Paul Anthony Kelly Joins AHS Season 13 Cast

Paul Anthony Kelly is heading from one Ryan Murphy universe straight into another. The 37-year-old actor, who made his television debut playing John F. Kennedy Jr. in Murphy’s FX limited series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, has officially joined the cast of American Horror Story Season 13 — and his entrance was exactly as dramatic as you’d hope.

At Disney’s annual upfront presentation in New York on Tuesday, AHS veterans Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Gabourey Sidibe, Billie Lourd, and Emma Roberts took the stage — flanked by hooded Druids, naturally — before Kelly emerged from the shadows to make his announcement. “I guess every nightmare needs fresh blood,” he told the crowd, “and thirteen’s my lucky number.”

It’s a moment that felt tailor-made for the AHS brand. And for Kelly, it marks a remarkable run: he was considered a newcomer when he was cast as JFK Jr. in May 2025, the role representing his big break after more than 13 years of pursuing acting. Now he’s walking into one of TV’s most celebrated horror franchises alongside some of its most beloved alumni.

The Cast That Has Fans Already Losing It

Kelly joins a lineup that reads like a horror lover’s dream. Returning fan favorites include Paulson, Peters, Bassett, Sidibe, Lourd, Roberts, Kathy Bates, Leslie Grossman, and Jessica Lange — the latter making her first AHS appearance since Apocalypse. Ariana Grande, like Kelly, is a full series newcomer.

Paulson’s role has already been confirmed: she’s reprising Cordelia Goode, the Supreme she originated in Season 3’s beloved Coven. And the breadcrumbs don’t stop there. The first teaser for the season ended with Roberts’ Madison Montgomery delivering her iconic line — “Surprise, b-tch. I bet you thought you’d seen the last of me” — which, combined with the heavy Coven-era casting, has fans fairly convinced the new season is pulling from that witchy corner of the AHS universe.

FX’s official logline keeps things deliciously vague: “Which iconic horrors will return to haunt the hallowed halls of 13 and what new terrors await? Light your candles, draw your pentagrams and prepare for a supreme surprise.”

The pentagrams line is doing a lot of work there.

A Franchise Returning at Full Force

Season 13 marks the two-year return of the franchise — the last installment, which starred Kim Kardashian, aired in April 2024. Created by Murphy and Brad Falchuk, American Horror Story is FX’s longest-running hour-long series and has accumulated more than 100 Emmy nominations since its 2011 debut. The show has been streamed more than 700 million hours worldwide, and all 12 previous seasons are currently available on Hulu.

Murphy and Falchuk executive produce alongside Ned Martel, Charlie Carver, Eric Kovtun, Nissa Diederich, Scott Robertson, Tanase Popa, Crystle Roberson Dorsey, Jennifer Salt, and Tim Minear. The series is produced by 20th Television.

American Horror Story Season 13 premieres Halloween night this fall on FX and Hulu. Kelly is repped by Innovative Artists and Luber Roklin Entertainment.

Thirteen years of chasing the dream, and now Paul Anthony Kelly’s lucky number really is thirteen.