| Carl Clemons-Hopkins | |
| Birth Place: | Lithonia, Georgia, U.S. |
| Education: | University of the Arts (BFA) |
| Occupation: | Actor |
| Known For: | Hacks |
| Years Active: | 2013–present |
Carl Clemons-Hopkins is an American actor, best known for portraying Marcus on the Max comedy-drama series Hacks (2021–present). They were nominated for the 2021 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for the role.
Clemons-Hopkins was born in Lithonia, Georgia and attended high school in Snellville, Georgia.[1]
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.[2] Their performances in 2016 included Time Is On Our Side, in which they were hailed as "immensely likable and sympathetic,"[3] and Richard III.[4] In September 2016, they began performing as an original cast member in the new Chicago company of Hamilton.[5]
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."[6]
In 2021, Clemons-Hopkins began starring on the HBO Max comedy-drama series Hacks.[7] For the role, they received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.[8] They starred in the slasher film Candyman, which was released on August 27, 2021.[9] 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![10]
Prior to being cast in Hacks, Clemons-Hopkins had planned to stop acting and was actively preparing to apply for business school.[11]
Clemons-Hopkins is queer and non-binary.[12] [13] They use they/them and he/him pronouns.[14] [15]
| 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 |
| 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–present | Hacks | Marcus | Main role, 18 episodes | |
| 2023 | Narj (voice) | Episode: "I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee" |
| 2016 | Hamilton | Aaron Burr, George Washington | CIBC Theatre | |
| 2022 | Lessons in Survival: 1971 | James Baldwin | Vineyard Theatre |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hacks | [16] | ||||
| 2022 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | [17] |