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Across five seasons of Hacks, Christopher McDonald’s Marty Ghilain, the owner of the Vegas casino the Palmetto, has been a mainstay in Deborah Vance’s orbit. “That’s been a blessing,” McDonald says of his role, which just earned him his second Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. He was previously nominated for Hacks‘ second season. “It’s great, great writing, and that’s what we all strive for as actors. They started writing to me and for me because it was just a beautiful journey, a beautiful arc.”
That journey took a recognizable turn in Season 3’s golf-centric episode, “Par for the Course.” Given that golf played a legendary role in McDonald landing his iconic role as Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore, “There was a little competition going on, I got to say,” McDonald laughs as he reflects on playing golf with the crew in between takes. “They’re setting up the shot, which takes a minute with lighting… so you’re standing around swinging that club a lot. You just kind of ding it out there, and then one of the grips steps up and crushes it out there, too. It was just a lot of fun.”
For McDonald, playing against Jean Smart’s Deborah Vance across five seasons has been a career highlight. “She has one of the great laughs,” McDonald says warmly. “Her delivery is spot-on, and she can just play anything, which is really fun to play opposite of. I just react to the great Jean Smart.”
McDonald feels the heart of the series always belonged to the bonds between characters, whether it be Marty and Deborah, or the central storyline focusing on Deborah and her writer Ava. “That’s the love story of this whole five seasons,” he notes, praising Smart and co-star Hannah Einbinder, who plays Ava. “Marty has a heart of gold, especially in the later seasons. He really cares about her, and that’s all an actor can hope and pray for: that kind of connection between two characters.”
McDonald is nominated in the same category with the late Rob Reiner, for the latter’s performance in the fourth season of The Bear. McDonald previously worked with Reiner two decades ago, when Reiner directed him in Rumor Has It. “He was one of the nicest, warmest people I’ve ever had the chance to work with, and just a beautiful human being. I worked with his father, Carl, too… He made such a big imprint, and it’s a celebration of how great an actor, producer, director, and writer he was. I celebrate that, too.”
McDonald remains deeply grateful for the recognition and the journey Hacks afforded him over five seasons, and praises his competition, including Reiner and Michael J. Fox, the latter of whom is nominated for his performance in Shrinking. Looking forward to the Emmys ceremony in September, McDonald says, “Would I love to stand up there with that trophy in my hand? I’ll be honest with you, I’d love to. But at the same time, I know my place, too. It’s been such a real gift.”
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