Connor Paolo is an American actor who’s best known for his role as Eric van der Woodsen on the teen drama series “Gossip Girl”. He was born on July 11, 1990, in New York City to parents who had close ties to the entertainment scene. Growing up, Paolo already has a foot in the industry thanks to his mother, who worked as a vocal coach, and his father, who was a screenwriter. In 2006, Paolo attended the Professional Performing Arts School with fellow actors, Sarah Hyland and Taylor Momsen.
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Paolo’s acting career started off early with his debut appearance on Clint Eastwood’s “Mystic River”, where he played a young Sean Devine. He also portrayed a recurring role on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”, which was based on the real-life case of Justin Berry. Paolo was cast in several more films, such as “World Trade Center” and “Snow Angels”, before he snagged the leading role in “Favorite Son”. The aspiring actor also dabbled in theater and made appearances on the Broadway stage for “The Full Monty,” “Richard III,” and “Midsummer Night’s Dream”.
In 2007, Paolo was cast as Eric van der Woodsen for The CW’s series “Gossip Girl”. He continued playing the role until the sixth season, in which he made his last appearance. Shortly after he left the show, Paolo was cast again in another dramatic series titled “Revenge”. The actor’s character was written off during the second season finale and he moved on to other projects.
Through the years, Paolo has managed to keep a low profile. However, there is still plenty of intrigue around the Gossip Girl actor’s life and relationships. His portrayal of Eric van der Woodsen was controversial for its time, considering the character’s sexuality. This led to many fans questioning: is Connor Paolo gay? Let’s unveil his secret once and for all.
VOTE: What is Connor Paolo’s Sexuality?
Connor Paolo’s Relationships
There aren’t a lot of details online regarding Connor Paolo’s relationships, since the actor is extremely private when it comes to his affairs. However, there have been several relationships which were caught under the spotlight. Here’s what the public knows about the actor’s list of girlfriends.
Paolo was first linked to fellow actor Addison Timlin in 2005. Unfortunately, not much is known about their relationship, with neither party confirming the romance. They were believed to have parted only a year later, with Timlin eventually marrying the Bear star, Jeremy Allen White, in 2019.
Fresh off his break-up with Timlin, Paolo soon met Baby Mama actress Alice Kremelberg and the pair quickly hit it off. According to an interview with People Magazine in 2008, the actor described himself as a “very caring boyfriend.” And since they were both in the same industry, Paolo found it nice to date someone who understood the things that actors had to deal with in their work. Sadly, the pairing wasn’t meant to be and they went their separate ways in 2011 after almost four years of dating.
Paolo’s next high-profile relationship was with Adelaide Kane. Both were budding actors by the time they got together in 2011. While Paolo was working on “Revenge”, Kane was also experiencing success with her role in “Teen Wolf”. They were a private couple and made limited appearances together. Although the match seemed perfect, Paolo and Kane quietly separated in 2013, probably due to conflict with their schedules and workloads.
Within the same year of his break-up with Kane, the actor was snapped holding hands with Janet Bailey while exiting a nightclub. Rumors swirled that the couple were dating but they neither confirmed nor denied the speculations. It’s believed that the romance fizzled out by the end of the year.
Paolo is currently linked to Stranger Things actress Grace Van Dien, who played the bubbly cheerleader, Chrissy Cunningham. The pair were first seen together when they walked the red carpet during the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival. However, they haven’t released an official statement regarding their relationship.
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Connor Paolo’s Sexuality
During his tenure with “Gossip Girl”, Connor Paolo played the character of Eric van der Woodsen, who was a closeted gay. Throughout the show, Eric only had two significant relationships. The first one was with Asher Hornsby, with whom he had a secret affair, and the second one was his boyfriend, Jonathan Whitney.
When Paolo’s character finally came out, he was welcomed by his friends and family. The show also received praise for its inclusivity of Eric’s storyline. Since Paolo played the role effortlessly, many fans speculated if the actor was also gay in real life. It’s important to note that the actor has never addressed his sexuality publicly.
Is Connor Paolo Gay?
No, Connor Paolo is not gay. Although his character on Gossip Girl was openly gay, it would be inaccurate to assume that the actor is gay as well. Based on his dating history, it’s probable that Paolo identifies as straight. He is currently linked to actress Grace Van Dien but has not confirmed the relationship.