{{short description|Canadian model and actor (born 1988)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use Canadian English|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Paul Anthony Kelly | image = | caption = | birth_name = Paul Anthony Kelly | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|10|1|mf=yes}} | birth_place = Port McNicoll, Ontario, Canada | occupation = {{hlist|Model|actor}} | years_active = {{circa}} 2013–present | spouse = {{marriage|Syd Widziszewski|2023}} | children = 1 }} '''Paul Anthony Kelly''' (born October 1, 1988) is a Canadian model and actor based in the United States. He is best known for portraying John F. Kennedy Jr. in the first season of the FX anthology miniseries ''Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette''.
== Early life and career == Kelly was born in the small Canadian town of Port McNicoll, Ontario, on October 1, 1988.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://harpersbazaar.my/lifestyle/fun-facts-about-paul-anthony-kelly-from-love-story/|title=Fun Facts About Paul Anthony Kelly From “Love Story”|work=Harper's Bazaar Malaysia|date=February 19, 2026|last=Salehaldin|first=Syameen}}</ref><ref name=intmag>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/paul-anthony-kelly-tells-mel-ottenberg-how-he-became-john-john|title=Paul Anthony Kelly Tells Mel Ottenberg How He Became John-John|work=Interview|date=December 17, 2025|last=Ottenberg|first=Mel}}</ref> He is the eldest of four children. He later moved to Toronto and while working at American Apparel, he was discovered by two talent scouts and began modelling after signing a contract with Ford Models.<ref name=ang>{{cite web |last1=Ang |first1=Raymond |title=How Love Story’s Paul Anthony Kelly Became JFK Jr. |url=https://www.gq.com/story/how-love-storys-paul-anthony-kelly-became-jfk-jr |website=GQ |date=24 February 2026}}</ref> From there he moved to New York City, where he began auditioning for acting roles whilst still working as a model, signing with the agency Innovative Artists.<ref name=intmag/><ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3338176/meet-paul-anthony-kelly-who-plays-john-f-kennedy-jr-ryan-murphys-love-story|title= Meet Paul Anthony Kelly, who plays John F. Kennedy Jr in Ryan Murphy’s Love Story|work=South China Morning Post|date=February 14, 2026|last=Sarkar|first=Ishani}}</ref> He did not find work in acting for a decade, except for a project called ''The Venery of Samantha Bird'', which was ultimately never released in part due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/heels-canceled-plus-three-more-starz-shows-1235598872/|title=Starz Cancels Three Series and Scraps Another|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=September 25, 2023|last=O'Connell|first=Mikey}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2026/02/19/paul-kelly-anthony-love-story-jfk-jr-internet-obsession/88744522007/|title='Love Story' star Paul Kelly Anthony has the internet obsessed. See why.|work=USA Today|last=Shafiq|first=Saman|date=February 19, 2026}}</ref> As a model, he worked for brands like Rhone Apparel, Vivienne Westwood,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://models.com/work/vivienne-westwood-vivienne-westwood-man-ss-14-mens-show-milan|title=Vivienne Westwood SS/14 Men's Show|work=models.com}}</ref> Bonobos, John Varvatos, Loro Piana, Perry Ellis, and Brooks Brothers.<ref name=intmag/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/g65511599/american-love-story-carolyn-bessette-jfk-jr-cast-characters/|title=The Cast of Love Story Compared to Their Real-Life Counterparts|last=Dixon|first=Lucy|date=February 12, 2026|magazine=Harper's Bazaar}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/american-love-story-carolyn-bessette-kennedy-jfk-jr-cast-release-date-trailer-plot|title=Everything to Know About Ryan Murphy’s American Love Story|last=McCartney|first=Claire Valentine|date=March 25, 2025|website=W Magazine}}</ref>
Despite having no professional acting experience, he was cast as John F. Kennedy Jr. in ''Love Story'' shortly before filming was scheduled to commence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/love-story-john-f-kennedy-jr-actor-paul-anthony-kelly/|title=FX's Love Story Almost Pushed Back Filming Because They Didn't Have a John F. Kennedy Jr. Then Came Paul Anthony Kelly|date=February 14, 2026|last=Moon|first=Kat|work=TV Guide}}</ref> He was cast after a successful chemistry read and screen test with Sarah Pidgeon.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/love-story-john-f-kennedy-jr-and-carolyn-bessette-sarah-pidgeon-paul-kelly-interview|title=Meet the Star-Crossed Leads of Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette|work=Vogue|date=February 12, 2026|last=Seth|first=Radhika|publisher=Condé Nast}}</ref>
== Personal life == Kelly married Syd Widziszewski in May 2023,<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.mundoamerica.com/celebrity/2026/02/19/6996f61521efa0fa178b45a2.html|title=Sir John F. Kennedy Jr.: the great opportunity that Canadian actor Paul Anthony Kelly has been waiting for|work=El Mundo|last=Pedrejón|first=Isabel|date=February 19, 2026}}</ref> with whom he had his first child in early 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wayman |first=Sasha |date=2026-02-25 |title=Love Story’s Paul Anthony Kelly Welcomes First Baby with Wife Syd Widziszewski-Kelly |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1428951/love-storys-paul-anthony-kelly-welcomes-baby-with-syd-widziszewski-kelly |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=E! Online}}</ref> They live in Portland, Oregon,<ref name=":0" /> having previously lived in California.<ref name=":1" /> Kelly is a permanent resident of the United States as of 2025.<ref name="intmag" />
== Filmography ==
=== Television === {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Title !Role ! class="unsortable" |Notes ! class="unsortable" |{{Ref heading}} |- | rowspan="2" |2026 |''American Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette'' |John F. Kennedy Jr. |Lead role; 9 episodes |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nemetz |first=Dave |date=2025-06-13 |title=American Love Story Offers A First Look At Its JFK Jr. And Carolyn Bessette — Plus, Find Out When It Premieres |url=https://www.tvline.com/news/american-love-story-release-date-trailer-cast-fx-jfk-jr-1235459687/ |access-date=2026-03-29 |website=TVLine |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |{{Pending film|American Horror Story: Season 13}} |{{TBA}} |Filming |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DYQHrfPs8gB/ |access-date=2026-05-14 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref> |}
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|4034850}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Paul Anthony}} Category:Living people Category:1988 births Category:Canadian male models Category:21st-century Canadian male actors Category:Canadian expatriate actors in the United States Category:Actors from Simcoe County Category:Male actors from Toronto Category:People from Pasadena, California Category:Entertainers from Simcoe County Category:Male actors from New York City Category:Models from New York City Category:Male actors from Portland, Oregon Category:Models from Ontario