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As you settle in to watch FX’s new collaboration with Ryan Murphy, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr & Carolyn Bessette, you’ll likely recognize Naomi Watts portraying Jackie Onassis Kennedy and Sarah Pidgeon, known for her role in I Know What You Did Last Summer, captivating audiences as Carolyn Bessette. However, the actor bringing John F. Kennedy Jr. to life might not be immediately familiar, and there’s a story behind that.
The historical drama, spanning its initial three episodes, skillfully draws you into the compelling real-life narrative of Carolyn Bessette, a prominent fashion publicist at Calvin Klein during the 1990s, and her romance with John F. Kennedy Jr., the son of the legendary JFK and Jackie O.
While the series quickly establishes the deep connection between the two central figures, it also paints a vivid picture of JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette as individuals. The actors stepping into these iconic roles of the 90s bring their own unique flair, although one of them is making his debut in the spotlight.
Here’s what you need to know about Paul Anthony Kelly, the rising star poised to become Hollywood’s next big name, and his journey to this breakout role.
Who Plays JFK Jr. in Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette?
Paul Anthony Kelly, who takes on the role of John F. Kennedy Jr. in FX’s Love Story, is a fresh face in the world of Hollywood and screen acting. This project marks Kelly’s first significant acting role, setting the stage for a promising career.
According to his IMDB page, prior to starting production on this series for FX, Kelly only appeared in two episodes of a show called Body Language in 2010, acting as a model. His next role is slated to be in The Venery of Samantha Bird, playing a character named “Spencer Duffy.”
On Instagram, Kelly — who goes by his married name of Paul Anthony Widziszewski-Kelly, having hyphenated to add his wife’s name — has kept his life pretty private, only sharing snaps from his travels and model work over the years.
In 2024, the actor and model shared a photo of a highlighted script from a production he was part of in Los Angeles, marking his years of work in the theater scene prior to being discovered for the production of JFK Jr. and Bessette’s love story. Around the same time, he shared a behind-the-scenes look at one photoshoot where he shared tips on mental health care.
Nearly a full year later, Kelly announced his casting in Love Story by sharing a screengrab to his Instagram page, posting and then ghosting until he returned to the app with some snaps around New York while filming the series.
In December, he shared pics from his sitdown with Interview Mag, which he remarked as his first professional interview. Since then, Kelly has steadily been promoting the show, which is now out for fans to enjoy. And we predict that they are going to enjoy it.
The first three episodes of Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette are now streaming on Hulu. New episodes premiere Thursdays on FX and Hulu.
If you’re new to Hulu, you can get started with a 30-day free trial on the streamer’s basic (with ads) plan. After the trial period, you’ll pay $10.99/month. If you want to upgrade to Hulu ad-free, it costs $18.99/month.
If you want to stream even more and save a few bucks a month while you’re at it, we recommend subscribing to one of the Disney+ Bundles, all of which include Hulu. These bundles start at $12.99/month for ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu and goes up to $32.99/month for Disney+, Hulu, and Max, all ad-free.