Aaron O'Connell

Last updated
Aaron O'Connell
Born (1986-04-08) April 8, 1986 (age 39)
EducationCathedral High School
Alma mater Purdue University (BS)
Occupation(s)Actor, model
Years active2006 – present
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Spouse
(m. 2018)
Children1

Aaron John O'Connell (born April 8, 1986) is an American model and actor.

Contents

O'Connell is known for his portrayal of Wyatt Cryer in the prime time television drama The Haves and the Have Nots which airs on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Early life

O'Connell is the only son of Mark O'Connell, a former player for the Cincinnati Bengals and Kathryn Deeble O'Connell. He has three sisters, Amy, Abby and Anna. [1] [2]

He graduated from Cathedral High School in 2004 where he played football, basketball and baseball. As a child, his maternal grandfather Wayne taught him how to play the piano. [1]

In 2008, O'Connell graduated from Purdue University's College of Health and Human Sciences where he received a bachelor's degree in health and fitness. [3]

Career

Modeling

In 2006, O'Connell signed to Ford Models while still in college. He has been featured in publications, including GQ , Vanity Fair , Vogue , Vogue Paris , Arena Homme + , VMAN . O'Connell has also represented brands, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Hanes, Lucky Brand Jeans, Ralph Lauren, Champion and Jockey. [2] [4]

Acting

Starting his career at the Actors Studio in Chicago, O'Connell permanently relocated to Los Angeles so he could continue modeling, and start acting. O'Connell started acting classes.

He eventually booked several commercials, including a Liquid-Plumr commercial where he caught the eye of filmmaker Tyler Perry. [4] O'Connell initially thought it was a joke when he was contacted by Perry's production company about auditioning for a role in a new television series. Perry contacted O'Connell himself and asked him to audition over Skype. Perry then traveled to Los Angeles to meet with O'Connell about the role of Wyatt on The Haves and the Have Nots. [2] O'Connell was the first of the ensemble to be cast. [4]

In 2015, he starred in the seasonal comedy for Hallmark Channel 12 Gifts of Christmas as Marc Rehnquist, a company executive who hires a personal shopper and discovers the true spirit of Christmas is not money, [5] and also played a leading part in A Prince for Christmas .

In 2017, he starred in Hallmark Channel's With Love, Christmas, as Donovan Goodwin, with Emilie Ullerup as his co-star. [6]

Personal life

O'Connell became engaged to his longtime girlfriend, model Natalie Pack, on September 4, 2017. [7] The couple were married on July 21, 2018, at Lake Como in Italy. [8] [9] Their son was born in August 2022. [10]

In 2013, he gained his private pilot's license, and flies a Cirrus SR22. [6]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013LAID: Life as It's DealtJoggerFilm
2013-2021 The Haves and the Have Nots Wyatt CryerMain; 88 Episodes
2014The Tyler Perry ShowHimselfGuest; 1 Episode
2015 12 Gifts of Christmas Marc RehnquistTelevision Film
2015A Prince for ChristmasToddTelevision Film
2015, 2017Home & FamilyHimselfGuest; 2 Episodes
2016The RealHimselfGuest; 1 Episode
2016My Christmas LoveScottTelevision Film
2017With Love, ChristmasDonovan GoodwinTelevision Film
2018 Lethal Weapon DerekGuest; 1 Episode
2018 Black Water EllisFilm
2018This Is Our ChristmasNathan WinslowFilm
2018Runnin' from my RootsGavin WhitfieldFilm
2021 Blending Christmas LiamLifetime Film
2022 Love Accidentally JasonTelevision Film
2023Made for Each OtherClayTelevision film
2023 Heels Young Tom Spade2 episodes
2024JunebugAlexTelevision film

References

  1. 1 2 "Aaron O'Connell on My Christmas Love". Hallmark Channel . Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 Kennedy, Karen (May 21, 2013). "Good things". Current in Carmel. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  3. "Life 360". College of Health and Human Sciences. Purdue University . p. 2. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Halterman, Jim (June 17, 2013). "Aaron O'Connell On Tyler Perry's Gay Storyline On "The Haves And The Have Nots"". TheBacklot.com . Evolve Media. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  5. "12 Gifts of Christmas, Hallmark Channel". Hallmark Channel. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  6. 1 2 "With Love, Christmas". hallmarkchannel.com. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  7. "How Tyler Perry helped a young couple get engaged". The Buzz. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Cox Enterprises. September 25, 2017. Archived from the original on December 19, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  8. "Natalie Pack + Aaron O'Connell". THERESA STORY PHOTOGRAPHER. July 21, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  9. Perry, Tyler [@tylerperry] (21 July 2018). "Hello from Lake Como! Here because Aaron O'Connell who plays Wyatt on The Haves is getting married tomorrow. Congrats @AaronOConnell and @NataliePack. May God bless your future days with as much happiness as you can handle! And then some" (Tweet). Retrieved August 12, 2018 via Twitter.
  10. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg4qG9YFYIg/?hl=en&img_index=1

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