Paul Anthony Kelly, fresh off his breakout turn as John F. Kennedy Jr. in “Love Story,” has debuted a striking new look for his role in “American Horror Story” Season 13, ditching his signature dark hair for sleek blonde waves. Ryan Murphy’s production company shared the first images of the transformation on Instagram, welcoming the 37-year-old Canadian actor to the long-running FX anthology.
The photos show Kelly in a dark red suit, his hair slicked back, lit by the glow of a nearby fireplace. The image marks his second major television role after “Love Story,” where he starred opposite Sarah Pidgeon in the Kennedy family drama that helped launch him to wider recognition following more than a decade of auditions.
Season 13 extends the mythology first introduced in Season 3’s “Coven,” tying together threads from “Murder House,” “Hotel” and “Apocalypse.” Sarah Paulson returns as Cordelia Goode, the witches’ reigning Supreme, alongside Billie Lourd, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Angela Bassett, Evan Peters and Gabourey Sidibe. Ariana Grande joins as one of two newcomers alongside Kelly. John Carroll Lynch and Mat Fraser are reprising their “Freak Show” characters Twisty the Clown and Paul the Illustrated Seal, while Mena Suvari and Berto Colón round out additions to the cast.
Kelly announced his casting himself in May during Disney’s upfront presentation in New York, emerging from behind a group of hooded performers to declare, “I guess every nightmare needs fresh blood, and 13’s my lucky number.” FX has kept plot details sparse, teasing only that the season will bring back familiar terrors and introduce new ones.
Kelly’s career has accelerated quickly this year. Beyond “American Horror Story,” he has joined the cast of “The Housemaid’s Secret,” the sequel to “The Housemaid,” starring alongside Kirsten Dunst and Sydney Sweeney. He also recently welcomed his first child with his wife. Reflecting on his path to leading roles during a podcast appearance, Kelly credited persistence, saying thirteen years of rejection preceded the opportunity that changed his career.
“American Horror Story” Season 13 premieres this fall on FX and Hulu.
