The Full Star-Studded Cast Of Hacks Season 4: Every Returning Star And 13 New Guest Cameos Revealed

The critically acclaimed, Emmy-winning Max series Hacks returned for its highly anticipated fourth season, bringing back the iconic dynamic between comedy legend Deborah Vance and her young, ambitious writer, Ava Daniels. As of December 2025, the season has aired, and the buzz continues to focus on the expanded ensemble, which features a mix of beloved returning characters and an incredible roster of new, high-profile guest stars. The latest installment dove deep into the creative and personal fallout from the Season 3 finale's shocking twist, requiring a cast that could handle both the dramatic tension and the sharp, signature humor of the show. The fourth season was a masterclass in character-driven comedy, focusing on the strained yet unbreakable bond between Deborah and Ava as they navigated the cutthroat world of late-night television. With Deborah Vance now at the helm of her own late-night show, the new setting naturally introduced a fresh batch of hilarious, industry-insider characters and a stunning list of celebrity cameos that made *Hacks Season 4* one of the most talked-about seasons yet.

The Core Duo: Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder Biographies

The heart of *Hacks* has always been the electric chemistry between its two leads, Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder. Their performances in Season 4 continued to earn critical praise, cementing their status as one of television’s most compelling duos.

Jean Smart as Deborah Vance

• Full Name: Jean Elizabeth Smart
• Born: September 13, 1951
• Hometown: Seattle, Washington, U.S.
• Career Highlights: Smart is a veteran actress with a celebrated career spanning stage and screen, known for her versatility in both comedy and drama.
• Major Awards: She is one of the most decorated actresses in television history, holding seven Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. She notably won multiple Emmys for her roles in *Hacks*, *Fargo*, and *Watchmen*.
• Training: Smart trained in acting at the University of Washington.

As Deborah Vance, Smart portrays a legendary Las Vegas comedian fighting for a late-career resurgence and navigating a complex, often adversarial, mentorship with her young writer. Her portrayal is a cornerstone of the Max series.

Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels

• Full Name: Hannah Marie Einbinder
• Born: May 21, 1995
• Hometown: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Career Highlights: Einbinder is an LA-based stand-up comedian, writer, and actress who gained widespread recognition for her breakout role in *Hacks*.
• Major Awards/Nominations: Her performance as the aspiring comedy writer Ava Daniels has earned her multiple Emmy and Critics' Choice Award nominations.
• Background: She is known for her distinctive stand-up comedy style and was born to Jewish parents.

Ava Daniels is the young, sharp-witted comedy writer whose career—and life—becomes inextricably linked to Deborah Vance's. In Season 4, Ava’s actions from the previous finale create a significant "rift" in their relationship, forcing them to find a new, tense creative footing as they launch the late-night show.

The Essential Returning Ensemble Cast

The success of *Hacks* is not just in its leads but in its stellar supporting cast, many of whom returned for Season 4 to continue their hilarious and often heartbreaking storylines. These characters provide the crucial environment of the comedy world that Deborah and Ava operate within.

• Carl Clemons-Hopkins as Marcus: Deborah’s loyal, but often stressed, CEO of her management company. Marcus's struggles to balance his professional duties with his personal life continue to be a major subplot.
• Megan Stalter as Kayla Schaeffer: The wildly incompetent but endlessly entertaining assistant to Jimmy LuSaque. Kayla's bizarre office antics and inappropriate behavior are a highlight of every episode.
• Paul W. Downs as Jimmy LuSaque: Deborah and Ava’s beleaguered manager, who is also one of the show’s co-creators. Jimmy's constant professional headaches and passive-aggressive demeanor are central to the show's industry satire.
• Rose Abdoo as Josefina: Deborah’s long-suffering, devoted, and highly efficient house manager.
• Mark Indelicato as Damien: Deborah’s personal assistant, who often provides a grounded, youthful perspective on the chaos surrounding the star.
• Kaitlin Olson as DJ Vance: Deborah's eccentric and often troubled daughter, whose relationship with her mother remains a complex source of both conflict and love.

New Faces and Shocking Guest Stars of Season 4

One of the most exciting aspects of *Hacks Season 4* was the influx of new talent, particularly the impressive list of guest stars and cameos that brought the world of Deborah Vance's new late-night show to life. Max confirmed a total of 13 new guest stars for the season.

The New Recurring and Guest Roles

The new season introduced characters that directly impacted Deborah’s professional environment, especially in the corporate and creative spheres of the late-night talk show.

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• Julianne Nicholson as "Dance Mom": The Emmy Award-winning actress joined the cast in a highly memorable role as a character simply known as "Dance Mom." Nicholson’s performance provided a dose of "goofy gravitas" and was a standout guest spot in the season, particularly in Episode 5.
• Michaela Watkins as Stacey: Watkins plays Stacey, an HR representative at the TV network that hosts Deborah's new late-night show. Her character is involved in the corporate bureaucracy and is tasked with managing the often-unruly staff, including Ava.
• Helen Hunt as Winnie Landell: The Oscar and Emmy winner appeared as Winnie Landell, a significant figure who interacts with the core characters, adding another layer of celebrity and industry weight to the season.
• Tony Goldwyn as Bob Lipka: Goldwyn played Bob Lipka, a character who became entangled in the various professional and personal drama surrounding Deborah’s new venture.
• Matt Oberg: He joined the cast as a writer on Deborah Vance’s new late-night show, providing a new dynamic to the writing room scenes.
• Sandy Honig: A new addition to the cast, whose role added more fresh comedic energy to the ensemble.
• Bresha Webb, Robby Hoffman, and Eric Balfour: These acclaimed actors were also confirmed as new guest stars for the season, further expanding the world of the show.

Celebrity Cameos and Industry Insiders

Episode 5 of *Hacks Season 4* was particularly packed with celebrity appearances, leveraging the new late-night talk show setting for some meta-comedy and industry satire. These cameos provided some of the season's biggest laughs and cemented the show's topical authority within the comedy landscape.

• Kristen Bell: Appeared as herself, adding a major celebrity name to the list of guest appearances.
• Jimmy Kimmel: The real-life late-night host also made a cameo as himself, offering a humorous nod to the industry Deborah Vance is now trying to conquer.
• Antoni Porowski: The *Queer Eye* star made a memorable appearance in the same star-studded episode.
• Pete Hammond and Hollywood Journalists: Several real-life Hollywood journalists and critics appeared as themselves, blurring the line between the show's fictional world and the actual media landscape.

The Storyline: A New Era of Tension and Comedy

The *Hacks Season 4* plot was driven by the fallout from Ava's betrayal—blackmailing Deborah to secure the head writer position on her new late-night show. This created a profound "new rift" in their professional and personal relationship, moving the narrative away from the mentorship dynamic and into a more competitive and tense partnership. The season explored the challenges of launching a new, high-stakes television program, forcing Deborah and Ava to navigate the corporate politics of the network and the creative demands of a daily show. The writers skillfully crafted Deborah’s "revenge" and the constant, subtle power struggle between the two leads. The storyline culminated in a significant trip to Singapore for the finale, showcasing the global reach of Deborah's career and the high-stakes nature of their professional journey. This season successfully utilized its expanded cast to satirize the entertainment industry, from the corporate HR department (Michaela Watkins’ Stacey) to the bizarre world of Hollywood parents (Julianne Nicholson’s Dance Mom). The introduction of new characters and the elevation of returning ones ensured that *Hacks Season 4* remained a fresh, unique, and deeply funny exploration of female ambition, generational gaps, and the business of comedy. The show continues to be a must-watch Max series, thanks in no small part to its incredible cast.

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