Glenn Howerton: The Actor Behind Always Sunny’s Dennis Reynolds

Co-creator and star Glenn Howerton made a risky bet in 2017 when he left the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia writers’ room to headline the network sitcom A.P. Bio, testing his range outside the only long-term TV framework he had ever known. Here’s what that decision reveals about the actor behind Dennis Reynolds.

Full name: Glenn Franklin Howerton III ·
Born: April 13, 1976 in Japan ·
Net worth: $25 million ·
Known for: Dennis Reynolds on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Six data points that capture the breadth of Glenn Howerton’s career, from his classical training to his place in television history.

What happened to Glenn Howerton in season 13?

In Season 13 of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Dennis Reynolds was noticeably less central to the gang’s schemes. The reason was straightforward: Howerton had committed to headlining A.P. Bio, an NBC sitcom that cast him as Jack Griffin, a scorned philosophy teacher forced to work with high school students. The show’s premise required a full-time commitment from its lead.

Did Glenn Howerton try to leave Sunny?

• Howerton stepped back from the writers’ room for seasons 13 and 14 while maintaining his role as an actor on the show (NewKerala (news aggregator)).
• Kaitlin Olson publicly expressed hope in 2017 that Howerton would return even in a recurring capacity (PhillyVoice (entertainment news)).
• Howerton stated in a 2018 interview with Playboy that his decision was “purely motivated by a desire to surprise people and do something they didn’t expect” (Playboy (long-form interview)). He maintained that he hadn’t permanently left, and that creative considerations regarding his character’s storyline would guide his return.

The distinction between leaving the writers’ room and leaving the show was repeatedly blurred in headlines, but Howerton was adamant: he hadn’t permanently left. A.P. Bio premiered in 2018 and ran until 2021 (New York Post (news coverage)). When the pilot wasn’t picked up for a full extension, his calendar cleared.

The implication: Howerton’s brief departure from the writers’ room clarified the value of the original creative unit over a solo network venture.

What movies has Glenn Howerton been in?

Howerton’s big-screen work has largely avoided the comedic typecasting you’d expect from a sitcom star. He has taken supporting roles in broad comedies and small indie dramas, building a filmography that deliberately twists away from Dennis Reynolds.

What was Glenn Howerton’s role in Fargo?

• Show: Fargo (FX)
• Season: 3
• Role: An accountant with a quiet, self-destructive edge

In Fargo‘s critically acclaimed third season, Howerton played an accountant whose quiet demeanor masked a sharp, destructive edge. He also appeared in the home-invasion horror hit The Strangers, the action franchise Crank, and the romantic comedy Fool’s Gold.

The pattern in Howerton’s film picks is deliberate. Each role seems chosen to distance himself from Dennis Reynolds, proving he can be scary, kinetic, or quietly dangerous in equal measure.

The pattern: Howerton’s film choices consistently undercut the Dennis Reynolds persona, reinforcing his range while keeping his most famous role at arm’s length.

Who created Always Sunny?

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia was co-created by Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, and Charlie Day. The concept — a group of narcissistic friends who run a dive bar — was deliberately simple, designed to be shot cheaply on digital video. The trio filmed a pilot for just $200 and screened it at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, where it caught the attention of FX. The network picked up the show, and it premiered in 2005.

According to his Apple TV biography, Howerton has served not just as an actor but as an executive producer and writer on the sitcom, giving it a consistent voice for its entire run. The trade-off of building your own vehicle is that you can never truly walk away from it without altering the show’s chemistry.

Did Glenn Howerton go to Juilliard?

Yes. Howerton was accepted into the Juilliard School’s Drama Division in 1996 and graduated as part of Group 29 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Juilliard’s rigorous classical training — a mix of acting, movement, and voice — gave him a technical foundation that he later deployed behind the wild, improvisational energy of Dennis Reynolds.

In an interview with InsideHook (culture magazine), Howerton noted that his training helped him get an agent immediately after graduation. Before Sunny, he landed a role on ER and played NBC executive Dick Ebersol in the television film Monday Night Mayhem.

Juilliard is often cited as the source of Howerton’s serious acting credentials. But it is also the engine for his comedy: precision makes his chaos funnier.

What is Glenn Howerton’s illness?

Fans have periodically worried about Howerton’s health, citing his slender frame and sharp facial features in certain seasons. There is no confirmed record of a serious illness. Howerton has directly addressed these rumors, stating that he does not smoke and attributing his appearance to his natural build.

Is Glenn Howerton a smoker?

• Public stance: Howerton has actively denied being a smoker in interviews.
• Rumor origin: Online message board speculation based on his lean appearance.

The rumor was so persistent that it earned a dedicated entry in fan-run wikis. The fixation on Howerton’s appearance reveals how easily physical typecasting can morph into baseless medical speculation.

Timeline signal

• 1976: Born in Japan to American parents (Wikipedia (biographical entry))
• 1996: Enters Juilliard’s Drama Division (InsideHook (culture magazine))
• 2005: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia premieres (Apple TV (official profile))
• 2017: Takes lead role in A.P. Bio (Playboy (long-form interview))
• 2018: Steps back from Sunny writers’ room; A.P. Bio airs on NBC (NewKerala (news aggregator))
• 2021: A.P. Bio ends; returns to full-time Sunny role (New York Post (news coverage))

Confirmed facts vs What’s unclear

Key quotes

“I was trying to figure out what else I could do… purely motivated by a desire to surprise people and do something they didn’t expect.”

Glenn Howerton, Playboy (long-form interview)

“I hope Glenn comes back… even if it’s only recurring.”

Kaitlin Olson, PhillyVoice (entertainment news)

Summary

Glenn Howerton never left It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia — he tested its boundaries. His pursuit of A.P. Bio revealed a performer restless within the parameters of his own creation, but the experiment confirmed that the best version of his talent lives at Paddy’s Pub. For Howerton, the choice is straightforward: continue mining the deeply specific well of Dennis Reynolds, or risk the uncertain territory of being a guest star in someone else’s show. The audience will follow either way, but the moment he stops returning to the bar, the myth of the golden god ends.

Frequently asked questions

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• Glenn Howerton: Sunny Exit, BlackBerry Role & Illness Rumors
• Glenn Howerton: Biography, Always Sunny Exit & Career