Paul Anthony Kelly Goes Blonde for“ American Horror Story” Season 13 in First Major Role Since Portraying John F. Kennedy Jr.

Bailey RichardsTue, June 30, 2026 at 8:02 PM UTC

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Paul Anthony Kelly in 'American Horror Story' and 'Love Story'Credit: FX -

Paul Anthony Kelly debuted a new blonde hairstyle for his role in American Horror Story season 13

Kelly teased the role, his first major project since portraying JFK Jr. in Love Story, in a first look at his character

He previously said one of the best parts of playing the Kennedy heir was rocking his hair, and sparked discourse with his Love Story chest hair

Paul Anthony Kelly is rocking a new look.

The 37-year-old actor debuted a new hair color on Tuesday, June 30 while showing off the first look at his character in the upcoming season of American Horror Story, which marks his first major role following his breakout turn as John F. Kennedy Jr. in FX's Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.

The first look at his American Horror Story season 13 role was captured in two photos shared on Instagram. They reveal that Kelly underwent a dramatic transformation — or rocked a wig — to achieve some swoopy, blonde tresses in the anticipated new installment of the anthology horror series.

Against a dark room, Kelly looks off to the side in both photos, showing off his AHS character's vintage-inspired blonde ‘do. Along with the new hair, he also wears a deep red suit and matching tie, accented by a pin that appears to be a snake bent into an infinity symbol.

The caption of the first-look post, a collaboration between several accounts including his personal page, reads, “First look: @ofishalpak joins the AHS Family.”

The post did not reveal the character's name or any further information about his role in the forthcoming season, which premieres this fall.

Kelly's casting in the upcoming season of AHSwas first revealed in May, during The Walt Disney Company's annual Upfront presentation in New York. At the event, AHS franchise fixtures, including Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Gabourey Sidibe, Billie Lourd and Emma Roberts, appeared onstage flanked by hooded Druids before Kelly emerged from the shadows.

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Teasing his participation in the long-running series from Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, Kelly teased, “I guess every nightmare needs fresh blood … and thirteen's my lucky number.”

Paul Anthony Kelly in June 2026Credit: Tiffany Rose/Getty

He first teased the role — and his excitement about it — while speaking with PEOPLE at Disney's Toast to Television event earlier this year. “I just signed on to something that I'm very excited about,” he said at the April 27 event. “I can't say anything yet.”

And while it is unclear whether Kelly's AHS character will lean more protagonist or antagonist, Kelly told PEOPLE at the Disney event that he was eager to tackle a very different kind of role after portraying JFK Jr.. “I really want to play a villain,” Kelly said at the time.

AHS, which debuted in 2011, is an anthology horror series that tells a different spooky story each season, some of which are connected through characters who appear multiple times or plots that intertwine. The upcoming season marks Kelly's first major role since starring as the son of President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jackie Kennedy in Murphy's anthology series Love Story, which chronicled his romance with Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy (Sarah Pidgeon) in the years leading up to their tragic 1999 plane crash deaths.

And for Kelly, one of the best parts about playing the beloved Kennedy heir was getting to recreate his “amazing” signature tresses. “I mean, the hair is … John hair,” Kelly quipped to PEOPLE at the New York City premiere back in February. “He's the guy with the hair, it was awesome.”

Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn Bessette and Paul Anthony Kelly as John F. Kennedy in 'Love Story'Credit: FX

The actor even spawned some online discourse with his hair — well, his chest hair, which was on full display in the series. He later reacted to his personal grooming becoming the subject of social media conversations in an interview with GQ Hype. “Listen, there's an ass for every saddle,” he told the outlet at the time. “We live in a time when everyone is hairless and beefy and ripped and whatever,” he continues. “I keep it au natural. I have chest hair, I own it.”

All previous seasons of American Horror Story are now streaming on Hulu and Disney+, along with Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”