Frank Reynolds didn't start out as the guy who crawled naked out of a leather couch. Honestly, if you go back and watch the second season of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Danny DeVito’s character is almost... grounded? He wears suits. He tries to manage his kids. He’s a multi-millionaire businessman who, while unethical, still operates within the bounds of polite society. But then something shifted. The episode Being Frank in Season 11 is the culmination of a decade-long descent into absolute madness, but the seeds were planted way back in the "Warthog" era.
It's weird.
Most sitcom characters get more refined over time, or at least more predictable. Frank Reynolds did the opposite. He devolved. He became a "creature." When we talk about being frank always sunny fans usually point to the moment he decided to live in squalor with Charlie Kelly, sharing a single bed and playing night crawlers. That wasn't just a plot point; it was a total rejection of the "sane" world.
The POV Experiment: Why Being Frank Works
Season 11, Episode 6, titled "Being Frank," is a masterclass in perspective. It’s filmed entirely from Frank’s point of view. We see his hands, we hear his muffled thoughts, and we realize just how much of a disaster his daily existence actually is. He’s not just an eccentric old man. He is literally operating on a different frequency than the rest of the Gang.
While Dennis is obsessing over his "implication" or Mac is trying to prove his toughness, Frank is just trying to find some pondy's "aspirin" or wondering if he can eat a piece of fruit he found in the trash. The episode shows us his internal monologue, which is surprisingly sparse. It’s mostly just hunger, confusion, and a desire for chaos. It’s brilliant because it validates every weird thing he’s done since Season 2.
He isn't pretending. He really is that far gone.
The Warthog and the Business of Being Frank
Before he was the guy eating rum ham on a raft, Frank was the Warthog. This is the part of the lore that often gets overlooked by casual viewers. Frank Reynolds didn't just stumble into money; he was a corporate raider. He was ruthless. In the episode "The Gang Exploits a Mortgage Crisis," we see flashes of that old ruthlessness. He knows how to manipulate the system better than any of the younger members of the Gang.
The brilliance of the writing is that Frank uses his business acumen to fund his "fringe" lifestyle. He has the resources of a 1%er but the soul of a dumpster diver.
✨ Don't miss: Why the Cast of Hold Your Breath 2024 Makes This Dust Bowl Horror Actually Work
Think about the "Frank’s Fluids" arc. Wolf Cola. Fight Milk. These aren't just jokes; they are legitimate business ventures (at least in his head) that allow him to stay relevant in the Gang’s ecosystem. He provides the capital. Without Frank, the Gang is just a group of four losers shouting in a dive bar. With Frank, they are a group of four losers with a limitless budget for high-stakes schemes.
Danny DeVito's Commitment to the Gross-Out
You have to respect DeVito. A lot of actors of his stature would have phoned it in. They would have played the "straight man" to the younger cast. Instead, DeVito pushed the writers to make him even more disgusting.
Rob McElhenney has mentioned in various interviews and on The Always Sunny Podcast that DeVito’s only real rule was that he wanted to do what the kids were doing. He didn't want to be the dad. He wanted to be in the dirt.
That commitment is why being frank always sunny moments feel so authentic. When he’s covered in hand sanitizer because he "wants to be pure," that’s not a stunt double. That’s an Academy Award-nominated actor fully committing to the bit. It’s rare. You don't see that on other long-running sitcoms. Usually, the stars get more protective of their image as the years go by. DeVito lit his image on fire and danced on the ashes.
The Charlie Factor: A Match Made in the Sewer
The relationship between Frank and Charlie is the emotional heart of the show, which is a terrifying thing to say out loud. They are "Gruesome Twosome."
Why does Frank choose to live with Charlie? He has a mansion. He has money. But he chooses the apartment with the shared toilet and the radiator-cooked meat. It’s because Charlie is the only person who doesn't judge Frank’s devolution. In fact, Charlie encourages it.
- They share a specific brand of "street logic."
- They both find joy in objects others consider trash.
- They have a symbiotic relationship where Frank provides the "know-how" and Charlie provides the "survivability."
In "Being Frank," we see how much Frank relies on Charlie to interpret the world for him. When the Gang is arguing, Frank is often just looking at Charlie for a cue on how to react. It's almost sweet, in a very disturbing, tetanus-filled way.
🔗 Read more: Is Steven Weber Leaving Chicago Med? What Really Happened With Dean Archer
Why Frank Reynolds Never Ages Out
The show has been on for nearly two decades. Most characters would have grown up by now. But Frank stays stagnant—or rather, he continues to sink. This is the secret to the show’s longevity. By having an older character who is more immature than the 40-somethings around him, the show avoids the "middle-age slump."
Frank is the catalyst.
He’s the one who buys the boat. He’s the one who buys the billboard. He’s the one who gets everyone hooked on crack just to see what happens. He is the engine of the chaos.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Creators
If you’re looking to understand the mechanics of what makes this character work—whether you’re a writer, a student of comedy, or just a die-hard fan—look at these specific elements:
Deconstruct the "Reverse Character Arc"
Most characters go from bad to good or simple to complex. Frank goes from complex businessman to simple, base-instinct creature. It’s a "Reverse Pygmalion" effect. If you’re writing a character, try stripping away their dignity instead of building it up.
Watch "Being Frank" with the Sound Off
Seriously. Pay attention to the physical comedy and the framing. The episode relies heavily on visual storytelling to convey Frank’s state of mind. It shows how much information can be communicated through movement alone.
Study the "Straight Man" Dynamics
Notice how Frank oscillates between being the craziest person in the room and the only one who sees how stupid the Gang’s plans are. He plays both roles. One minute he’s gargling beer, the next he’s pointing out that Mac’s plan makes no financial sense. That duality keeps the character from becoming a caricature.
💡 You might also like: Is Heroes and Villains Legit? What You Need to Know Before Buying
Identify the "Fringe" Philosophy
Frank’s life philosophy is summed up in his famous line: "I don't know how many years on this Earth I got left. I'm gonna get real weird with it." This is the ultimate "Being Frank" mantra. It’s a license for the writers to do anything. When a character’s internal logic is "be weird," the plot possibilities are infinite.
The Reality of the Reynolds Legacy
Frank Reynolds is a monster. He’s a terrible father, a worse businessman, and a public health hazard. But he’s also the most honest character on television. He knows exactly who he is. He doesn't pretend to have morals like Dennis or Mac. He doesn't crave validation like Dee. He just wants to live in the trash and be happy.
There’s something weirdly aspirational about that.
Not the trash part, obviously. But the part where he stops caring what the world thinks and just embraces his own madness. That’s the true essence of being frank always sunny. It’s about total, unfiltered freedom.
To truly appreciate the character, go back and watch the transition from Season 2 to Season 7. Watch the hair get wilder, the clothes get dirtier, and the schemes get more depraved. It’s the greatest character study in modern television history.
If you want to dive deeper into the production side, check out the episodes directed by Todd Biermann or written by David Hornsby (who plays Rickety Cricket). They often handle the "gross-out" Frank episodes with a specific kind of dark flair that defines the middle and late seasons. Pay attention to the "Warthog" references in later seasons; they serve as a reminder that the man underneath the filth is still a shark, which makes his choice to live like a bottom-feeder even more hilarious.