What To Know
- Kaitlin Olson announced the passing of her father, Don Olson, on Instagram, sharing an emotional tribute.
- In her post, Olson described her father as her “first love, first protector, and forever favorite person.’
- Friends and co-stars, including husband Rob McElhenney, offered heartfelt condolences.
High Potential star Kaitlin Olson is grieving the loss of her father, Don Olson, and has taken to social media to share a heartfelt tribute.
“Honestly it feels a little gross to bring this to social media. It’s too fragile and too private. But nothing feels more wrong than to just move on with life as if the worst thing in the world didn’t happen,” Kaitlin wrote on Instagram on Monday (May 18) alongside a carousel of photos of her dad. “As if everything that matters didn’t just suddenly end.”
She continued, “My dad died. My first love, my first protector and my forever favorite person. He fought so hard and so long to stay with us. I hate words right now. None are good enough to describe who he was.”
Kaitlin said, “The luckiest thing to happen to me in this lifetime was getting him as my dad. Maybe the second was the gift of holding him on his way out. I love you, daddy. I will keep all my promises. Just like you.”
The gallery included selfies of Kaitlin and her dad, throwback photos, and a recent pic of her holding his hand in what appears to be a hospital bed. There was also a snap of Don hanging out with Kaitlin’s husband and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiaco-star Rob McElhenney.
McElhenney commented on the post with his own tribute, writing, “Words are impossible. There is no one like him. My whole goal in life is to be half the man he was. I’ve never seen a person love someone the way he loved you. I am so grateful that he lived and so proud that I got to be his son for the past 17 years.”
Kaitlin’s High Potential co-star Garret Dillahunt added, “Oh my dear. Nothing more sad or glorious than generations changing hands. Thank you for sharing your pop with us. What a daughter he raised. No words will suffice.”
“I love you. What a great guy. I’m grateful I got to know him some:) He raised a truly wonderful, loving, caring woman,” wrote fellow Always Sunny star Mary Elizabeth Ellis.
Steve Howey, who joined the cast of High Potential in Season 2, added, “So sorry for your loss. Your dad raised an awesome woman.”