Discover the Heartfelt Romances Behind the Hacks Cast: Inside Stories of On-Screen Chemistry and Off-Screen Love, Including a Near On-Set Delivery!

Hacks may highlight the tumultuous relationship between its two main characters, but it also showcases their deep mutual affection and respect.

The Emmy-winning series focuses on the dynamic between Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), a faded comedian struggling to find relevance, and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), a budding writer brought in to help rejuvenate Vance’s faltering career. Despite their generational differences, the two women navigate their challenges while gradually forming a bond, albeit one that is not devoid of conflict.

In a conversation with Variety in February 2022, co-creator and star Paul W. Downs described the show as “a love story.”

“It’s about two women who are cast aside by society and really need each other,” he explained. “We aimed to craft characters who are flawed and in need of significant personal growth.”

The show also features Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Megan Stalter, Mark Indelicato, and Kaitlin Olson.

While the sitcom delves into complex relationships among its characters, many cast members enjoy happy romantic lives off-screen. Olson has been married to actor Rob McElhenney since 2008, and Smart was married to actor Richard Gilliland for 33 years until his passing in 2021.

Here’s an overview of the real-life partners of the Hacks cast.

Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland

Jean Smart, who portrays the iconic stand-up comedian Deborah Vance, was married to Richard Gilliland for 33 years.

The couple tied the knot in June 1987 after meeting while working on the CBS sitcom Designing Women. They collaborated in several projects thereafter, including the series 24 and the play It Had to Be You.

Smart and Gilliland welcomed their first child, a son named Connor, in October 1989. Twenty years later, in January 2010, the actress announced their adoption of a son, Forrest, born in 2008 in China.

Gilliland passed away in March 2021 at the age of 71 after a brief illness. At the 2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards, Smart candidly shared her feelings about the loss of her husband.

“Losing my husband was certainly unexpected, something I didn’t think would happen for at least another 20 years. And having a young child makes it unimaginable,” she reflected.

Hannah Einbinder

Hannah Einbinder plays Ava Daniels, the young comedy writer tasked with revitalizing Deborah’s career.

Identifying as bisexual, Einbinder has expressed her appreciation for being able to portray a queer character on Hacks.

“I was fortunate to start on a show where my character is queer, surrounded by artists and individuals who embrace that,” she said in a June 2022 interview. “It was a relief to see that Ava was always intended to be queer, as it was the first bi role I had ever auditioned for.”

Einbinder was recently in a relationship with stand-up comedian Alex Edelman. Although details about their romance remain vague, Edelman confirmed their breakup in a June 2023 interview.

Paul W. Downs and Lucia Aniello

Paul W. Downs plays Jimmy LuSaque Jr., the manager of both Deborah and Ava. Besides acting in Hacks, Downs co-created the show with his wife, Lucia Aniello.

The couple first crossed paths in 2007 during an improv class at the Upright Citizens Brigade. Downs recalled his instant fascination with Aniello during that time.

“I remember arriving early, eager to make a name for myself, and Lucia walked in late, calm and collected. I thought, ‘Who is this girl?’” he reminisced.

In September 2021, they married in Italy and are parents to a son named Luca, who was born while they were filming the final episode of season 2. Downs shared that Aniello went into labor during a scene he was performing.

“I needed to convey anxiety for that scene, and I had plenty to draw upon from the situation,” he humorously noted. “We like to say that Hacks is our firstborn, while our son is our second.”

Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney

Kaitlin Olson, who plays Deborah’s daughter, Deborah “DJ” Vance Jr., married her husband Rob McElhenney in September 2008 at a Malibu vineyard.

The couple first met in 2005 on the set of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and began dating a year later. They are proud parents to two sons: Axel Lee, born in 2010, and Leo Grey, born in 2012.

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in August 2022, McElhenney, who was guest hosting, discussed the “ups and downs” of their marriage.

“Being in a relationship is very difficult. We’ve had our ups and downs, and we’ve been married for nearly 14 years this September,” he shared. “I can honestly say that I love you more now than I did 14 years ago. Despite the challenges, like any relationship, I will continue to show up and do my best because I love you so much.”

Carl Clemons-Hopkins and Chubi Anyaoku

Carl Clemons-Hopkins, who plays Marcus, the CEO of Deborah’s business, is married to Chubi Anyaoku.

The couple keeps their relationship mostly private, but they were spotted together at the HBO & Max Post-Emmy Reception in September 2024.

A few months later, Clemons-Hopkins celebrated their anniversary with a heartfelt Instagram carousel featuring a collection of their moments together.

“🖤💍📠✨11 December 💜💚,” he captioned the post.

Megan Stalter and Maddie Allen

Rose Abdoo, who portrays Deborah’s estate manager, Josefina, is married to TV writer John Matta.

The couple met at an art gallery in Los Angeles in 2001. During a May 2024 appearance on a popular comedy podcast, Abdoo revealed that she approached Matta first, who jokingly teased her about moving from Chicago to L.A.

He then told a bizarre story about swallowing quarters, which captivated her, leading to an instant obsession. They soon separated within the gallery but fate intervened.

“I was quite far from him, and he said, ‘All right Chicago,’ and tossed a quarter across the gallery, which I managed to catch,” she recalled.

Their first date followed shortly after at a comedy show. “It was December 1, 2001, and now we live in a house with the address 1201,” Abdoo shared, highlighting the importance of that date.

The couple tied the knot eight years later on October 10, 2009, and celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary in October 2024.

Mark Indelicato

Mark Indelicato, who plays Deborah’s personal assistant, Damien, does not currently have a known romantic partner.

In May 2022, he expressed gratitude for having supportive parents when he came out to them during high school.

“I feel incredibly lucky that my parents were so accepting, and they didn’t make it a major issue,” he stated. “[They] simply said, ‘Okay, cool. That doesn’t define you; it’s just a part of your identity, and you should celebrate it.’ “

After reading the pilot for Hacks, Indelicato immediately recognized its unique quality and appreciated the show’s representation of LGBTQ+ characters.

“They exist as queer people without any dramatic coming-out stories, which is a significant step forward for LGBTQ representation,” he noted. “Their queerness isn’t a source of drama; it simply is.”