Shameless’ Cameron Monaghan Stole A Forged Prop Painting From Set

When it comes to taking props off set, Cameron Monaghan has hit the jackpot. In an interview with The Nerds of Color, Monaghan admitted taking home a detailed fake of “Nighthawks,” Edward Hopper’s famous painting depicting four people at a diner on an urban street corner.

“So in the last season there’s a plot where Frank Nighthawks steals the Edward Hopper painting and that was actually done in collaboration with the Art Institute of Chicago and the Edward Hopper estate,” the actor explained to the outlet . “They made these really high-resolution prints of it, which were then hand-painted over, and they even took photos of the back and mimicked the way the canvas wraps around, the small writing and everything. It’s a damn good fake by Nighthawks. So I stole one of these and it’s hanging in my living room.”

It’s no wonder the painting featured on the show looked so accurate. The episode Monaghan is referring to is a Season 11 sequel titled “DNR.” Part of the episode focuses on the Gallagher family figuring out what to do with the painting Frank stole in a daze. The bittersweet storyline, while entertaining, also sheds light on Frank’s worsening dementia. The episode foreshadows Frank’s tragic fate, but also shows how the Gallaghers stick together despite everything. So Monaghan’s appreciation of the “Nighthawks” replica beyond its inherent value makes a lot of sense.