It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is one of the longest-running comedies on television as it is coming up on its 15th season. A large part of its success has been due to the tremendous and hilarious performances from its five main leads, including Danny Devito and Charlie Day.
However, throughout its 14 seasons, there has been a collection of hilarious and crude side characters who have appeared and made the show even better. Some only appear in one episode, while others strike a chord with fans and continue to appear on the show. Here are the 10 best recurring characters on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Luther McDonald
Mac had an unfortunate childhood, to say the least. He never had a strong relationship with his dad as his dad was arrested and thrown in jail for a long time. After years of remaining distant from his father, Mac decides to go visit him in prison.
The relationship that develops between the two is a complicated one at best. In Luther's first episode, he tries to get Mac and Charlie to smuggle in drugs for him into the prison. Mac continues to try to help his dad but keeps making the situation worse, especially when he tries to prove his dad's innocents.
The Lawyer
The lawyer is a character who continuously has run-ins with the Paddy's Pub crew. He is fully aware of how awful they are and tries to use his legal expertise to ruin whatever scheme they may have concocted. The lawyer himself is not exactly nice himself, bt his hatred for the gang leads him to go out of his way to defeat them.
However, in his last appearance, this constant battle with the gang ends up coming to bite him literally as he injures his eye in a bird attack. Becoming involved with the gang usually ends up poorly as it is impossible to know what will happen.
Jack Kelly
Jack Kelly is Charlie's weird, perverted uncle. It is never confirmed exactly what Uncle Jack did in the past, but he is still very touchy and creepy towards Charlie, even as an adult. Uncle Jack has been spotted acting inappropriately towards random children, further implying something very disturbing about him.
Uncle Jack also has a strange obsession with his small hands and wears prosthetic, giant hands that often get in the way of his job as a lawyer. It's Always Sunny never shies away from making controversial things funny and Uncle Jack has plenty of funny scenes.
Mrs. McDonald
Mac's mom is just as indifferent towards Mac as his dad. Mrs. McDonald is a chronic drinker and smoker who doesn't have many lines of dialogue. Often, she only communicates through a series of grunts and moans. The only thing she wants to do is smoke and watch TV.
She is also an absolutely disgusting character who often spits or coughs up mucus. Some people love to take care of themselves and be healthy, while others cling to their vices no matter what. Mrs. McDonald is definitely the latter.
The Moyles
The Moyles are a kooky and odd, but large family that the gang knew from high school. The Moyles are an inbred family who is unashamed about the incestuous relationship that they have with one another. To the point where one of the Moyles brothers tries to get married, causing a stir in the family as the bloodline has been kept pure for years.
The Moyles have plenty of bizarre encounters with the gang including holding them hostage, trying out for the Philadelphia Eagles, and investing in a video rental store. The Moyles last appeared in season 11 and it is always a bizarre, chaotic episode whenever they show up.
Maureen Ponderosa
Maureen Ponderosa has been obsessed with Dennis ever since high school. After Dennis marries her and then immediately divorces her, Maureen starts to spiral into insanity. First, she almost married one of the Moyles' brothers before the wedding turned into a nightmare.
Then, she got multiple operations in order to transform herself into a cat. Unfortunately, Maureen is now dead after slipping and falling while climbing on roofs. Maureen's story is a bizarre one, but still brings plenty of laughs to It's Always Sunny.
Bill Ponderosa
Maureen's brother, Bill, is an alcoholic and drug addict who tried to get his life together but committed to his scumbag ways after meeting the gang and having a brief romantic relationship with Dee. Bill is often partying with the gang and trying to get everyone to take as many drugs as him.
At the Moyles' wedding, he spiked the milk bowl with bath salts, turning the guests into zombie-like creatures. Unfortunately, Bill ends up permanently damaging his relationship with his ex-wife and his kids, sending him into a spiraling pit of depression. It's Always Sunny is laughing at Bill's pain as tragic comedy is a staple of the show.
The Waitress
The character, simply known as "the waitress," is the eye of affection for Charlie even though she shares none of the same feelings. Charlie stalks her and constantly tries to do everything in his power to win her over. "The Nightman Cometh" was written solely for trying to earn her affections.
His schemes often end up getting her fired and ruining her life even further. Mary Elizabeth Ellis, who plays the waitress, is married to Charlie Day in real-life which explains why the two have great chemistry with each other on the show. The waitress has the most prominent role out of anyone on this list and constantly gets entangled in the messed up lives of the gang,
Artemis
Artemis is Dee's eccentric and overly-confident friend who she met in acting class. Artemis the gang in many of their plans including being an assistant director for "The Nightman Cometh" and being hired as a Coyote Ugly-type bartender in season 1.
For a while, she and Frank had a deranged, sexual relationship that involved an uncomfortable amount of food. Artemis also led the investigation to find out who pooped in Charlie and Frank's bed. Artemis is a bizarre and over-the-top character who somehow makes the of the gang seem normal.
Rickety Cricket
Rickety Cricket is a former high school classmate of the gang who was in love with Dee. Cricket became an innocent and well-groomed priest. However, when Dee tricks him into leaving the ministry by lying about being in love with him, Cricket becomes homeless and falls into a world of drug addiction, gangs, and violence.
Cricket is a victim of the gang's completely apathy for anyone who becomes involved in their schemes. Every time he gets involved with the gang, his life becomes even worse than it was before. While there is some pity for Cricket, in a show as dark as It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, he has become one of the funniest side characters on the show.