- Primary Subject: Paul Anthony Kelly, Canadian actor and star of the limited series Love Story
- Key Update: This explores Paul Anthony Kelly’s journey from small-town Canadian model to landing the iconic role of John F. Kennedy Jr.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: February 13, 2026
- Quick Answer: Paul Anthony Kelly is a Canadian former model playing JFK Jr. in Love Story. After ten years of auditioning, he finally landed this breakout role.
Newcomer actor Paul Anthony Kelly is making his mainstream acting debut in the new limited series Love Story, where he plays the late John F. Kennedy Jr. opposite Sarah Pidgeton's Carolyn Bessette.
Fans have been looking forward to the series, which explores the undeniable chemistry, whirlwind courtship, and high-profile marriage of one of the most iconic couples of the 20th century. Particularly, there has been curiosity about Kelly, who has a strong physical resemblance to Kennedy, and viewers would like to learn more about him as they watch the series.
Who is Paul Anthony Kelly? Get to Know More About the Love Story Star
Paul Anthony Kelly is a Canadian actor who grew up in a small town called Port McNicoll. He started as a model before he decided to pursue an acting career.
"Moved to Toronto. Got scouted for modeling. Saw the world. It’s great work but I felt pretty pigeonholed. I started doing commercials and got picked up by Innovative [Artists]. They took me under their wing for talent and held on to me for like, 10 years, just knowing something would hit. Then I auditioned for this in February," he told Interview in December 2025.
Kelly managed to land a role in a TV series, which was set to be his breakthrough. However, it was canceled during production, and it never aired.
"I’ve been auditioning for things for like 10 years. I got a role in a show called The Venery of Samantha Bird. I thought that was my foot in the door, but it never saw the light of day. That’s okay. These things happen," he recalled.
Despite his good looks, Kelly claimed that it also became a hindrance for him in his auditions.
He said, "I recently auditioned for something, and the guy told me straight up, 'Yeah, you’re too good looking for this.' I was like, 'Well, I can grow a beard and be scruffy.' I see so many imperfections and flaws."
Kelly is currently happily married to his wife, Syd Widziszewski-Kelly. They have a baby together that was born in January.
How Paul Anthony Kelly Landed the Role of John F. Kennedy Jr.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, creator Connor Hines revealed that over 1,000 people auditioned for the role of John F. Kennedy Jr.
"Obviously, John was a much more laborious process. We saw over 1,000 people. It came down to me chasing people on the street who looked remotely like him to see if they wanted to tape," he explained.
Considering the iconic imagery of Kennedy, they had specific requirements for the actor that they were looking to take on the part.
"In addition to trying to find somebody who was People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive, John had an aesthetic that a lot of leading men don’t really have anymore. It’s a little bit more of a bygone masculinity. It was that, combined with somebody who could be plausibly sitting with the Kennedys, who could have attended Brown [University], launched a magazine, and on top of that, has their own inherent star quality," Hines said.
"Those are a lot of prerequisites for an actor [laughs], but when Paul walked into the room, especially when he started reading with Sarah, everybody knew almost instantly that he is what we were looking for."
Fortunately, after many years, Kelly has found his breakthrough in Love Story. It will be interesting to see where his career goes from here.
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