Jean Smart turned heads on the red carpet this week as she stepped out at the 2026 Roundabout Gala in New York City, accompanied by her boyfriend Joe Pacheco.
The Hacks star, 74, looked effortlessly elegant at the star-studded event held at the Ziegfeld Ballroom, where she posed for photos with the theatre professional in a rare public appearance together.
Jean wore a sophisticated black evening gown featuring a dramatic off-the-shoulder neckline and tiered ruffle detailing at the skirt. She completed the timeless look with statement black earrings and soft, glamorous makeup that highlighted her bright blue eyes.
Her blonde hair was swept up into a polished updo, adding to the classic Hollywood feel of the ensemble.
Jean appeared relaxed and happy as she walked the red carpet alongside Joe, who looked dapper in a classic black tuxedo with a crisp white shirt and black tie.
The pair smiled warmly for photographers, with Joe placing a supportive arm around the Emmy-winning actress as they posed together at the gala celebrating the renowned Roundabout Theatre Company.
© FilmMagicJean thanked Joe when she accepted her second award at the Golden Globes in January. “‘I’m one of the luckiest people in, not this room, in this entire business, and it does not go unappreciated,’ Smart said as she accepted the award. ‘I have the best bosses, I have the best showrunners, I have the best cast, led by the brilliant Hannah Einbinder, and I have… my kids, Joe, I mean, I am just surrounded by so much support,” she said.
The outing offered fans a rare glimpse of Jean’s personal life, as the actress typically keeps her relationships out of the public spotlight.
© GettyJean’s appearance with Joe comes several years after the death of her husband, actor Richard Gilliland, who passed away unexpectedly in 2021.
The couple had been married for more than three decades and shared two children together. Jean has previously spoken about how difficult the loss was, describing Richard as the love of her life.
“Losing your mate of 35 years, I mean, literally half my life I lived with him is just kind of indescribable,” she revealed on Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?
© Kevin Mazur/Getty Images“And it just, you go through this period of thinking it’s just not real,’ she added. ‘It’s just this isn’t real. You know? This just doesn’t make any sense.”
In recent years, however, the actress has slowly returned to public events and social occasions while continuing her thriving career.
Jean is currently enjoying one of the most successful periods of her long career thanks to her role as stand-up comedian Deborah Vance in the critically acclaimed HBO series Hacks.
The performance has earned her multiple Emmy Awards and introduced her to a new generation of fans.
Having first risen to fame in the 1980s with roles in television series such as Designing Women, Jean has built a career spanning more than four decades across film, television and theatre.
Her recent success with Hacks has been widely praised as one of Hollywood’s most impressive late-career renaissances.
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