Connor Paolo (born July 11, 1990) is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of the adolescent Alexander the Great in Oliver Stone's Alexander and his portrayal of Erik Van Der Woodsen of the The CW series Gossip Girl.
Paolo was born in New York City, New York. His father is a writer and his mother is a musician. As of 2006, he attends the professional performing arts school featured in the movie Fame. He began taking acting classes at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute and now studies with Peggy Lewis. For several summers he has attended Appel Farm Arts and Music Center Summer Arts Camp located in Elmer, NJ.
Paolo has a background in theatre, and commercials. He has appeared on the Broadway stage in the hit musical The Full Monty and off-Broadway in the New York public theater production of Shakespeare's, Richard III. Paolo also attented Appel Farm Arts and Music Center, a summer arts camp with a strong theatre program, in 2005. He played Bottom in an abridged production of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream.
He currently is starring in a supporting role as the lead character's younger brother in the CW's series, Gossip Girl.