Veteran actor Danny DeVito nearly drowned during the filming of an underwater scene for “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” according to new details revealed by author Kimberly Potts in a Tuesday, June 24, interview with the New York Post.
A dangerous incident took place while filming Season Eleven’s “The Gang Goes to Hell: Part Two,” in which DeVito had to perform an underwater stunt with fellow cast members Glenn Howerton, Kaitlin Olson, Charlie Day, and Rob McElhenney. The scene involved the characters being trapped in a room that was filling with water aboard a cruise ship.
Potts, who is currently promoting her forthcoming 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,” recalled that DeVito was weighted down for the scene as water levels rose. During the shoot, he was accidentally kicked in the shoulder near his head, sparking the hazardous situation.
Potts told the Post that DeVito came very close to drowning, and everyone on set was alarmed, concerned for his safety. After the incident, DeVito quietly left the set, bringing his work for the day to an end. Potts added that while DeVito has clear limits on what he’s willing to endure, working with him is usually a positive experience—Olson even described him as the happiest person she knows.
Charlie Day had previously shared details about the frightening event during an appearance on “Conan” in 2016, revealing more about the underwater filming. Day mentioned that DeVito is extremely buoyant—almost like a buoy—so he needed to be weighted down to stay submerged for the scene.
After the scene ended and the cast tried to swim up for air, Day remembered that while everyone else made it to the surface quickly, DeVito got stuck halfway because of the weights. Day noted that DeVito had a look of panic in his eyes, almost as if he believed his co-stars had done him in. Day noted that “This is the end, these guys killed me.”
Safety divers on set were able to rescue DeVito, who was around 71 years old when the event took place. Even though the situation was serious, DeVito kept his trademark sense of humor, telling Extra in 2017 that he felt he had lived a good life and saw it flash before his eyes during that moment.
Potts, however, shared that DeVito was quite upset by the situation, suggesting that the incident affected him more deeply than his public statements implied. The near-drowning experience highlighted the physical demands and potential dangers involved in filming action sequences, even for a long-running comedy series.
Rob McElhenney and Glenn Howerton turned “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” into an unexpected hit after they created and developed the show, filming the pilot themselves with very limited resources. Day would later question the accuracy of the widely repeated claim that the original pilot was made on a $200 budget.
The show’s syndication rights were acquired by Comedy Central in 2009, cementing its place in television history. Howerton has recently talked about the potential for the series to wrap up, but each year the decision to continue is reassessed.
An incident during Season Eleven highlights the real risks actors sometimes face on set, even with safety measures in place. Despite the dangerous experience, DeVito remained committed to the show, demonstrating his loyalty to a series that has entertained viewers for nearly two decades.
With its 17th season starting in July, “It’s Always Sunny” will continue to feature DeVito in a leading role 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.