After an extended delay, Hacks returns to Max for Season 3 behind an impressive cast of series rookies and veterans.
First hitting Max in 2021, Hacks tells the story of Las Vegas comedy legend Deborah Vance, whose career hits a standstill before meeting struggling writer Ava Daniels.
This leads to an often unhealthy relationship between them through the first two seasons, with things hitting a breaking point ahead of Season 3 as they go their separate ways.
The first two episodes of Hacks Season 3 hit Max on May 2.
Every Character & Actor in Hacks Season 3
Jean Smart - Deborah Vance
Real-world comedy and cinema legend Jean Smart leads the way in Hacks as comedian Deborah Vance, famous in this show for her long-standing run on the Las Vegas strip.
At the end of Season 2, Deborah enjoyed a career comeback after releasing a new comedy special, although she fired her writer, Ava, and went off alone.
At the start of Season 3, Deborah unexpectedly reunites with Ava while working on her next project, realizing that she may have made a mistake by sending away somebody so important to her career.
Boasting more than 100 credits to her name, Smart was seen recently in Babylon and Mare of Easttown. Other past projects include 24, The Accountant, and Kim Possible.
- Instagram: @realjeansmart
- Wikipedia: Jean Smart
- IMDb: Jean Smart
Hannah Einbinder - Ava Daniels
Starring opposite Jean Smart in Hacks Season 3 is Hannah Einbinder, who plays Los Angeles-based comedy writer Ava Daniels.
Enduring plenty of toxicity from Deborah over the first two seasons, even amidst a great deal of success, Ava is moving on with her life after being fired at the end of Season 2.
Season 3 has the leading lady working as a staff writer on a Peabody Award-winning TV comedy series called On the Contrary. She is also in a loving relationship with her girlfriend, although their love is tested early in the first two episodes.
Other past credits for Einbidner include North Hollywood, How to Be Broke, and Julia.
- Instagram: @hannaheinbinder
- Wikipedia: Hannah Einbinder
- IMDb: Hannah Einbinder
Carl Clemons-Hopkins - Marcus
After playing a major role in the first two seasons, Carl Clemons-Hopkins returns to Hacks Season 3 as Marcus, Deborah's devoted (if reluctant) assistant.
Enduring plenty of emotional abuse from Deborah over the years, Markus is Deborah's closest confidant, and he also works as the Chief Operating Officer of her management company.
In Season 3's first two episodes, Marcus has a difficult task as he tracks down someone running an Etsy store that sells unauthorized merchandise using Deborah's likeness.
Fans can see Clemons-Hopkins' work in Candyman, Chicago Med, and Star Trek: Lower Decks.
- Instagram: @carlclemonshopkins
- Wikipedia: Carl Clemons-Hopkins
- IMDb: Carl Clemons-Hopkins
Paul W. Downs - Jimmy LuSaque
Paul W. Downs returns to his Hacks role as Jimmy LuSaque, Deborah and Ava's agent, complete with a bump to series regular in Season 3.
In Season 3, Jimmy continues to advance his agency to new heights, heading to Canada for a major comedy convention to see Deborah.
He even attempts to sign a new comic after sneaking into a party, pushing further past his comfort zone and escaping his parents' shadow.
While serving as an executive producer and writer on Hacks, other acting appearances on Downs' resume include Broad City, Rough Night, and Harley Quinn.
- Instagram: @paulwdowns
- Wikipedia: Paul W. Downs
- IMDb: Paul W. Downs
Megan Stalter - Kayla
Megan Stalter returns to the Hacks spotlight in Season 3 as Kayla, Jimmy's somewhat airheaded assistant whose father is Jimmy's boss.
Along with Downs, she is promoted to a series regular for this new season.
Never one to hold back her enthusiasm or penchant for a high-end lifestyle, Jimmy is again forced to work with Megan, although they still do not always get along.
Other major appearances for Stalter include Sometimes I Think About Dying, First Time Female Director, and Queer as Folk.
- Instagram: @megsstalter
- Wikipedia: Megan Stalter
- IMDb: Megan Stalter
Mark Indelicato - Damien
Returning for his supporting role as Deborah's personal assistant, Damien, is Hollywood veteran Mark Indelicato.
Damien continues working closely alongside Deborah early in Season 3, hoping to help her get her career back on track with new stories to use for jokes in her stand-up shows.
Indelicato is best known for his role as Justin Suarez in over 80 episodes of Ugly Betty. He is also seen in With Love, Dead of Summer, and White Bird in a Blizzard.
- Instagram: @markindelicato
- Wikipedia: Mark Indelicato
- IMDb: Mark Indelicato
Rose Abdoo - Josefina
Deborah reunites with her estate manager, Josefina, in Hacks Season 3, and Rose Abdoo once again plays the role.
Rose can easily see how Deborah's new lifestyle is affecting her, and she spends Season 3's early episodes trying to get her boss to get some sleep so she doesn't crash and burn.
Abdoo is recognized for her roles in Gilmore Girls, Bad Teacher, My Best Friend's Wedding, and Good Night, and Good Luck.
- Instagram: @roseabdoo
- Wikipedia: Rose Abdoo
- IMDb: Rose Abdoo
Poppy Liu - Kiki
Nonbinary actress Poppy Liu reprises their role in Hacks Season 3 as Kiki, Deborah's personal blackjack dealer.
Throughout the first two seasons, Kiki serves as a confidant for Ava as she endures Deborah's terrifying treatment, and she flies to Memphis with Deborah in Season 2 after a few of Deborah's shows perform poorly.
Liu can also be seen in Dead Ringers, The Afterparty, Sunnyside, and Disney+'s American Born Chinese.
- Instagram: @poppyrepublic
- Wikipedia: Poppy Liu
- IMDb: Poppy Liu
Kaitlin Olson - Deborah "DJ" Vance Jr
Later in Season 3, fans will see Kaitlin Olsen rejoin the Hacks world as Deborah Vance's daughter, Deborah "DJ" Vance, Jr.
Struggling with an addiction to pills over the years, DJ and her mother's relationship is sure to evolve to new levels in future episodes, with things being quite complicated over the first two seasons.
Olson's resume includes high-profile roles in projects like Pixar's Finding Dory, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Vacation, and The Heat.
- Instagram: @kaitlinolson
- Wikipedia: Kaitlin Olson
- IMDb: Kaitlin Olson
Christopher McDonald - Marty Ghilain
Expectedly, legendary Hollywood star Christopher McDonald is back in the mix for Hacks Season 3 to reprise his role as Marty Ghilain, the CEO of the Palmetto Casino.
Only seen momentarily at the start of Season 3 thus far, Marty unveils a new Deborah Vance slot machine after the comic's exit, leaving fans curious about their relationship moving forward.
In 2023, McDonald took on a role in the MCU, playing secret Skrull Chris Stearns in Secret Invasion. Previous credits include Happy Gilmore, Thelma & Louise, and Harry's Law.
- Instagram: @realchrismcdonald
- Wikipedia: Christopher McDonald
- IMDb: Christopher McDonald
Lorenza Izzo - Ruby
Lorenza Izzo is back for her fifth and sixth appearances in Hacks as Ruby, who is now Ava's girlfriend as they build on their relationship in Los Angeles.
Ruby is an action star on TV with roles in major superhero projects, but Ava's reuniting with Deborah strains their relationship after the stories she's heard about Deborah.
Izzo's resume includes roles in Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood, Knock Knock, and Life Itself.
- Instagram: @lorenzaizzo
- Wikipedia: Lorenza Izzo
- IMDb: Lorenza Izzo
Helen Hunt - Winnie Lindell
Season 3 of Hacks introduces world-famous movie star Helen Hunt in a new guest-starring appearance as Winnie Lindell, which starts in Episode 1.
First seen at a party for major industry players in Canada, Winnie is the head of the network that airs Ava's On the Contrary series.
She has a quick interaction with Ava, Jimmy, and Kayla as they enjoy the party atmosphere, with Winnie making things awkward immediately for Jimmy in a limited interaction.
Hunt won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in 1998's As Good as It Gets. Her resume also boasts appearances in Twister, Mad About You, and Then She Found Me.
- Instagram: @HelenHunt
- Wikipedia: Helen Hunt
- IMDb: Helen Hunt
Christina Hendricks
Multiple-time Emmy nominee Christina Hendricks will guest star in Hacks Season 3, although her role has not yet been revealed.
Hendricks is best known for her work in Mad Men, and she also starred in Ginger & Rosa, The Neon Demon, and Bad Santa 2.
- Instagram: @actuallychristinahendricks
- Wikipedia: Christina Hendricks
- IMDb: Christina Hendricks
Christopher Lloyd
Also appearing in an undisclosed role in Hacks Season 3 will be fan-favorite actor Christopher Lloyd.
Lloyd is an icon thanks to his role as Dr. Emmett Brown in all three movies from the Back to the Future trilogy and others in The Addams Family and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. He also had a guest role in Season 3 of The Mandalorian.
- Instagram: @mrchristopherlloyd
- Wikipedia: Christopher Lloyd
- IMDb: Christopher Lloyd
George Wallace
Appearing as himself in Hacks Season 3 is comedian/actor George Wallace.
Only taking a small amount of screentime early in the season, Wallace runs his own comedy club where he hosts Deborah for a show, in which the audience laughs at every word she says.
Wallace has a long career in Hollywood with credits in Batman Forever, The Ladykillers, and Mr. Deeds.
- Instagram: @therealgeorgewallace
- Wikipedia: George Wallace
- IMDb: George Wallace
Tony Goldwyn
Coming into the equation later in Season 3 will be Tony Goldwyn, who joins the Hacks cast for a guest-starring spot in future episodes.
Outside of a recent appearance in Christopher Nolan's Oscar-winning Oppenheimer, Goldwyn's work can also be seen in Ghost, The Mechanic, and The Last Samurai.
- Instagram: @tonygoldwyn
- Wikipedia: Tony Goldwyn
- IMDb: Tony Goldwyn
Dan Bucatinsky
Dan Bucatinsky appears briefly in Episode 2 of Hacks Season 3, although his character is not officially named yet.
This role sees him play the manager of the Television City studio, where Deborah is brought in as a guest star on a late-night show. This leads to her guest-hosting the entire show when the host calls in sick.
Bucatinsky's past work can be seen in The Baker and the Beauty, Second Act, and Scandal.
- Instagram: @danbucatinsky
- Wikipedia: Dan Bucatinsky
- IMDb: Dan Bucatinsky
The first two episodes of Hacks Season 3 are now streaming on Max. Two new episodes premiere on the streaming service every Thursday.
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