Paul Giamatti has this way of looking like he’s perpetually about to have a nervous breakdown, and honestly, that’s why we love him. Whether he's a wine-snob novelist in a movie or a ruthless U.S. Attorney on a prestige drama, the man vibrates with a specific kind of "I haven't slept in three days" energy. Most people know him from Sideways or The Holdovers, but if you haven’t dug into Paul Giamatti TV shows, you’re missing the actual meat of his career.
He doesn't just show up; he consumes the frame. From 18th-century politics to high-stakes financial warfare in New York, Giamatti has spent decades proving that he’s the king of the "brilliant but deeply flawed" archetype.
The Billions Era: Chuck Rhoades and the Art of the Grudge
For seven seasons, Giamatti played Chuck Rhoades in Billions, and it’s arguably the performance that redefined him for the modern TV audience. Chuck isn't a hero. He’s a guy who uses the law as a scalpel to settle personal scores. Watching Giamatti go toe-to-toe with Damian Lewis (and later Corey Stoll) was like watching two predators in a cage.
What made Chuck interesting wasn’t just the legal maneuvering. It was the vulnerability. Giamatti leaned into the character’s BDSM subplots and his complicated, often pathetic relationship with his father. He made a powerful man look small, and a small man look terrifying. You’ve probably seen the memes, but the actual performance is a masterclass in controlled rage.
John Adams: The Gold Standard of Miniseries
If you want to see Giamatti at his most "unfiltered," you go back to 2008. HBO’s John Adams is, frankly, the best thing he’s ever done on a small screen. He plays the second President of the United States not as a marble statue, but as a prickly, vain, and incredibly stubborn human being.
💡 You might also like: Charlize Theron Sweet November: Why This Panned Rom-Com Became a Cult Favorite
Most historical dramas make the Founding Fathers sound like they’re reciting poetry. Giamatti’s Adams sounds like a guy who’s annoyed that nobody is listening to him. He captured the isolation of a man who was too smart for his own good and too honest to be liked. It won him an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a SAG Award, and if you haven’t binged it yet, you’re doing yourself a disservice.
The Weird Side: 30 Coins and Lodge 49
Lately, Giamatti has been getting... weird. And it's fantastic.
Take 30 Coins (30 Monedas), the Spanish horror series from Álex de la Iglesia. Giamatti joined in season 2 as Christian Barbrow, a billionaire who is basically a Bond villain mixed with a cult leader. He’s out here trying to summon the "Eye of God" and hop dimensions. It’s hammy, it’s over-the-top, and he looks like he’s having the time of his life.
Then there’s Lodge 49. He didn't just act in it (as the voice of L. Marvin Metz); he executive produced it. The show is a "modern fable" about a surfer who joins a fraternal order. It’s a cult classic for a reason—it’s hazy, philosophical, and deeply weird. Giamatti’s involvement here shows his true taste: he loves the fringe, the eccentric, and the stories that don't fit into a neat box.
📖 Related: Charlie Charlie Are You Here: Why the Viral Demon Myth Still Creeps Us Out
The 2026 Shift: Starfleet Academy and Beyond
Right now, in 2026, we’re seeing a total pivot. Giamatti has officially entered the Star Trek universe. In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, he plays Nus Braka, a Klingon/Tellarite space pirate.
Yes, Paul Giamatti is a space pirate.
Working alongside Holly Hunter, he’s playing the "big bad" of the first season. It’s a recurring role that allows him to chew the scenery in heavy prosthetics. It’s the kind of role that feels like a reward for a long career of playing stressed-out lawyers and professors. He’s finally getting to play with the big sci-fi toys.
A Quick Look at the Deep Cuts
If you’re a completionist, you have to track down his guest spots.
👉 See also: Cast of Troubled Youth Television Show: Where They Are in 2026
- Downton Abbey: He played Harold Levinson, Cora’s "playboy" brother. Seeing Giamatti’s American energy crash into the stiff upper lips of the British aristocracy was pure comedy gold.
- Inside Amy Schumer: He played God. Literally.
- BoJack Horseman: He voiced "American Actor Paul Giamatti" playing BoJack in a TV movie. The meta-layers were incredible.
Why Paul Giamatti TV Shows Work
The thing about Giamatti is that he never "phones it in." Whether he’s a man in a sleeping bag in an early episode of NYPD Blue or the lead in a $100 million miniseries, he brings this desperate, human authenticity. He’s the everyman who thinks he’s better than everyone else, and we love watching that delusion crack.
How to Start Your Binge
- Watch John Adams first. It’s the foundation of his prestige TV legacy.
- Move to Billions Season 1. Just to see the chemistry between him and the rest of the cast.
- Check out 30 Coins Season 2. If you want to see him go full-tilt villain.
- Catch up on Starfleet Academy. It’s the most talked-about thing on Paramount+ right now for a reason.
Stop overlooking the TV work. The movies are great, sure, but the small screen is where Giamatti actually gets to breathe—and usually, yell at someone while he's at it.
Next Steps for Giamatti Fans
To truly appreciate the range of Giamatti’s television career, start by streaming the John Adams miniseries on Max to see his award-winning historical portrayal. Once you've finished that, jump into the first three seasons of Billions to witness his evolution into a modern power player. For his most current work, check out Star Trek: Starfleet Academy on Paramount+ to see his transformation into the villainous Nus Braka.