Carl Clemons-Hopkins is an American actor, best known for portraying Marcus Vaughan on the Emmy award winning Max comedy-drama series Hacks (2021–2026).
For this role, they were nominated for the 2021 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, and for multiple Actor Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
Early life Clemons-Hopkins was born in Lithonia, Georgia and attended high school in Snellville, Georgia.
Career Clemons-Hopkins has acted in numerous stage plays. In 2014, they were nominated for a Barrymore Award for Excellence in Theater, which honors Philadelphia-area theater productions, in the category of "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical" for their performance in Little Shop of Horrors. Their performances in 2016 included Time Is On Our Side, in which they were hailed as "immensely likable and sympathetic," and Richard III. In September 2016, they began performing as an original cast member in the Chicago company of Hamilton.
Clemons-Hopkins began pursuing television and film opportunities after watching the 2016 film Moonlight. After seeing the film, they wrote in their journal, "I know there will never be another Moonlight, but if there’s another opportunity like this, I want to be ready."
In 2021, Clemons-Hopkins began starring on the HBO Max comedy-drama series Hacks. For the role, they received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. They starred in the slasher film Candyman, which was released on August 27, 2021. In 2022, they starred as James Baldwin opposite Crystal Dickinson as Nikki Giovanni in Lessons in Survival: 1971 at the Vineyard Theatre. The play follows when Giovanni interviewed Baldwin on the TV show Soul!
Clemons-Hopkins made their Broadway debut, originating the role of Brooks Duncan, in the world premiere of the Tony Award nominated The Balustershttps://www.manhattantheatreclub.com/shows/2025-26-season/the-balusters/ in spring of 2026.https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/cast-the-balusters-broadway-1236331889/
Prior to being cast in Hacks, Clemons-Hopkins had contemplated leaving acting to pursue a career in business and was actively preparing to apply for business school.
Personal life Clemons-Hopkins is queer and non-binary. They use they/them and he/him pronouns.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2013 La méduse rouge Window Guard 2015 Christmas Dreams Musician 2 2018 Canal Street Bobby 2019 Range Runners Howard 2021 Candyman Jameson 2023 The Mattachine Family Ted The Beanie Bubble Jeremy 2026 Via Negativa Tim Premiered at 2026 Tribeca Film Festival
Television Year Title Role Notes 2018 Chicago P.D. DEA Agent Thomas Episode: "Rabbit Hole" The Chi Jean 3 episodes 2020 Chicago Med Sean Richter 4 episodes Next Harrison Cole Episode: "FILE #7" 2021–2026 Hacks Marcus Vaughan Main role, 47 episodes2023Star Trek: Lower DecksNarj (voice)Episode: "I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee" Enigma Variations Noah Pre-Production
Theater +YearProductionRoleVenue2014Little Shop of Horrors Voice of Audrey IIBristol Riverside Theatre2016HamiltonAaron Burr, George WashingtonCIBC Theatre2022Lessons in Survival: 1971James BaldwinVineyard Theatre2022The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washingtonhttps://www.steppenwolf.org/mizmartha Davy/Various RolesSteppenwolf Theatre Company2026The Balustershttps://www.manhattantheatreclub.com/shows/2025-26-season/the-balusters Brooks DuncanSamuel J. Friedman Theatre
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 2014Barrymore AwardsOutstanding Supporting Performance (Actor) in a MusicalLittle Shop of Horrors (musical)https://www.phillyburbs.com/story/entertainment/local/2014/08/29/riverside-gets-5-barrymore-nominations/17700441007/2021 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Hacks 2022Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series2023Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series2024 Astra TV Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy https://theastras.com/the-2024-astra-tv-awards-nominations-have-arrived/2024Critics Choice Awards Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema and Television Supporting Performance Award – Series https://www.criticschoice.com/2024/06/03/carl-clemons-hopkins-supporting-performance-award/2025Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series2025 Astra TV Awards Best Cast Ensemble in a Streaming Comedy Serieshttps://theastras.com/a-complete-list-of-the-2025-astra-tv-awards-nominations/2026Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series2026Dorian AwardsOutstanding Broadway EnsembleThe Balustershttps://www.galeca.org/doriantheaterawards/2026 Astra TV Awards Streaming Comedy EnsembleHackshttps://theastras.com/2026-astra-tv-awards-nominations-are-here/
Notes
References
External links