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Rob Mcelhenney Body Transformation and Tattoos Removal

Author

Aria Murphy

Published Jan 05, 2026

Rob McElhenney underwent a drastic body transformation in the early 2010s. Rob gained 60 pounds in a short span before immediately following a weight loss procedure.

Rob McElhenney is an American actor, podcaster, and producer.

He is best recognized for playing the role of Ronald McDonald, aka Mac, in It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

Rob appeared alongside actors like Charlie Day, Danny DeVito, Kaitlin Olson, and Glenn Howerton in the long-running FX series. The 45-year-old actor plays a deeply insecure self-proclaimed tough guy who suffers from body dysmorphia.

McElhenney started his career as an actor in 1997, appearing in the role of Kevin in The Devil’s Own. As of 2022, he has starred in over 20 movies and TV shows.

Besides his TV ventures, Rob hosts The Always Sunny Podcast with his co-actors Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton.

Moreover, McElhenney is also a successful businessman. He co-owns the Welsh football club Wrexham AFC with actor Ryan Reynolds.

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Rob Mcelhenney Body Transformation

Rob McElhenney has undergone serious body transformation over the years. The actor went through a series of physical changes while shooting It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. 

Rob has been vocal about his body transformation and believes anyone can achieve it with a little commitment. Further, the 45-year-old called the paycheck the biggest motivation behind his dedication to the job.

Rob Weight Gain In It’s Always Sunny Season 7

McElhenney underwent a massive weight gain for the seventh season of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Between the sixth and seventh seasons of the series, Rob gained 60 pounds in a span of seven months. The actor did it because he thought a fatter version character would be funnier. Further, he also wanted to break the norm that actors got more attractive with every new season of a show. 

To successfully complete the task, Rob adopted a high-calorie diet, which included a 1000-calorie meal five times a day for months. He mostly ate chicken breast, rice, vegetables, and protein shakes. In the later months, he also introduced donuts and Big Mac into his diet. 

McElhenney initially wanted all of his co-stars to gain weight for the seventh season of the show. However, all of the major cast declined his offer, which included his wife Kaitlin Olson.

Weight Loss Following The End Of Season 7

Rob McElhenney didn’t stay fat for long as he immediately started a weight loss process following the end of the show’s season 7.

In fact, Rob got jacked for season 8 of the show. The actor shed off his extra weight to achieve a physically ripped look.

The actor talked about his workout routine and diet during the process with Men’s Health magazine.

McElhenney mentioned that he ate a lot of chicken during the period and visited his physician 2-3 times a week.

His routine also included weightlifting, sleeping nine hours, and running three miles. Rob avoided the intake of alcohol and sugar for a healthier diet. 

His Current Height, Weight And Body Measurement

Rob is now back to his normal weight as he didn’t maintain the extensive workout and diet restriction for long.

The actor stands at a tall height of nearly 5 feet and 10 inches. Likewise, he weighs around 160 pounds in 2022.

McElhenney has a BMI [Body Mass Index] of 23, which is considered normal or healthy for a 45-year-old.

Rob Mcelhenney Tattoos

Rob McElhenney previously had three tattoos on his body.

Fans adored the actor-turned-businessman fans for the tattoos he had inked on both hands. 

The 45-year-old had a feather tattoo on the right bicep, a dragon tattoo on the right forearm, and an Eagle tattoo on his left bicep.

Its Always Sunny Actor Rob McElhenney Tattoos Meaning

Rob McElhenney fans have always wanted to find out the hidden meaning behind his tattoos. 

The actor’s tattoos might seem mysterious due to his unusual choices; however, they don’t hold any deeper meaning or purpose. The tattoos simply existed because Rob liked the designs.

Further, Rob didn’t hold on to the tattoos for long as he eventually removed them. Hence, the tattoos might not have any sentimental value for the actor-producer.

Why Did Rob McElhenney Remove His Tattoos?

Rob McElhenney has removed all three tattoos from his body but hasn’t given any explanation for the removal.

The actor made headlines in 2018 when fans noticed him without any of his tattoos. 

When a curious fan asked Rob about the tattoo situation in 2018, the Wrexham AFC co-owner answered that he removed them via a laser procedure. However, he didn’t give any reason for doing so.

As the Philadelphia native didn’t provide any justification, the only possible explanation is that McElhenney got tired of seeing the same design every day.