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The Peck School Alumni Spotlight
Paul Downs ’96: FROM THE PECK STAGE TO COMEDY STARDOM
By Taylor (Worthington) Williams '03, Alumni Relations Associate
The Peck School, a K-8 in Morristown, NJ, has seen many talented students who have gone on to achieve great success in their chosen fields.
One such alumnus who has made his mark in the entertainment world is Paul Downs, a successful actor, writer, producer, and director.
As the “new kid” in middle school—joining a seventh grade class that had mainly been together since kindergarten—Downs was pleasantly surprised by how welcoming every person was.
His first memory of Peck was visiting before seventh grade; he walked into Lindenwold and was greeted by the school nurse, Mrs. Harriett Spaven, with her room full of pig figurines!
Feeling instantly accepted by his peers, Downs jumped headfirst into school performances, starring in the eighth-grade play Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Even then, he remembers taking acting roles very seriously, and convinced his mom to design and make a spe cial costume for the show.
Thriving in theater at Peck, Downs was awarded the Drama Prize at his eighth-grade graduation.
His teachers and parents recognized his talent early on; he had a natural flair for acting, and Downs and his mom would spend weekends traveling to and from New York City for open casting call auditions.
His parents always supported Paul’s education, as they drove two hours to and from Peck daily and encouraged his love of acting. Without this support, Downs says he wouldn’t be where he is today.
After graduating from Peck, Paul chose The Pingry School because of its impressive theater program and sophisticated productions. Afterwards he attended Duke University and became part of the highly prestigious DUI Improv Comedy group.
Downs fondly remembers the charity show that was performed every year featuring cameos from the Duke basketball team.
“My freshman year, I did a scene with [former professional basketball player] Shane Battier, who was very good at improv—and basketball,” he recalls.
After graduation, Downs moved to Los Angeles to pursue his acting, producing, and writing career. His breakthrough performance was in the wildly popular TV show Broad City, where he played Trey Pucker.
In addition to acting in the show, Downs was a writer and producer. He is co-creator, writer, director, and showrunner for the HBO Max hit show, Hacks, starring Jean Smart. Downs plays Jimmy, the calculating agent of the two leading characters.
Downs credits his education with helping develop characters, the part of the process he says he spends most of his time on. While at Peck, he remembers how the English curriculum focused on creative writing and storytelling.
“Writers and storytellers bring their own unique perspectives, experiences, and creativity to the task,” he says, “and that’s what truly shapes the characters in their works.”
He spends most of his time writing each character.
“When we write dialogue, we’re trying to be the character. I think that’s why co-creators Jen Statsky, Lucia Aniello, and I all feel like dialogue is one of our strongest suits, because we come from doing sketch and improv and standup. And so it’s almost like you do an impression of the character when you’re pitching. And then when you’re writing, you’re talking in their voice, but it’s another thing to inhabit the character and to say all the lines and to memorize all the lines and to live in it.”
Downs, Aniello, and Statsky were honored by receiving the prestigious Peabody Award in 2021 for their work on Hacks. Additionally, Downs has been nominated for Emmys, winning Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 2021 for Hacks.
“I always wanted to be a comedic actor,” says Downs. “I always wanted to be Robin Williams. I think…you’re only as good an actor as you are a listener and a scene partner. It’s really about you focusing on somebody else. I think that was the reason I found stand-up to be so challenging—because it is just you.
And so when I started doing improv, I started learning the techniques of improv about listening and reacting and saying “Yes, and…”—it was so much more fun because you’re tickling somebody else in the scene, and you’re still getting to do a live performance. You’re seeing partners and the people you’re collaborating with laugh. And so, ultimately, I just preferred collaborating. It was just so much more fulfilling.”
Downs’ success as an actor is a testament to his multifaceted talent, hard work, and perseverance. He has remained true to his craft, always pushing himself to improve and take on new challenges.
His advice for students interested in performing arts? Immerse yourself, and take advantage of extracurricular activities!
The Peck School is a K-8, co-ed, independent school in Morristown, NJ. www.peckschool.org
We set the standard for excellence in K-8 education, where academic preparation and character development intersect powerfully in the learning experience. By embedding consideration of others, service, and belonging in all that we do, we are designing an integrated approach to education that develops curious and disciplined learners who positively shape the world.
