Paul Anthony Kelly Nearly Walked Away From Acting Before Landing Breakout Role in 'Love Story'

Paul Anthony Kelly came perilously close to leaving the entertainment industry behind before his career-defining opportunity arrived.

The 37-year-old Canadian actor, who had appeared in just one project before landing the role of John F. Kennedy Jr. in the FX series "Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette," found himself at a crossroads. Speaking during an actors roundtable with THR, Kelly detailed the uncertainty that plagued him in the months leading up to his breakthrough.

"I was ready to give it up days before I got the callback," Kelly explained. Forced to relocate to Portland, Oregon following devastating fires, he and his wife grappled with a fundamental question about their future. "We were like, 'What do we do?'" he recalled. Working as a model to keep their household afloat, Kelly acknowledged that while the income was necessary, it lacked the fulfillment he sought. With plans to expand their family in motion, the couple seriously considered returning to Canada, drawn by its healthcare system, educational infrastructure, and proximity to relatives.

The turning point came swiftly. "Several days later, I got an email for a callback for John F. Kennedy Jr., the same day that we found out we were pregnant," Kelly shared. After thirteen years of rejection and near-misses in the industry, the role represented a seismic shift. "It's wild how quickly things can change," he reflected. The series' explosive popularity exceeded his expectations, describing the experience as "strapping yourself to a rocket."

The success of "Love Story" has opened significant doors. Kelly has since secured two additional projects: a role in the upcoming "American Horror Story" season 13, which reunites him with producer Ryan Murphy, and a starring position in "The Housemaid's Secret," the sequel to "The Housemaid."