Jean Smart Rushed to ER Before Heart Surgery During 'Hacks' Filming

The actress details her 2023 health scare and the support from her co-stars during her recovery.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 4:56pm

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An abstract close-up photograph of a shattered glass surface reflecting a faint red light, conveying the fragility and high-stakes nature of an actor's unexpected health crisis.A shattered glass surface reflects the high-stakes medical emergency that threatened to derail production on the hit HBO series Hacks.Los Angeles Today

Jean Smart, the star of the HBO comedy series Hacks, revealed new details about her 2023 health scare that occurred while filming the show's third season. Smart said she began feeling unwell on set and was urged by her cardiologist to go to the emergency room, where she learned she needed triple bypass heart surgery. Smart's co-stars Paul W. Downs and Hannah Einbinder recalled being by her side during the unexpected medical crisis.

Why it matters

Smart's candid account of her heart surgery and the support from her Hacks family provides insight into the challenges actors can face when health issues arise during production. The story also highlights the importance of listening to one's body and seeking prompt medical attention, which likely saved Smart's life.

The details

Smart said she began feeling tired and experiencing pressure in her chest while filming a scene that required her to do a keg stand. After several takes, she decided to call her cardiologist, who immediately told her to go to the emergency room. At the hospital, Smart ran into her co-star Paul W. Downs, whose mother was also receiving treatment. Doctors determined Smart needed triple bypass surgery, which she underwent after consulting with multiple surgeons. Smart's co-star Hannah Einbinder was present when she woke up from the procedure.

  • In February 2023, news broke that the production of Hacks' third season had been halted after Smart underwent a heart procedure.
  • Smart began feeling unwell while filming a Season 3 episode called 'Yes, And' in early 2023.
  • After returning to set the following week, Smart decided to call her cardiologist, who told her to go to the emergency room immediately.
  • Hacks Season 3 resumed filming in March 2023 and premiered its third round of episodes the following year.
  • Hacks will celebrate the beginning of the end of its run with the premiere of Season 5 on Thursday, April 9, 2026.

The players

Jean Smart

The Emmy-winning actress who stars in the HBO comedy series Hacks and underwent unexpected heart surgery during the show's production in 2023.

Paul W. Downs

Smart's co-star and the co-creator of Hacks, who was at the hospital when Smart was preparing for her surgery.

Hannah Einbinder

Smart's Hacks co-star, who was present in Smart's hospital room when she woke up from her heart surgery.

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What they’re saying

“I often wonder how much Jean remembers because it was so stressful. Her children had just lost their father, and I think she didn't want to scare them, so they weren't there. Obviously, her husband wasn't there. I think she was waiting for her brother to fly in. And so I was there with her as she was talking to surgeons and hearing them say, 'You can't get a stent. You have to get a triple bypass.'”

— Paul W. Downs, Hacks Co-Creator

“I tell her this all the time. And for how much she injures herself, she is genuinely the clumsiest person I've ever met! Bing, bang, bong, running into a work truck, banging her head on some pole. She is constantly getting hurt and constantly pushing through it.”

— Hannah Einbinder, Hacks Co-Star

What’s next

Hacks Season 5 will premiere on Thursday, April 9, 2026, marking the beginning of the end for the acclaimed HBO comedy series.

The takeaway

Smart's health scare and the support she received from her Hacks family underscores the challenges actors can face when medical emergencies occur during production, as well as the importance of prioritizing one's health and listening to the body's warning signs.