Who is Eric Biermann? Tribute given to the personality in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 explained

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia made a return with season 17 after two long years. The season kickstarted on July 9, 2025 with two episodes titled The Gang F***s Up Abbott Elementary and Frank Is In a Coma.

Much to the delight of fans worldwide, the first episode of this new season served as a crossover between Always Sunny and Abbott Elementary. This was the second part of the long-awaited crossover episode between the two iconic shows.

While the episode itself is a laugh riot, it ends with a surprising and heartfelt note that reads: "In loving memory of Eric Biermann." This message left many confused as they wondered who Eric Biermann is and how he is related to the show or even the episode.

The surname Biermann might sound familar to some because Todd Biermann has directed several episodes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, including the season 17 episode 1. Eric Biermann, the brother of Todd Biermann, passed away unexpectedly in 2024. To honor his memory, director Todd Biermann included a tribute at the end of the episode.

Who was Eric Biermann?

Although Eric Biermann did not have anything to do with It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, he was also involved in the entertainment world like his brother. The Biermann brothers are Philadelphia natives which makes the tribute understandable.

Eric Biermann worked as a producer for several companies such as Al Roker Entertainment, Spike TV, Bravo, HGTV, and The Weather Channel. He produced the show Celebrity Family Feud, and served as a segment producer on Dancing With the Stars. Further, he also made contribution to shows like Desire and Fashion House.

According to his obituary, Eric Biermann passed away unexpectedly on October 12, 2024 at the age of 42. The cause of his death was not revealed, but he is remebered as a loving son, uncle, brother, nephew and friend. The obituary reads:

"Eric lit up every room from the moment that he walked in. He always loved to be surrounded by his family and friends, especially when that meant going out to eat. He had a heart of gold and was devoted to his friends. Eric had more than a few people who considered him their best friend. He simply had a way to make everyone feel special."

Todd Biermann has directed several episodes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

According to the details shared on IMDb, the first time Todd Biermann worked on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia was when he directed one episode in season 8. He has directed episodes on-and-off for one of the longest running sitcoms on TV.

So far, Todd Biermann has directed 17 episodes for the show including season 17 episode 1. He has helmed the first episodes of seasons 10, 13, and 15, as well as episodes like The Gang Replaces Dee with a Monkey, The Gang Gets Analyzed, and Psycho Pete Returns.

Further, Biermann has also directed episodes for shows like Ghosts, Side Quest, The Other Black Girl and Grown-ish. Even so, he is most acclaimed for his work on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on FXX, with episodes available to stream on Hulu the following morning.