Danny DeVito has been a part of some of the most outrageous comedy on television thanks to his long-running role as Frank Reynolds on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Over 17 seasons, fans have watched him crawl naked out of a couch, guzzle questionable substances, and commit just about every morally questionable act imaginable. Yet, according to DeVito himself, only once has he truly considered walking away from something the show’s creators pitched to him.
That moment didn’t come during filming, though—it happened during a brutal prank war between DeVito and his co-stars Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, and Glenn Howerton. The prank they pulled on him was so dark that DeVito admitted he nearly called his lawyer before realizing what was really going on. Of course, DeVito wouldn’t be DeVito without getting his revenge in spectacular fashion.
The April Fools’ Script That Went Too Far
It all started one April morning when the Sunny team handed DeVito what they claimed was a brand-new script for the season premiere. The script looked like typical It’s Always Sunny material—wild bar antics, questionable behavior, and absurd storylines. But when DeVito reached his character Frank’s plotline, things took a disturbing turn.
In this fake script, Frank was arrested, thrown in prison, and subjected to a series of horrifying assaults, including being beaten and repeatedly sexually abused by guards.
DeVito recalled his reaction in disbelief:
“Midway through, I said, ‘I’m not going to do this. There’s no way I can do this. This is really crazy.’”
For a show known for pushing boundaries, this was far beyond anything he expected. DeVito admitted he was so disturbed that he almost picked up the phone to call his lawyer and demand the script be changed.
But then came the punchline. On the very last page of the script, just as Frank was about to endure one more horrific assault, a guard leaned in and whispered:
“April Fools, motherf*er.”**
At that moment, DeVito realized he had been pranked by his castmates on April 1. The entire “script” was a dark joke cooked up by McElhenney, Day, and Howerton.
Danny DeVito Plots His Revenge
DeVito may have been caught off guard, but he wasn’t about to let his co-stars get away with humiliating him. Known for his mischievous personality both on and off screen, he quickly devised a plan for payback—and it was the kind of prank only DeVito could pull off.
At the next FX Upfronts event (where networks present their shows to advertisers and press), DeVito arrived early and struck a deal with the hotel manager. The scheme? Deny his castmates their reserved rooms and instead tell them the hotel was fully booked.
In place of their usual accommodations, they were shown to a cramped one-bedroom suite filled with a handful of cots. According to DeVito, the hotel staff played along perfectly, convincing the Sunny gang that FX had booked them a single room to share.
Meanwhile, DeVito was hiding in the closet, sipping tequila and watching the chaos unfold.
“They were all in the room, and I was in a closet with a bottle of tequila and glasses watching them react,” DeVito said gleefully.
Rob McElhenney reportedly got so frustrated that he was about to call the network executives and complain about the poor treatment. That’s when DeVito finally emerged from hiding to reveal the prank.
“I had ’em good,” he laughed. “They did deserve it.”
Why This Story Perfectly Sums Up Sunny
This prank war highlights exactly why It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has lasted for nearly two decades. The show thrives on pushing boundaries, making its characters endure humiliations, and keeping audiences on edge with unpredictable twists. That same energy clearly exists behind the scenes, with cast and crew constantly trying to outdo each other with mischief.
For fans, the story adds another hilarious chapter to the lore of the show. DeVito, who joined the cast in Season 2, has become an essential part of Sunny’s identity, and his willingness to go all-in—even when the jokes come at his expense—shows why his presence has been so vital.
Danny DeVito’s Legacy on It’s Always Sunny
Season 17 of It’s Always Sunny recently wrapped, closing with a heartfelt tribute to DeVito’s character Frank Reynolds. While Frank is often depicted as grotesque, selfish, and morally bankrupt, fans have grown to love him as the bizarre, unfiltered soul of the series.
DeVito himself has embraced the chaos of Frank, saying in past interviews that part of the fun of the show is how far it’s willing to go. From crawling naked out of a fake couch to sharing in the gang’s most unhinged schemes, he has become a comedy icon for an entirely new generation of fans.
This latest prank story just reinforces how dedicated he is—not only to the character but also to the spirit of camaraderie and absurdity that defines Sunny.
Conclusion
Danny DeVito’s revelation about his prank war with the It’s Always Sunny cast is more than just a funny behind-the-scenes anecdote. It’s a reminder of why the show has remained one of the longest-running comedies in American television.
The prank may have started dark—so dark that DeVito almost walked off set—but his revenge showed that he can dish it out just as well as he can take it. With Season 17 now behind them, fans can only hope that Sunny continues for many more years, filled with both outrageous on-screen antics and hilarious off-screen stories like this one.