Emmy and Golden Globe-winner Paul W. Downs is an actor, writer and director. Downs is the co-creator and co-Showrunner of HBO Max’s dark comedy series HACKS starring Jean Smart, which is currently in its third season and for which he also serves as executive producer. HACKS has received 32 Emmy Nominations and six wins, including wins for “Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series” and “Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series” as well as wins for two Golden Globe Awards, three Writers Guild of America Awards, a Directors Guild of America Award, and a Peabody Award. The series was honored as one of the “Outstanding Television Programs of the Year” at the American Film Institute Awards for both seasons in consecutive years.
Following the release of HACKS in 2021, Downs and his wife Lucia Aniello signed a multiyear overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group.
Downs is also known for his role as “Trey Pucker” on Comedy Central’s critically acclaimed series BROAD CITY which ran for five seasons. Behind the camera, he served as a writer, director, and executive producer of the show. On the big screen, Downs starred in Sony’s ROUGH NIGHT opposite Scarlett Johansson which he co-wrote and produced with Aniello, who directed. Downs also co-starred in Netflix’s 2018 summer comedy LIKE FATHER opposite Kristen Bell, Kelsey Grammar and Seth Rogen, in the Comedy Central miniseries TIME TRAVELLING BONG alongside Ilana Glazer, as well as in his own half-hour special of Netflix’s THE CHARACTERS.
