Paul Anthony Kelly Overcomes Near Exit, Recommits to Acting Career
Paul Anthony Kelly earned the role of John F. Kennedy Jr. in the FX drama “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette” after a career‑long search that spanned more than a decade. In early 2024, Kelly was approached for the part, a breakthrough that came after he had previously struggled to find roles.
Kelly said that earlier in his career he considered leaving acting. “After 13 years on the industry’s sidelines, I felt it might be best to stop chasing it,” he explained to a television interview. His wife, Syd Widziszewski‑Kelly, urged him to wait a year before deciding, and the role materialized shortly thereafter.
The series premiered in February 2024, the same month Kelly and Widziszewski‑Kelly welcomed their first child. The actor has reported that balancing fatherhood with the demands of the new show has been challenging yet rewarding.
Kelly and co‑star Sarah Pidgeon have been featured at industry events such as the Met Gala, where they were noted for their enthusiasm about the project. The show continues to explore the 1999 romance and untimely death of the presidential son and his wife.