It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Retcons Frank's Age Again in Season 17 Finale

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17, episode 8.

The It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 finale rewrites a key personal detail about Frank Reynolds, played by the incomparable Danny DeVito. The season 17 finale, which was released on August 20, 2025, also ended Frank’s nearly series-long bachelor streak after he professed his love for the Golden Bachelor contestant, Samantha.

The ending of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 saw Frank running through the rain at a bus station to embrace Samantha, leaving the other Golden Bachelor contestant, “C**k Chewa”, who appears to be the new love of his life. While Frank may have gotten his happy ending, he did so by apparently fibbing about himself in one notable way.

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’s Season 17 Finale Retcons Frank’s Age Again

Frank’s age in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 is surprisingly a point of contention in the series since the comedy franchise has seemed to switch this key detail up over its two-decade run.

In the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 finale episode, Frank’s age for The Golden Bachelor is listed as 79 years old, which would make his birth year 1945 or 1946. In the past episodes, his birth year was noted as both 1947 and 1943, which would actually make him either one year younger or three years older than what is stated in season 17.

Whether this is an intentional change or not in the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 finale remains unclear. In real life, DeVito was born on November 17, 1944, which currently makes him 80. The celebrated actor will turn 81 later this year.

Frank Could Be Lying About His Age On The Golden Bachelor

Danny DeVito as Frank in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 — Danny DeVito as Frank in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17.

It’s completely within the realm of reason to think that Frank is lying about his age on The Golden Bachelor, although it wouldn’t make much of a difference whether he’s actually 79 or 82. Perhaps Frank doesn’t want to be seen on national TV as someone in his 80s, although previous episodes indicate that is the case.

Back in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 13, episode 5, “The Gang Gets New Wheels,” a shot of Frank’s driver’s license reveals that his birthday is on July 31, 1943. This would make him older than Devito himself and would mean that Frank would have just celebrated his 82nd birthday.

Having Frank say his age is 79 instead of 82 could just be an inside joke that only the most detail-oriented viewers of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia would understand. In the grand scheme of things, Frank’s age isn’t really all that important to the show, and perhaps the age change is simply due to the fact that DeVito was 79 years old when season 17 started filming.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

10/10

Release Date: August 4, 2005
Showrunner: Rob McElhenney
Directors: Matt Shakman, Fred Savage, Todd Biermann, Daniel Attias, Richie Keen, Randall Einhorn, Heath Cullens, Pete Chatmon, Jerry Levine, Kat Coiro, Megan Ganz, Jamie Babbit, John Fortenberry, Maurice Marable, Kimberly McCullough, Imani Hakim, LP, Tim Roche
Writers: Scott Marder, Rob Rosell, Dave Chernin, John Chernin, Dannah Feinglass Phirman, Danielle Schneider, Conor Galvin, Becky Mann, Luvh Rakhe, Audra Sielaff, Eric Ledgin, Patrick Walsh, Lee Sung-jin, Mehar Sethi, Nina Pedrad, Keyonna Taylor, D. B. Weiss, David Benioff, Elijah Aron, Hunter Covington, Jordan Young, Adam Stein, Chris Romano, Eric Falconer