Charlie Day
Charles Peckham Day (born February 9, 1976)[1] is an American actor, writer, producer and podcaster. He is best known for playing Charlie Kelly on the FX comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005–present), which he co-created with Rob McElhenney and Glenn Howerton, and on which he also serves as executive producer and writer. In 2011, he was nominated for a Critics' Choice Television Award and a Satellite Award for this role.[2] He subsequently co-created The Cool Kids (2018–2019) on Fox with Paul Fruchbom in 2018 and Mythic Quest (2020–present) on Apple TV+ with Rob McElhenney and Megan Ganz in 2020, and continues to serve as executive producer on the latter.
Charlie Day | |
|---|---|
Day dressed as Dayman from It's Always Sunny at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con | |
| Born | Charles Peckham Day February 9, 1976 New York City, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Merrimack College |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
On film, he is best known for his performances as Dr Newton Geiszler the biologist in Guillermo del Toro's science-fiction monster movie Pacific Rim (2013) and its sequel Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018), Dale Arbus in the comedy Horrible Bosses (2011) and sequel Horrible Bosses 2 (2014),[3] and teacher Andy Campbell in the comedy Fist Fight (2017). He is also known for his voice roles in Monsters University (2013) and The Lego Movie film franchise (2014–2019). Day will be voicing Luigi in the upcoming Nintendo film The Super Mario Bros. Movie in April 2023.
Early life
Charles Peckham Day was born in New York City on February 9, 1976.[1] His family lived in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. He spent most of his childhood in Middletown, Rhode Island. He is the youngest of two children, with an elder sister named Alice.[4] His father, Dr. Thomas Charles Day, who is of Italian and Irish descent, is a retired professor of music history at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island and his mother, Mary (née Peckham), was a piano teacher at The Pennfield School in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. She was of English descent. [5] His paternal grandfather changed the family name from "Del Giorno" to "Day"[6][7] to assimilate during WWII[7] and died in a military training accident when his son Thomas was only four.[8]
Day attended Pennfield School and graduated from the Portsmouth Abbey School, both in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. He majored in art history at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts in 1998. At Merrimack, he was active in the Onstagers, Merrimack's student theater organization.[9] In May 2014, Day gave the commencement speech for Merrimack College's graduating class and received an honorary Ph.D.[10]
After graduating, Day worked on small television roles, advertisements, and voiceovers for the Independent Film Channel,[11] and supplemented his income by waiting tables and answering phones for a telethon.[12]
Career
Beginning in summer 1997 as a college student, Day was active in the training programs at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, where he was a contemporary of actors such as Jimmi Simpson, David Hornsby, Kathryn Hahn and Sterling K. Brown. Day went on to play the lead role in Dead End, at the Huntington Theatre in Boston.[13] In the early 2000s, he appeared on several television shows such as Third Watch, Law & Order, Reno 911! and the cancelled sitcom Luis.
As a young actor living in New York City, Day had lived with Simpson, and the two had often made comedy sketches and absurd short films with Hornsby, Nate Mooney, Logan Marshall-Green and other actor friends.[14] These served as the inspiration for several scripted home movies he later developed with Rob McElhenney and Glenn Howerton in 2003, including a few about three struggling actors getting into schemes and awkward situations in their spare time while living in LA.[15] The scripts evolved and went on to become the pilot episode of the comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.[16] In 2005, the first season was released on FX television.[17] In addition to being a co-creator, executive producer and writer on the show, Day plays Charlie Kelly, one of the main characters on the show. In 2021, It's Always Sunny became the longest running live action comedy on American television with the release of its fifteenth season.[18][19]
In July 2011, Day starred in New Line Cinema's Horrible Bosses with Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, and Jamie Foxx.[3] The film was a commercial success and Day's performance was praised by critics. He also had a role in the 2010 film Going the Distance, alongside Justin Long, Jason Sudeikis, and Drew Barrymore. In 2013, he voiced the character Art in the Pixar animated film Monsters University and appeared in the Guillermo del Toro science fiction kaiju film Pacific Rim, in which he played biologist Dr Newton "Newt" Geiszler, who is the focus of the secondary comedic plot with Burn Gorman and Ron Perlman. In 2018, he reprised the role for the sequel Pacific Rim: Uprising directed by Steven S. DeKnight.[20]
In 2017, Day starred in Fist Fight, with Ice Cube. In it, Day plays Andy Campbell, a high school English teacher challenged by his co-worker, history teacher Ronald Strickland (Cube), to a fight after getting him fired. In 2018, he had a role in Drew Pearce's film Hotel Artemis, with Jodie Foster, Sterling K Brown, Brian Tyree Henry and Jenny Slate.[21]
Most recently, Day played his first leading role in a romantic comedy on I Want You Back with Slate for Amazon Studios released on February 11, 2022.
Day also produced the television shows How to Be a Gentleman and Unsupervised, created by It's Always Sunny writers David Hornsby, Scott Marder and Rob Rosell. Day hosted the November 5, 2011, episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL) with Maroon 5 as the musical guest. He was the second cast member from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia to host SNL (after Danny DeVito, though DeVito hosted SNL before It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia premiered, the last time being in 1999; notably, however, DeVito would make a brief cameo during Day's opening monologue in this episode). Day would also make another brief cameo in the following season's episode hosted by Jamie Foxx on December 8, 2012, as a congressman in the episode's sketch "Maine Justice".[22] In September 2014, Day provided his voice for The Sims 4 TV spots.[citation needed]
He is the creator and producer of Fox comedy The Cool Kids, starring Vicki Lawrence, Martin Mull, David Alan Grier and Leslie Jordan and set in a retirement community.[23] On August 9, 2019, Mythic Quest, a new half-hour comedy series co-created by Day and, colleagues from It's Always Sunny, Rob McElhenney and Megan Ganz, was announced as one of the original productions for the then-upcoming streaming service, Apple TV+.[24]
In September 2021, Nintendo announced that Day will be voicing Luigi, in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, set to be released on April 7, 2023.[25][26] Day is currently also working on his feature directorial debut with the upcoming comedy El Tonto, featuring Kate Beckinsale, Edie Falco and John Malkovich.[27] Day writes, produces, and stars as a silent man who becomes a celebrity and loses it all.[28]
Since November 2021, Day, McElhenney and Howerton have been releasing The Always Sunny Podcast, originally intending on re-watching the entire series and sharing behind-the-scenes information, before the focus of the podcast naturally shifted to emphasize the banter and dynamic between the three creators.[29][30]
Personal life
A skilled musician, Day can play the piano, accordion, trombone, guitar, and harmonica,[4] and has written or improvised most of the songs featured on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. In 2014, he received an honorary doctorate in performing arts from Merrimack College, where he also delivered that year's keynote address.[31]
In 2001, Day met actress Mary Elizabeth Ellis.[32] They were already dating in 2004 when they co-starred as incestuous siblings on Reno 911!.[32] Ellis has a recurring role on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia as The Waitress, the object of the unrequited love and obsession for Day's character.[32] The couple married on March 4, 2006.[33] They had their first child, a son named Russell Wallace Day, in December 2011.[33] They live in Los Angeles, California.[33]
Filmography
| Denotes works that have not yet been released |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Late Summer | Trevor | Short film |
| 2001 | Campfire Stories | Joe Boner | |
| 2002 | Bad Company | Stoner | Uncredited |
| 2005 | Love Thy Neighbor | Video Clerk | |
| 2008 | A Quiet Little Marriage | Adam | |
| 2010 | Going the Distance | Dan | |
| 2011 | Horrible Bosses | Dale Arbus | |
| 2013 | Monsters University | Art (voice) | |
| 2013 | Pacific Rim | Dr. Newton Geiszler | |
| 2014 | Party Central | Art (voice) | Short film |
| 2014 | The Lego Movie | Benny (voice) | |
| 2014 | Horrible Bosses 2 | Dale Arbus | |
| 2015 | Vacation | Chad | |
| 2016 | The Hollars | Jason | |
| 2017 | Fist Fight | Andrew "Andy" Campbell | Also executive producer |
| 2017 | I Love You, Daddy | Ralph | |
| 2018 | Pacific Rim: Uprising | Dr. Newton Geiszler | |
| 2018 | Hotel Artemis | Acapulco | |
| 2019 | The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part | Benny (voice) | |
| 2021 | How It Ends | Lonny | |
| 2022 | I Want You Back | Peter | Also executive producer |
| 2023 | The Super Mario Bros. Movie | Luigi (voice) | Post-production |
| TBA | Untitled Charlie Day film | The Fool | Post-production; also director and screenwriter |
| Wildwood | (voice) | In production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Mary and Rhoda | Mailroom Kid | Television film |
| 2000 | Madigan Men | Clerk | Episode: "Three Guys, a Girl and a Conversation Nook" |
| 2001 | Law & Order | Jeremy | Episode: "Swept Away – A Very Special Episode" |
| 2001–2004 | Third Watch | Michael Boscorelli | 5 episodes |
| 2003 | Luis | Richie | 10 episodes |
| 2004 | Reno 911! | Inbred Twin | Episode: "Not Without My Mustache" |
| 2005–present | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Charlie Kelly | Main cast Also co-creator, executive producer and writer |
| 2011–2012 | How to Be a Gentleman | — | Consulting producer (8 episodes) |
| 2011, 2012 | Saturday Night Live | Himself (host), Congressman Fenton Worthington Carrey | Episodes: "Charlie Day/Maroon 5", "Jamie Foxx/Ne-Yo" |
| 2012 | Unsupervised | Jesse Judge (voice) | Episode: "Jesse Judge Lawncare Incorporated" Also executive producer (13 episodes) |
| 2012 | American Dad! | Meth Head (voice) | Episode: "Adventures in Hayleysitting" |
| 2014 | Drunk History | Allan Pinkerton | Episode: "Baltimore" |
| 2018–2019 | The Cool Kids | Chet the handyman | Guest star (pilot) Also co-creator, executive producer and writer |
| 2020–present | Mythic Quest | — | Co-creator and executive producer |
Video games
| Year | Title | Voice role |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Disney Infinity | Art |
| 2015 | Lego Dimensions | Benny |
Web
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–present | The Always Sunny Podcast | Himself/Host | 58 episodes |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | "If I Didn't Love You" | Ben Abraham | Co-starred with Mary Elizabeth Ellis[35] |
Theme park attractions
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | The Lego Movie: 4D - A New Adventure | Benny (voice) |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Dead End | 2nd Ave Gang #1 | [36] |
| 1997 | Princess Turandot | The Second Eunuch | [36] |
| 1997 | Johnny On a Spot | Fred | [36] |
| 1999 | Camino Real | Abdullah | [37] |
| 1999 | Quark Victory | Newt | [38] |
| 2000 | A Servant of Two Masters | Pantaloon | [39] |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Critics' Choice Television Award | Best Actor in a Comedy Series | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Nominated |
| 2011 | Satellite Awards | Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy | Nominated | |
| 2015 | MTV Movie & TV Awards | #WTF Moment | Horrible Bosses 2 | Nominated |
| 2015 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie Actor: Comedy | Nominated | |
| Choice Movie: Chemistry | Nominated | |||
| Choice Movie: Hissy Fit | Nominated | |||
| 2017 | Choice Movie: Fight | Fist Fight | Nominated |
References
- ^ a b "CHARLIE DAY". TV Insider. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ Ward, Kate (November 18, 2009). "'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia': The cast tells their story". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
- ^ a b Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub (May 11, 2010). "Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Colin Farrell in Talks for HORRIBLE BOSSES for Director Seth Gordon". Collider.com. IndieClick Film Network. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
- ^ a b "What You Should Know About Charlie Day". HWD. January 5, 2015. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- ^ Salve Regina University (2012). . Salve Regina University. Salve Regina University. Archived from the original on January 31, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
- ^ 10. Dennis and Dee Go On Welfare | The Always Sunny Podcast, retrieved September 24, 2022
- ^ a b 35. The Gang Gets Whacked: Part 1 | The Always Sunny Podcast, retrieved September 24, 2022
- ^ 17. Charlie Goes America All Over Everybody's Ass | The Always Sunny Podcast, retrieved September 24, 2022
- ^ "Star Charlie Day '98 to deliver undergraduate commencement keynote address". Merrimack College. May 12, 2014. from the original on March 24, 2018. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- ^ "Charlie Day Tells Merrimack Grads Diplomas 'Basically Do Nothing'". Boston Magazine. May 21, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
- ^ Escape From Hollywood on IFC, archived from the original on December 21, 2021, retrieved September 16, 2019
- ^ Keegan, Rebecca (July 7, 2011). "Charlie Day is good at playing a fool". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- ^ "Charlie Kelly in on FXPlus". FX Networks. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- ^ 1. The Gang Gets Racist | The Always Sunny Podcast, retrieved September 24, 2022
- ^ 4. Charlie Has Cancer | The Always Sunny Podcast, retrieved September 24, 2022
- ^ Wyatt, Edward (September 9, 2007). "The Writers Are the Actors Are the Producers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- ^ Wolinsky, David (October 26, 2010). "RANDOM RULES Charlie Day". A.V. Club. Onion Inc. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
- ^ "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia will outlive even the cockroaches". The A.V. Club. December 11, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- ^ Spencer, Ashley (November 26, 2021). "It's Always Sunny With Rob McElhenney". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- ^ Nemiroff, Perri (November 24, 2014). "Guillermo del Toro Says PACIFIC RIM 2 Begins a Few Years After PACIFIC RIM in a Kaiju-Free World; Charlie Day and Burn Gorman to Return". Collider. from the original on January 4, 2015. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (May 12, 2017). "Sterling K. Brown, Charlie Day, Jenny Slate Join Jodie Foster's 'Hotel Artemis'". Variety. from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
- ^ Semigran, Aly (November 6, 2011). "'Saturday Night Live' recap: Turning back the clock on Charlie Day(light savings time)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 5, 2017). "Fox Orders 'The Cool Kids' Retirement Community Comedy Pilot From 'It's Always Sunny' Trio & Kevin Abbott". Deadline Hollywood. from the original on May 10, 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Hipes, Patrick (March 25, 2019). "Apple Reveals Titles For Several Of Its Original Series". Deadline. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- ^ Murphy, J. Kim (September 23, 2021). "Nintendo Direct: Chris Pratt Will Voice Mario in the Super Mario Bros. Movie". IGN. from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 23, 2021). "Super Mario Bros. Animated Pic Sets Cast: Chris Pratt As Mario, Charlie Day As Luigi, Anya Taylor-Joy As Princess Peach & More". Deadline Hollywood. from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 3, 2018). "Kate Beckinsale, Jason Sudeikis Part Of Big-Name Ensemble Cast Nearing Deals For Charlie Day's 'El Tonto'". Deadline Hollywood. from the original on October 22, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
- ^ McNary, Dave (September 5, 2018). "Charlie Day to Make Directorial Debut With Hollywood Comedy 'El Tonto'". Variety. from the original on October 22, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
- ^ "The Always Sunny Podcast on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- ^ "The Always Sunny Podcast". Spotify. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "Featured Alum: Charlie Day '98". Merrimack College. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
- ^ a b c Interview with Charlie Day & Mary Elizabeth Ellis Archived May 27, 2012, at archive.today, MonsterFresh.com
- ^ a b c Michaud, Sarah (December 16, 2011). "Charlie Day, Mary Elizabeth Ellis Welcome Son Russell Wallace". People. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
- ^ Charlie Day Answers the Web's Most Searched Questions | WIRED, retrieved April 25, 2019
- ^ Ben Abraham - If I Didn’t Love You (Official Music Video), retrieved November 23, 2022
- ^ a b c "Charlie Day theatre profile".
- ^ "Camino Real". Williamstown Theatre Festival. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ "Quark Victory". Williamstown Theatre Festival. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ "Servant of Two Masters, A". Williamstown Theatre Festival. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
External links
- Charlie Day at IMDb