Veteran actor Danny DeVito experienced a dangerous incident during the filming of an underwater scene for “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” as disclosed by author Kimberly Potts in an interview with the New York Post on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.
The event occurred during the filming of Season 11’s episode “The Gang Goes to Hell: Part Two,” which aired in March 2016. This particular scene required DeVito to perform an underwater stunt with co-stars Glenn Howerton, Kaitlin Olson, Charlie Day, and Rob McElhenney, portraying characters trapped in a room with a water leak on a cruise ship.
Potts, who is promoting her upcoming book “It’s (Almost) Always Sunny in Philadelphia: How Three Friends Spent $200 to Create the Longest-Running Live-Action Sitcom in History and Help Build a Network,” explained that during the scene, DeVito was weighted down as the water level increased. During filming, he was accidentally kicked in the shoulder, close to his head, which led to a hazardous situation.
The author informed the Post that DeVito faced a near-drowning incident, causing concern among those present on set. She mentioned that DeVito quietly departed the set after the incident, concluding his workday. Potts added that while DeVito has a limit to how far he is willing to go, the majority of experiences working with him are positive, with Olson describing him as the happiest person she knows.
Co-star Charlie Day had previously shared details of the incident during a 2016 appearance on “Conan,” explaining that DeVito’s buoyancy necessitated the use of weights to keep him submerged for the scene.
When the scene ended and the cast attempted to surface, Day recalled that while other actors quickly moved through the water, DeVito got stuck halfway due to the weights. Day described seeing a look of panic in DeVito’s eyes, as if he thought his fellow actors had killed him.
Safety divers on the set eventually assisted DeVito, who was approximately 71 years old at the time of the incident. Despite the seriousness of the situation, DeVito maintained his humor about the experience, telling Extra in 2017 that he had lived a good life, and it flashed before his eyes during the scene.
However, Potts noted that DeVito was frustrated by the event, indicating that it had a more significant impact on him than his public comments suggested. The incident highlighted the physical demands and potential dangers associated with filming action sequences, even for a long-running comedy series.
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” became a success story for Rob McElhenney and Glenn Howerton, who created and co-developed the show by filming the pilot with a minimal budget. Charlie Day later expressed uncertainty about the commonly cited $200 budget for the original pilot.
The show’s syndication rights were acquired by Comedy Central in 2009, securing its place in television history. While Howerton recently discussed the possibility of concluding the series, the decision to end the show will be made on a year-by-year basis.
The incident from Season 11 serves as a reminder of the physical risks actors face during filming, even in seemingly controlled environments with safety measures in place. Despite the dangerous situation, DeVito continued working on the show, demonstrating his commitment to the long-running series that has entertained audiences for nearly two decades.
“It’s Always Sunny” is set to begin its 17th season in July, with DeVito continuing as a central cast member alongside the original creators. The show’s longevity and continued production schedule indicate that the near-drowning incident, while serious, did not deter DeVito from participating in future seasons of the Philadelphia-set comedy series.
