7 Actors Who Need to Appear on HBO Max’s Best Emmy-Winning Comedy Before It Ends This Year

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Rachel Sennott's Maia looking up in I Love LA.

Published Feb 19, 2026, 6:54 AM EST

Gabrielle Ulubay is a Music writer at Collider. She has previously been published in The New York Times, Bustle, HuffPost Personal, and other magazines, and wrote at Marie Claire for nearly three years. Her interests have spanned film, politics, women's lifestyle, and, of course, music. She has a BA in history from Northeastern University and a MA in Film and Screen Media from University College Cork, Ireland, which have facilitated her passion for using art and media to analyze the sociopolitical landscape. Born and raised in New Jersey, she has since spent time in Boston, Ireland, Cuba, and Montreal, and currently lives in New York City. You can find highlights of her work at gabrielleulubay.com.

HBO Max has a long history of crafting edgy, popular television that helps define the cultural zeitgeist, from The Sopranos to True Detective to Girls. Since its premiere in 2021, Hacks has joined the ranks of these shows, having won a slew of Emmy Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards, and more. And while the show is certainly beloved for its clever writing and its original mix of comedy and drama, the true heart of its success lies in its actors’ performances.

In Hacks, Jean Smart stars as a washed-up stand-up comedian named Deborah Vance who begins working with a young writer, Ava Daniels (played by Hannah Einbinder), to create new material. The unlikely pair navigates personal and professional highs and lows throughout the show’s four-season run, including a comedy tour, a stint on late-night television, and a variety of personal mishaps. Smart and Einbinder, along with their co-stars, shine with their chemistry and their ability to convey emotional nuance, and their performances are enhanced by the supporting actors working alongside them, like Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs.

Now that Hacks is approaching its fifth and final season, fans are wondering which pop culture personalities will be appearing alongside this standout cast. Stars such as Jimmy Kimmel, Julianne Nicholson, and Mario Lopez have already made cameos on the show, opening the door for a variety of possibilities moving forward. Ahead are the actors who’d more than hold their own in this beloved show, along with the roles they’d be perfect for.

7 Dan Levy

Dan Levy as Marc Dreyfus sitting and talking to someone offscreen in Good Grief

Over the course of the past decade, Dan Levy has become a favorite son of comedy, particularly in the wake of his role as David Rose on Schitt’s Creek. The son of legendary comedic actor Eugene Levy, Dan has made waves not only as an actor but also as a producer and director, consistently demonstrating his propensity for witty, character-driven humor. He’s even dabbled in drama and dark comedy, particularly through his role in The Idol.

Like the other comedians on this list, Levy would delight fans by playing himself on Hacks. He could, perhaps, negotiate with Deborah about the possibility of her starring in one of his new projects, or he could tell her that she’s long been a comedic inspiration to him. Conversely, he would also thrive as a new character on the show, perhaps revisiting a personality similar to David Rose’s spoiled, flamboyant one.

6 Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore holds a mug on 'The Drew Barrymore Show.'

Jimmy Kimmel’s appearance on Hacks was a popular one. The late-night host played himself, threatening Deborah in the parking lot after she attempted to steal his celebrity guest. In the same vein, fellow talk show host Drew Barrymore could make a cameo on Hacks in which she interviews Deborah or even warns her to stay off her daytime talk show turf. Just as Kimmel stepped into a cutthroat caricature of himself that differs from his public persona, it would be amusing to see Barrymore depart from her famously earnest reputation, if only for a moment.

Barrymore would be well-prepared to appear in the comedy, too. The actress, who comes from a long line of film and theater royalty, reigned as the queen of romantic comedy throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s. She starred in a number of Adam Sandler vehicles, such as 50 First Dates and The Wedding Singer, along with action flicks like Charlie’s Angels. Thus, she certainly possesses the acting chops to perform alongside the likes of Smart.

5 Kate Winslet

At first, acclaimed British actress Kate Winslet may seem like an odd choice for a show like Hacks. However, Winslet has starred in a number of comedies, including the beloved Christmas movie The Holiday. More importantly, though, Winslet starred alongside Jean Smart in Mare of Easttown, which was one of the most commercially and critically successful shows in HBO history.

In Mare of Easttown, Smart and Winslet played mother and daughter, sharing a chemistry that was at turns touching and wildly funny. Seeing the two share the screen once again would be a treat for television aficionados everywhere, particularly if the actresses get to enjoy long, dialogue-heavy scenes together. Winslet could, perhaps, play an overtired publicist tasked with doing damage control for Deborah. Having a stressed, overworked demeanor that contrasts with Smart’s lighter, more flippant attitude would hearken to the dynamic the two shared in their last collaboration. Winslet’s appearance on Hacks would also reunite her with Julianne Nicholson, another Mare of Easttown veteran.

4 Rachel Brosnahan

Rachel Brosnahan's Midge Maisel performing on the Gordon Ford Show in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Hacks boasts feminism as one of its central themes. But rather than reduce itself to simple lessons or political proselytizing, the show explores the nuances of feminism in action. For instance, while Deborah is a feminist icon in her own right because of her dogged pursuit of success, she also has some problematic views because of the era she grew up in. Furthermore, she accepts certain levels of misogyny because she perceives them as normal and inevitable, whereas the younger, more political Ava challenges her constantly. In this way, Hacks is a unique, revolutionary take on women in comedy — but before we had Deborah and Ava, there was The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

While The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s protagonist, Miriam “Midge” Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan), pursues comedy a whole generation before Deborah Vance, she deals with many of the same struggles, including sexism, failed personal relationships, and a challenging transition from stand-up to television. Plus, like Deborah, Midge began her successful comedy career after her husband left her unexpectedly.

Of course, it wouldn’t work, age-wise, for Rachel Brosnahan to appear on Hacks as Midge herself. However, Brosnahan’s appearance in the show as a fellow comedian or writer would be a nod to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and its similarities to Hacks. Brosnahan could even be given lines about comedy or romance that cheekily reference Midge without directly mentioning the show itself.

3 Marcello Hernández

Ayo Edebiri and Marcello Hernández sitting in a movie theater holding Dune 2 popcorn buckets in a Saturday Night Live skit.

Deborah made a name for herself through stand-up comedy, so it would make sense for a fellow professional comedian to join her on the show. And as one of the most popular cast members of Saturday Night Live today, Marcello Hernández would certainly fit the bill as a guest star. His cameo could range from a brief vote of confidence for Deborah to an onstage encounter.

Another interesting avenue Hacks could take with Hernández is a play on his typical comedic material. Hernández, who is of Dominican and Cuban descent, often talks about his Latinidad in his routines, which could create an interesting dynamic with the politically correct yet painfully awkward Ava. Hernández’s comedy also draws from his ability to act like a “lovable chaos agent,” per Rolling Stone — a quality that would be more than welcome on a show as chaotic as Hacks.

2 Odessa A’zion

Over the last few years, Odessa A’zion has made waves with her appearances in I Love L.A., Marty Supreme, and Ghosts. The Sacramento-born actress has channeled her charm into strong characters who, even when peripheral, steal scenes with their comedic timing. Over the course of her decade-plus-long career, she has been nominated for over a dozen awards, including a New York Film Critics Circle Award and an Actors Award.

Given her ability to bridge comedy and drama, A’zion would be an incredible fit for Hacks. Like Meg Stalter, A’zion has an impressive ability to carry over-the-top characters with deadpan delivery, making her a particularly interesting choice as a potential client who gives Jimmy LuSaque Jr. (Downs) and even Kayla Schaefer (Stalter) a run for their money. In the same vein, A’zion would share hilarious banter with Jimmy and, as a comedian, would thrive alongside Einbinder and Smart.

1 Rachel Sennott

Rachel Sennott at Sundance 2025 for Bunnylovr

Much like her I Love L.A. co-star, Rachel Sennott would shine in Hacks. Whether starring as a Gen Z brat in Bodies Bodies Bodies, a comedy legend in Saturday Night, or herself in the highly publicized Charli XCX mockumentary The Moment, Sennott has more than proven her comedy chops. Furthermore, her It Girl reputation, amplified by her friendship with pop star Charli XCX, has lent her a star power that would go a long way in Hacks, whether she played herself or a whole new character.

If cast as the latter, Sennott would work well as Ava’s rival or as a comedian who takes aim at Deborah. Sennott would even be a compelling romantic interest for Ava. After all, she’s proven her chops as a flawed yet hilarious partner in Emma Seligman’s Shiva Baby and even Sam Levinson’s The Idol.