Paul W. Downs

• Name — Paul W. Downs • Birth Name — Paul William Downs • Born — 21 November 1982 • Birthplace — New Jersey, U.S. • Education — Duke University • Occupation — * Writer • actor • director • Years Active — 2007–present • Children — 1

Downs was born in Morristown, New Jersey and raised in Sussex Borough, New Jersey. His middle name, William, is taken from his great-grandfather. He attended The Peck School for seventh and eighth grade where he performed in the Twelfth Night and won a drama award. For high school, he attended the Pingry School. Downs studied theater at Duke University where he performed improv comedy as a member of Duke University Improv (DUI).

Downs has been creating digital shorts with Lucia Aniello under the moniker Paulilu since the pair met at the Upright Citizens Brigade. In 2012, they made a web series called Paulilu Mixtape for Above Average Productions, a division of Broadway Video. From 2014–2019, Downs played Trey Pucker on the Comedy Central sitcom Broad City. Trey is a fitness instructor and the boss turned romantic interest of Abbi Abrams (played by Abbi Jacobson) at Soulstice. On April 29, 2015, it was confirmed that Downs and Aniello would be writing a female spin-off of 21 Jump Street. On June 22, 2015, the duo sold their script for Move That Body, a feature film acquired by Sony. Retitled Rough Night and released in 2017, Aniello directed, while Downs co-starred opposite Scarlett Johansson in the film. In 2016 he wrote and starred in his own 30-minute episode of the sketch show Netflix Presents: The Characters. On April 20, 2016 Downs starred in the Comedy Central miniseries Time Traveling Bong alongside Broad City co-star Ilana Glazer. In 2018, Downs co-starred in Netflix's summer comedy Like Father opposite Kristen Bell, Kelsey Grammer, and Seth Rogen. Downs was a showrunner and co-star in the HBO Max show Hacks. In 2021, Downs and Aniello struck a deal with Warner Bros. Television. On January 31, 2025, Downs appeared on season 17 of RuPaul's Drag Race as a guest judge. Downs had a cameo role in the eighth episode of The Studio, which premiered on May 6, 2025.

He lives in Los Angeles with Lucia Aniello, his wife and comedy partner. After having their wedding delayed for 16 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Downs and Aniello got married in September 2021 in an intimate ceremony in Italy. A week later, they shared the news of their marriage at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards during Aniello's acceptance speech after winning the award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series. They have a son, born in 2022.

What the record establishes about Paul W. Downs is recorded with the occupation television actor. Downs is recorded with the occupation film producer. Downs is recorded as actor, screenwriter, film producer and film director.