Though she's primarily recognized for her comedic brilliance on FXX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, comedienne Kaitlin Olson has had many other projects over her career.
Since coming into the public eye as Dee Reynolds on the aforementioned sitcom, Olson has been steadily amassing a nice filmography of character roles in big Hollywood films and other television shows, including a leading role of her own in a FOX multi-cam cult hit. Olson's mixture of physical comedy and a natural gift for comedic timing make her a total commodity in the world of humor.
Arizona (2018) - 5.7
Though 2018's Arizona is nowhere near a cinematic masterpiece, it is a serviceable comedy-caper with a distinctly dark flair, to boot. The film, which is headlined by Danny McBride in a typically unhinged performance, follows the story of a realtor who is plunged into a dangerous spot when she accidentally witnesses a murder.
Kaitlin Olson plays McBride's character's ex-wife, whose limited screentime is as important to the plot as it is just enough time for Olson to make her mark on the film. Though critics largely disliked the film, audiences were slightly more favorable.
Vacation (2015) - 6.1
In 2015, the beloved Vacation franchise got an update/reboot/sequel. The film was largely received with lukewarm reviews, at best, and was something of a commercial disaster given the status and universal appeal of the original films.
The film, which casts Ed Helms as Rusty Griswold all grown up, essentially tread the same template as the original film, give or take some raunchy bits, and Chris Hemsworth. Olson appears in a minor role as "Arizona Cop," one in a series of the film's cop-themed cameo-gags.
The Heat (2013) - 6.6
Paul Feig's feminist take on the buddy-cop genre, starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy in the leads as two mismatched law enforcement agents who become partners, was a huge financial success when released in the summer of 2013. Critics and audiences generally received the film well, noting the chemistry between Bullock and McCarthy and the film's comedic charm.
Olson appears in a bit role in the film as a Bulgarian drug dealer that the two agents interrogate. As to be expected, she packs a lot of humorous nuance into her limited screentime.
Flipped (2020) - 6.7
Olson's latest project was this Quibi series featuring her and Will Forte as a couple of ne'er-do-wells who become obsessed with the dream of becoming house renovators. Eventually, the couple becomes entangled with a dangerous drug cartel after discovering a stash of hidden money in the walls of one of their potential flips.
Olson and Forte work well together, matching each other's goofy styles of humor. The series itself was largely enjoyed by the majority of critics and audiences when it debuted on the Quibi platform in early 2020.
Finding Dory (2016) - 7.3
Out of all of Pixar's sequel attempts, Finding Dory is one of the more critically adored of the bunch and managed to gross over a billion dollars at the box office. The film, as the title suggests, is a flip of the script from the first installment wherein Dory goes on a mission to solve her past.
Nemo and Marlin have to undertake the titular quest to find Dory before she disappears forever. Olson has a decent-sized role as Destiny, a childhood compadre of Dory's that reconnects with her throughout the events of the film.
Brickleberry (2012 - 2015) - 7.4
One of the more vulgar adult-animation offerings of the past decade, Comedy Central's Brickleberry was a sitcom centered on the daily shenanigans of a group of park rangers in the titular park.
While the show ran for three seasons on the network, Olson only stayed on for the first season as the female lead, a recently transferred Yellowstone ranger named Ethel. The show was divisive with critics but received much more favorably by audiences, who appreciated the series' shameless sense of offensive humor and fast-paced writing.
New Girl (2011 - 2018) - 7.7
Olson brought her unique sensibilities to the beloved world of the Fox hit New Girl for two episodes as Jessica Day's former high school nemesis and prospective new stepmother. As she verbally trades passive-aggression barbs with Jess, she also brings a sense of heart to the script and portrays the character as having a genuine affection for Jess's dad, played by Rob Reiner.
Turning what could have been a throwaway character into a nuanced comedic presence only further proved Olson's ability to do a lot with a little.
The Mick (2017 - 2018) - 7.8
In 2017, Olson managed to land her own flagship series on Fox with The Mick. Olson plays a slightly varied version of her Dee Reynolds character, a foul-mouthed woman who is desperate and, by-and-large, bad at life. The show's central conceit comes when Olson's character Mickey is handed responsibility for her niece and nephews.
Olson enlivened the sometimes critically panned scripts with her brand of raunchy-but-endearing humor, and her chemistry with the child actors helped keep the show from veering too far off the rails. The show was canceled in 2018 after two seasons.
Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000 - Present) - 8.7
One of her first, and longest-running, roles for Olson has been her recurring part on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm as Larry David's sister-in-law, Becky. Olson has played Becky a total of seven times over the past 10 seasons of the show, spanning 20 years of the total time elapsed.
Watching Olson and David verbally spar in their scenes together has been a constant delight of the show, Becky being one of David's oldest foils in the series. Likewise, Becky is never overused, keeping her comedic potential fresh and relevant.
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (2005 - Present) - 8.8
Though Olson carved out a great career for herself and managed to be successful outside of her breakout performance, there is no denying that for many, Olson is synonymous with Deandra Reynolds in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
What started as a low-ratings cult hit on FX has now become one of the longest-running American sitcoms to date and a pop-culture phenomenon. Surely one of the most quoted shows still on the air, the show's loyal audience continues to tune in every new season to see what antics the "gang" get into. Olson is one of the show's strongest assets in a shameless and constantly hilarious performance.