Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons recognizes the irony of receiving his first Emmy nomination for playing an awards -chasing industry figure. “We’re definitely in a life-imitates-art-imitates-life comedy conundrum here,” he tells The Hollywood Reporter , laughing. “It’s hilarious.”

The third season of the Kevin Hart shortform action-comedy Die Hart , subtitled Hart to Kill , sees Simmons portray egotistical director Jackson Pepper. “Of course, I’ve never encountered anybody like Jackson Pepper in Hollywood at all, so it was a complete piece of fiction for me,” he jokes. “Most of us in this business have egos. Sometimes you see bits and pieces of yourself in these unflattering characters and go, ‘Yeah, that’s a dick move, but I identify with where he’s coming from.’ It’s part of t

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