Famed ’90s couple John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy are the latest cultural icons to be spotlighted in Ryan Murphy’s expanding American Story anthology series. Announced by FX in 2021, American Love Story is a scripted series that will chronicle the courtship, marriage, and tragic deaths of JFK Jr. and Carolyn, who were widely regarded as American royalty during the 1990s.
The series will explore the pressures of their high-profile careers, family tensions, and the relentless tabloid scrutiny that ultimately overshadowed their private lives. Filming began in June 2025, with the show set to premiere in February 2026, timed to coincide with Valentine’s Day.
Here’s a closer look at the cast, who bring an uncanny resemblance to the real life figures who played a part in the Kennedy couple’s lives.
Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn Bessette Kennedy
Sarah Pidgeon is a 29-year-old actress best known for her breakout role in The Wilds and her acclaimed performance in Hulu’s Tiny Beautiful Things. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, she made her Broadway debut in Stereophonic, earning a Tony nomination for her role. Her Instagram is @sarah__pidgeon.
She will play Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, a Calvin Klein publicist and wife of John F. Kennedy Jr. Born in 1966, Carolyn married Kennedy in a secret ceremony in 1996. Tragically, she died alongside her husband and sister, Lauren Bessette, in a plane crash off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard in 1999, at the age of 33.
Paul Kelly as John F. Kennedy Jr.
Paul Kelly is a rising actor and model set to make his major screen debut as John F. Kennedy Jr. in American Love Story. Though new to TV, he has appeared in theater and modeled for brands like Bonobos and John Varvatos. His Instagram is @ofishalpak.
Kelly will play John F. Kennedy Jr., the son of President JFK and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Besides being a lawyer and journalist, he co-founded George magazine. He dated everyone from Christie Brinkley to Sarah Jessica Parker before marrying Carolyn Bessette. Tragically, he died in a plane crash in 1999 at age 38.
Grace Gummer as Caroline Kennedy
Grace Gummer is a 39-year-old actress and the daughter of Meryl Streep. She’s known for roles in TV shows like The Newsroom, Mr. Robot, and American Horror Story.
Gummer will play Caroline Kennedy, the only surviving child of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. She graduated from Radcliffe College and earned a law degree from Columbia University. She married artist Edwin Schlossberg in 1986, and they have three children: Rose, Tatiana, and Jack. She has served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan and to Australia.
Naomi Watts as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Naomi Watts is a 56-year-old British-Australian actress known for her roles in films like Mulholland Drive, The Ring, and 21 Grams. Watts has earned multiple award nominations, including two Academy Awards. Her Instagram is @naomiwatts.
Jackie Kennedy was the First Lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963 as the wife of President John F. Kennedy. She led the restoration of the White House, promoted American arts and culture, and helped preserve historic landmarks. After JFK’s assassination, she maintained a low public profile and later worked as a book editor. She died from cancer at the age of 64, and never met Carolyn Bessette.
Dree Hemingway as Daryl Hannah
Dree Hemingway is an American model and actress known for her work with major fashion brands and appearances in films like Starlet and While We’re Young. She is the great-granddaughter of writer Ernest Hemingway. Her Instagram is @dreelouisehemingway.
She will play Daryl Hannah, a 64-year-old actress and filmmaker who was dating JFK Jr. when he met Carolyn Bessette. Hannah gained fame for her roles in Blade Runner (1982) and Splash (1984), and later portrayed Elle Driver in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill series. She married musician Neil Young in 2018.
Sydney Lemmon as Lauren Bessette
Sydney Lemmon is a 35-year-old actress known for her role as Ana Helstrom in the Hulu series Helstrom and appearances in Fear the Walking Dead and Succession. She holds degrees from Boston University and Yale, and has performed on Broadway, including in the play Job. She is also the granddaughter of actor Jack Lemmon. Her Instagram is @Sydney_lemmon.
Lemmon will play Lauren Bessette, a Morgan Stanley executive and the sister of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. She died in a 1999 plane crash with Carolyn and John F. Kennedy Jr. near Martha’s Vineyard.
Alessandro Nivola as Calvin Klein
Alessandro Nivola is an American actor known for roles in American Hustle, Jurassic Park III, and The Many Saints of Newark. A Yale graduate, he has also appeared on Broadway and co-founded King Bee Productions with his wife, Emily Mortimer. His son Sam Nivola recently starred in The White Lotus season three. His Instagram is @alessandro.nivola.
He will play Calvin Klein, an influential American fashion designer who founded his brand in 1968. Known for popularizing designer jeans and underwear, Klein’s work helped define modern American style. Carolyn Bessette worked as a publicist for his company.
Omari K. Chancellor as Gordon Henderson
Omari K. Chancellor is a New York–based actor and graduate of NYU’s Tisch MFA program. He has appeared in The Greatest Beer Run Ever and Why Women Kill. His Instagram is @omari_k.
He will play Gordon Henderson, a close friend of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and a designer who helped plan her wedding to John F. Kennedy Jr. He designed JFK Jr.’s suit and assisted Carolyn into her gown on the wedding day.
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