Reynolds and McElhenney, who not only star in the television series but also own a soccer club together, made a bet that if McElhenney learned to speak Welsh, Reynolds would get a colonoscopy and allow it to be filmed.
“He was so sure he said he’d publicly broadcast his colonoscopy if I could do it,” McElhenney said in a clip while speaking Welsh that was translated into captions, according to People magazine.
Both actors turned 45 this year, and along with hitting the milestone, doctors suggest it is time for the routine, 30-minute test.
Reynolds’ doctor said he found an “extremely subtle polyp” on the right side of the actor’s colon, E! News reported.
“You did such a good prep that I was able to find an extremely subtle polyp that was on the right side of your colon,” Dr. Jon LaPook told Reynolds in a video that was posted to Instagram. “This was potentially life saving for you. I’m not kidding. I’m not being overly dramatic.”
During the procedure, the doctor said he removed the polyp, which if left alone, could have developed into cancer, USA Today reported.
McElhenney also went through the procedure. Doctors found three polyps and removed them.
Reynolds said the procedure itself wasn’t that bad.
“The procedure and prep were painless but the discomfort of filming and sharing the process was the hardest part,” he said, according to E! News.
The video was created in conjunction with Colorectal Cancer Alliance and the organization Lead from Behind, USA Today reported.
The American Cancer Society said colorectal cancer is the third-most common cancer in the U.S. and men have a 1-in-23 risk of developing it. Women have a 1-in-25 risk.
“Black Panther” actor Chadwick Boseman died of the disease in 2020 at the age of 43, USA Today reported.
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Through the years Actor Ryan Reynolds arrives at the premiere of the movie "National Lampoon's Van Wilder" April 1, 2002 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Sebastian Artz/Getty Images) (Sebastian Artz/Getty Images)
Through the years Musician Alanis Morissette and actor Ryan Reynolds attend the Los Angeles Premiere of the movie "Blade Trinity" at the Grauman's Chinese Theater December 7, 2004 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Through the years (from left to right) Actress Melissa George, director Andrew Douglas, actor Ryan Reynolds and actress Rachel Nichols attend the film premiere of "The Amityville Horror" at the Arclight Cinerama Dome on April 7, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Through the years Actors Emma Roberts and Ryan Reynolds present an award onstage at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards held at Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk on August 14, 2005 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Ryan Reynolds from the film "The Nines" poses for a portrait (holding a Gibson guitar) during the 2007 Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2007 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Mark Mainz/Getty Images) (Mark Mainz/Getty Images)
Through the years Actors Melissa McCarth (L) and Ryan Reynolds attend "The Nines" premiere party at the Village at the Lift during the 2007 Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2007 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images) (Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Ryan Reynolds attends the black carpet secret screening of Smokin' Aces at the Jam Factory on February 8, 2007 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images) (Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Ryan Reynolds arrives at the Screening Of 20th Century Fox's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" on April 28, 2009 at the Gruman's Manns Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Through the years Actors Ryan Reynolds (L) and Hugh Jackman arrive at the screening 20th Century Fox's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" at the Chinese Theater on April 28, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Ryan Reynolds (L) and actress Sandra Bullock pose with the Favorite Comedy Movie award for 'The Proposal' in the press room during the People's Choice Awards 2010 held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on January 6, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for PCA) (Jason Merritt/TERM)
Through the years (L-R) Actors Ryan Reynolds and Peter Sarsgaard attend the 'Green Lantern' Germany Premiere at CineStar on July 25, 2011 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images) (Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
Through the years Actors Denzel Washington (L) and Ryan Reynolds (R) attend "Safe House" (El Invitado) photocall at Villamagna Hotel on January 31, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) (Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
Through the years (L-R) Samuel L. Jackson, Snoop Dogg and Ryan Reynolds attend the 'Turbo' premiere at the Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona on June 25, 2013 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Robert Marquardt/Getty Images) (Robert Marquardt/Getty Images)
Through the years Ryan Reynolds poses side by side with his Madame Tussauds Hollywood wax figure on October 21, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images for Madame Tussauds) (Sean Gardner)
Through the years Actors Rosario Dawson, Ryan Reynolds and Mireille Enos attends the "Captives" photocall during the 67th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2014 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Through the years Actors Hugh Jackman (L) and Ryan Reynolds appear onstage at the 20th Century FOX panel during Comic-Con International 2015 at the San Diego Convention Center on July 11, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Ryan Reynolds attends the "Deadpool" fan event at AMC Empire Theatre on February 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images) (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
Through the years Actors Ryan Reynolds (L) and Nathan Fillion attend a ceremony honoring Ryan Reynolds with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fames on December 15, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images) (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Ryan Reynolds (R) poses for a photo with his daughter, James Reynolds during a ceremony honoring him with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on December 15, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images) (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
Through the years In this handout photo provided by Disney Parks, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively meet Mickey Mouse at Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle at Disneyland park December 16, 2016 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort via Getty Images) (Handout/Getty Images)
Through the years Hasty Pudding Theatricals Honors Ryan Reynolds as 2017 Man Of The Year on February 3, 2017 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Marotta/Getty Images for for Hasty Pudding Institute of 1770) (Paul Marotta)
Through the years Actors Ryan Reynolds (L) and Jake Gyllenhaal attend the "Life" premiere during 2017 SXSW Conference and Festivals at the ZACH Theatre on March 18, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for SXSW) (Michael Loccisano)
Through the years Actor Ryan Reynolds (L) and Tammy Reynolds attend the 2017 Time 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 25, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TIME) (Dimitrios Kambouris)
Through the years Actors Ryan Reynolds (R) and Josh Brolin (L) attend 'Deadpool 2' photocall at the Villamagna Hotel on May 7, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) (CARLOS ALVAREZ/Getty Images)
Through the years Ryan Reynolds attends the premiere of "Pokemon Detective Pikachu" at Military Island in Times Square on May 2, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images) (Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)
Through the years (L-R) Michael J. Fox, Ryan Reynolds and Tracy Pollan attend A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Cure Parkinson's benefitting The Michael J. Fox Foundation on November 16, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for The Michael J. Fox Foundation) (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for The Michael J. )
Through the years Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds attend the World Premiere of 20th Century Studios' Free Guy on August 03, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Disney) (Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Disney)
Through the years Ryan Reynolds attends the World Premiere Of Netflix's "Red Notice" at L.A. LIVE on November 03, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images) (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Through the years Ryan Reynolds attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating "In America: An Anthology of Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/)