV'. TV Article. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  19. ^ ab'Mindy's Hot and Sleazy New Man'.
  20. ^Mindy Kaling [@mindykaling] (3 July 2014). 'Get ready. #themindyproject' (Tweet) – via Twitter.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rob McElhenney.
  • Rob McElhenney on IMDb
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rob_McElhenney&oldid=948056692'