{{short description|American actor (born 1990)}} {{BLP sources|date=July 2012}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Connor Paolo | image = Connor Paolo at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.jpg | caption = Paolo in 2009 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|7|11}} | birth_place = [[New York City]], U.S. | occupation = Actor | years_active = 2002–present }}
'''Connor Paolo''' (born July 11, 1990<ref name="TV Guide">{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/connor-paolo/bio/228757|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328102909/http://www.tvguide.com:80/celebrities/connor-paolo/bio/228757|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 28, 2009|title=Connor Paolo Biography|work=[[TV Guide]]|access-date=February 25, 2024}}</ref>) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as [[Eric van der Woodsen]] on [[the CW]]'s teen drama series ''[[Gossip Girl]]'' and [[Declan Porter]] on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] drama series ''[[Revenge (TV series)|Revenge]]''. He has also appeared in two [[Oliver Stone]] films, ''[[Alexander (2004 film)|Alexander]]'' (2004) and ''[[World Trade Center (film)|World Trade Center]]'' (2006).
==Personal life== Paolo was born in New York City, the son of Julia Mendelsohn, a vocal coach and classical pianist, and Colin Paolo, a writer and screenwriter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.highbeam.com/3907/article-1G1-84652082/kids-stuff-do-and-donts-young-performers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523035222/http://business.highbeam.com/3907/article-1G1-84652082/kids-stuff-do-and-donts-young-performers|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 23, 2015|title=Kids' stuff: Do's and don'ts for young performers. (Spotlight on Young Performers) |publisher=Highbeam Business}}</ref>
He attended, beginning in 2006, the [[Professional Performing Arts School]] alongside [[Sarah Hyland]], [[Paul Iacono]] and [[Taylor Momsen]]. He took acting classes at the [[Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute]]. Paolo also attended [[Appel Farm Arts and Music Center]] Summer Arts Camp located in [[Elmer, New Jersey]] for several summers. He attended [[New York University]] for one semester in fall 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.tv.com/people/connor-paolo/biography/ |publisher= TVLine |title= Connor Paolo Biography |date= January 26, 2014 |access-date= January 26, 2014 |archive-date= June 25, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200625233520/http://www.tv.com/people/connor-paolo/biography/ |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/connor_paolo/biography.php |publisher= Rotten Tomatoes | title= Connor Paolo Biography|date= January 26, 2014}}</ref>
==Career== Paolo played a preteen murderer-rapist in an episode of ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]''.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Juvenile |series=Law & Order: Special Victims Unit |series-link=Law & Order: Special Victims Unit |network=NBC |airdate=November 22, 2002 |season=4 |number=9}}</ref> In 2004, he was on ''[[One Life to Live]]'' as Travis O'Connell, a recurring character. Paolo also made a return appearance on ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'', playing a disturbed teenager based on the real case of [[Justin Berry]].<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Web |series=Law & Order: Special Victims Unit |series-link=Law & Order: Special Victims Unit |network=NBC |airdate=May 9, 2006 |season=7 |number=21}}</ref>
He made his motion picture debut in [[Clint Eastwood]]'s Oscar-nominated ''[[Mystic River (film)|Mystic River]]'' (2003), playing young Sean. Other films include ''[[World Trade Center (film)|World Trade Center]]'' for Oliver Stone in 2006; ''[[Snow Angels (film)|Snow Angels]]'' (2007), directed by [[David Gordon Green]]; and ''Favorite Son'' (2008), his first leading role.
Paolo has a background in [[theatre]] and commercials. He has appeared on the [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] stage in the hit musical ''[[The Full Monty]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=99170|title=Connor Paolo – Broadway Cast & Staff - IBDB|first=The Broadway|last=League}}</ref>
In 2010, he starred in the vampire apocalypse film ''[[Stake Land]]'' directed by [[Jim Mickle]].<ref>[http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35428/behind-scenes-images-stake-land Behind-the-Scenes Images: Stake Land] from dreadcentral.com</ref>
From 2007 to 2011, Paolo had a supporting role on [[the CW]] television series ''[[Gossip Girl]]'', where he played [[Eric van der Woodsen]], the brother of lead character [[Serena van der Woodsen]]. His last regular appearance was in the [[Gossip Girl (season 6)|sixth season]].
In April 2011, Paolo joined the cast of [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s dramatic series ''[[Revenge (TV series)|Revenge]]''. In August 2011, Paolo stated that he would be taking on the new series ''Revenge'' full-time and his character Eric van der Woodsen on ''Gossip Girl'' would no longer appear on the show.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gelman|first=Vlada|title=Connor Paolo Confirms Gossip Exit: 'I'm Done'|url=http://www.tvline.com/2011/08/gossip-girl-connor-paolo-exit/|work=TV Line|access-date=September 25, 2011|date=August 8, 2011|archive-date=October 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027210906/http://www.tvline.com/2011/08/gossip-girl-connor-paolo-exit/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He, however, returned to ''Gossip Girl'' for a brief appearance during the [[New York, I Love You XOXO|series finale]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/16/taylor-momsen-gossip-girl_n_1971195.html|title=Taylor Momsen Returning To 'Gossip Girl' Along With Connor Paolo|work=[[The Huffington Post]] | access-date=October 17, 2012 |date=October 16, 2011}}</ref> Paolo exited ''Revenge'' in May 2013, after his character was written off the [[Revenge (season 2)|second season]] finale.<ref>{{cite web |last=Keck |first=William |url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Kecks-Revenge-Sweet-1066091.aspx |title=Keck's Exclusives: ''Revenge'' Isn't So Sweet |work=[[TV Guide]] |date=May 27, 2013 |access-date=June 21, 2013}}</ref>
In 2020, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' announced Paolo was joining the cast of the Chris Blake quarantine comedy ''[[Distancing Socially]]''. The film was shot at the height of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] in 2020, using remote technologies and the iPhone 11. The film was acquired and released by Cinedigm in October 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Malkin |first=Marc |date=October 7, 2020 |title=''Schitt's Creek'' Actor Sarah Levy Cast in COVID-Inspired Indie ''Distancing Socially'' (Exclusive) |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/schitts-creek-sarah-levy-distancing-socially-1234796488/ |access-date=November 22, 2023 |website=Variety}}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Film=== {{more sources needed|date=April 2025}} {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" style="width:32em;" | Notes |- | 2003 | ''[[Mystic River (film)|Mystic River]]'' | Young Sean Devine | |- | 2004 | ''[[Alexander (2004 film)|Alexander]]'' | Young [[Alexander the Great|Alexander]] | |- | 2006 | ''[[World Trade Center (film)|World Trade Center]]'' | Steven McLoughlin | Nominated—[[28th Young Artist Awards#Best Performance in a Feature Film|Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actor]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms28.htm |title=28th Annual Young Artist Awards – Nominations |publisher=[[Young Artist Award]]s |access-date=June 25, 2010}}</ref> |- | 2007 | ''[[Snow Angels (film)|Snow Angels]]'' | Warren Hardesky | |- | 2008 | ''Favorite Son'' | Ross | |- | 2009 | data-sort-value="Winning Season, The" | ''[[The Winning Season]]'' | Damon | |- | rowspan="2" | 2010 | ''[[Camp Hell]]'' | Jack | |- | ''[[Stake Land]]'' | Martin | |- | rowspan="4" | 2016 | ''[[Friend Request]]'' | Kobe | |- | ''[[Like Lambs]]'' | Mick Springfield | |- | ''Outlaw'' | Connor | |- | ''[[Stake Land II: The Stakelander]]'' | Martin | |- | 2017 | ''[[Flock of Four]]'' | Tony Pacarelli | |- | 2021 | ''[[Distancing Socially]]'' | Paul | |- | rowspan="3" | 2023 | ''Fire Island''<!-- NOT [[Fire Island (film)]], which is from 2022 --> | Troy | |- | ''[[Ambush (2023 film)|Ambush]]'' | Ackerman | |- | data-sort-value="Young Wife, The" | ''[[The Young Wife (film)|The Young Wife]]'' | Geoffrey | |- | 2025 | ''Chapter 51'' | The Critic | |- | TBA | ''[[Viral (upcoming film)|Viral]]'' | | Post-production |- | TBA | ''[[Better Half (upcoming film)|Better Half]]'' | | Post-production |}
===Television=== {{unreferenced-section|date=April 2025}} {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2002 | ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' | Zachary Connor | Episode: "Juvenile" |- | 2004 | ''[[One Life to Live]]'' | Travis O'Connell | 16 episodes |- | 2006 | ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' | Teddy Winnock | Episode: "Web" |- | 2007–2012 | ''[[Gossip Girl]]'' | [[Eric van der Woodsen]] | Recurring (seasons 1–4); special guest (season 6 episode 10: "[[New York, I Love You XOXO]]") |- | 2010 | ''[[Mercy (TV series)|Mercy]]'' | Everett Cone | Episode: "I Did Kill You, Didn't I?" |- | 2011 | ''Stake Land: Origins'' | Martin | Episode: "Martin" |- | 2011–2013 | ''[[Revenge (TV series)|Revenge]]'' | [[Declan Porter]] | Main cast (seasons 1–2) |- | rowspan="2" | 2016 | ''[[Rush Hour (U.S. TV series)|Rush Hour]]'' | Henry | Episode: "Welcome Back, Carter" |- | ''[[Swedish Dicks]]'' | Tim | Episode: "When Ingmar Met Axel" |- | rowspan="2" | 2017 | data-sort-value="Brave, The" | ''[[The Brave (TV series)|The Brave]]'' | Nate | Episode: "Break Out" |- | ''Business Doing Pleasure'' | Jason | Season 1 episodes 1-6 |- | 2018 | ''[[Electric Dreams (2017 TV series)|Electric Dreams]]'' | Ethan | Episode: "Safe & Sound" |- | 2020 | data-sort-value="Resident, The" | ''[[The Resident (TV series)|The Resident]]'' | Isaac Morgan | Episode: "Support System" |}
===Video games=== {{unreferenced-section|date=April 2025}} {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 2006 | ''[[Bully (video game)|Bully]]'' | Tom Gurney | |}
===Music videos=== {{unreferenced-section|date=April 2025}} {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Artist ! Song |- | 2012 | [[The Pretty Reckless]] | "My Medicine" |- | 2026 | The Pretty Reckless | "When I Wake Up" |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Paolo, Connor}} [[Category:1990 births]] [[Category:21st-century American male actors]] [[Category:American male child actors]] [[Category:American male film actors]] [[Category:American male soap opera actors]] [[Category:American male television actors]] [[Category:American male video game actors]] [[Category:living people]] [[Category:male actors from New York City]]