nonnor Douglas Gilliland is best known as the son of actress Jean Smart and the late actor Richard Gilliland. Born in October 1989, Connor Douglas Gilliland grew up in Los Angeles on the set of Designing Women the sitcom where his parents met and worked together. As an adult, he has led a very private life, far from the Hollywood spotlight. His family background is well-documented, but details about his personal life remain scarce. In this article, we’ll cover everything fans and curious readers might want to know about Richard Gilliland’s son, Connor Douglas Gilliland.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Connor Douglas Gilliland |
| Date of Birth | October 1989 |
| Age | 35 (as of 2025) |
| Place of Birth | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Parents | Jean Smart (mother), Richard Gilliland (father) |
| Siblings | Forrest Gilliland (adopted younger brother) |
| Known For | Being the son of actors Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland |
| Involvement in Movies | No acting or production credits; not involved in public movie roles |
| Residence | Reportedly resides in Los Angeles with family |
| Public Appearances | Rare; chooses to maintain a private life |
| Notable Traits | Private, family-oriented, supportive son |
Family Background
Connor Douglas Gilliland’s parents are both successful actors. His mother, Jean Smart, is an Emmy-winning performer known for roles in Designing Women, Hacks, and many other TV series. His father, Richard Gilliland, was also an actor who appeared in Designing Women, The Waltons, 24, and The Unit. Jean and Richard met on the set of Designing Women and married in June 1987. Two years later, in October 1989, the couple welcomed their first child, a son they named Connor Douglas Gilliland.
Connor grew up in a warm family environment. His parents remained together for nearly 34 years until Richard’s death in 2021. Jean and Richard later adopted a second son, Forrest, in 2009, when Connor was about 20 years old. This made Connor Douglas Gilliland and Forrest Gilliland siblings, with a significant age gap of nearly 20 years between them. Throughout his childhood and adolescence, Connor’s life was deeply connected to his parents’ acting careers, but his own life choices have kept him largely out of the limelight.
Childhood and Upbringing
Growing up with two actor parents, Connor Douglas Gilliland spent a lot of time on film and TV sets. In fact, during Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland’s work on Designing Women, baby Connor was often present behind the scenes. Jean Smart later recalled that even at 2 years old, Connor understood the cues of a film set when the “action” buzzer sounded, he would playfully shush everyone. His parents remember that although he grew up surrounded by laughter on set, young Connor had a serious, observant personality.
Because of this show-business upbringing, many fans wonder if Connor Douglas Gilliland followed in his parents’ footsteps. However, as he grew up, Connor chose a path away from acting. He attended school in Los Angeles (though details of his education are not publicly known) and did not pursue high-profile roles on screen. In interviews, Jean Smart emphasized that her elder son “always led a private life” and does not have any public social media accounts. Even as of his early 30s, Connor Douglas Gilliland had not made major public appearances with his famous parents.
Being the child of Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland meant Connor was no stranger to Hollywood sets, but it also meant his parents made it a priority to give him a normal upbringing. Jean Smart has said she and Richard wanted their children to stay grounded, despite their own acting careers. Forbes and People Magazine note that Connor enjoyed a stable family life, and his parents did not use him as a media prop. In fact, references to him in interviews mostly come from his mother, who praises both of her sons for being “wonderful and unselfish”. Through public statements, we know Connor was a helpful and caring son, especially after his father passed away in 2021.
Education and Career
Information about Connor Douglas Gilliland’s education and career is very limited, reflecting his preference for privacy. Unlike many celebrity children, Connor Douglas Gilliland did not seek fame through Hollywood. There are no known acting credits or film appearances under his name. A search for “Connor Douglas Gilliland movies” returns no evidence that he has acted in any movies or TV shows. In fact, sources confirm that despite growing up on studio lots, Connor “has no public social media profiles and hasn’t made major appearances with his mom or dad”. This implies he did not embark on a public acting career as of the latest reports.
As of 2024, credible sources describe Connor as living a quiet, “private life” away from entertainment headlines. He may have worked or studied outside of show business, but his exact occupation is not publicly known. Some unverified online profiles suggest he keeps a low-key career, possibly in business or technology, but such claims lack confirmation. What is clear from interviews with Jean Smart is that Connor’s family life – not Hollywood – is his priority. He returned to live with his mother and brother in 2021, helping to support them after the loss of his father. This family involvement suggests Connor values stability and private life over celebrity.
Life After Richard Gilliland’s Passing
In March 2021, Richard Gilliland died at age 71 after a brief illness. Jean Smart spoke about how devastating this loss was for the family. At that time, Connor was around 31 years old. Although he is a private person, reports indicate that Connor stepped up for his family in the wake of his father’s death. According to People Magazine, Jean Smart said in 2023 that Connor “moved back in with her and Forrest while they adjusted to their new norm,” and that he had been “helping me a lot since we lost his dad”. This shows Connor’s role as a devoted son and brother.
Since then, Connor has continued to stay out of the public eye. He lives with his mother and younger brother Forrest (now a teenager) and focuses on family life. Jean Smart has credited both her children, including Connor, for taking great care of her during this challenging period. In interviews, Smart often expresses pride in her sons, telling award-show audiences that Forrest and Connor are “my life”. These anecdotes from Jean Smart’s interviews provide the main public insight into Connor Douglas Gilliland’s character: he is seen as loving, supportive, and far from the Hollywood spotlight.
Personal Life and Public Image
Connor Douglas Gilliland maintains a very low public profile. Unlike some celebrity kids, he does not have Instagram, Twitter, or other social media. He rarely appears in photographs at events. For example, his younger brother Forrest has attended public events with their mother (like the Emmys), but Connor has not made those outings. This discretion means little is officially reported about his personal life or relationships. There is no public record of marriage or children for Connor, and he has not commented publicly on his life.
Online rumors occasionally surface, such as odd references to “Goddard parents” linked with Connor’s name. These appear to be baseless confusions or spam pages. In reality, Connor Douglas Gilliland’s documented parents are Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland. No credible source mentions anyone named “Goddard” in connection with his family. The mix-up might come from misinformation sites; however, authoritative biographies list only Smart and Gilliland as his parents.
Overall, Connor Douglas Gilliland’s public image is defined by privacy. He is occasionally mentioned in articles about Jean Smart’s family, but always as a supportive son. For example, when Jean Smart won awards in 2021 and 2022, she thanked “my two children, Forrest and Connor,” which reinforces that he’s cherished by his family. Beyond these family mentions, Connor does not have a public career to speak of. Thus, while searches of “connor douglas gilliland movies” yield no film credits, they often return profiles summarizing that he is Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland’s son exactly as reality shows.
FAQs
How old is Connor Douglas Gilliland and where was he born? Connor Douglas Gilliland was born in October 1989, making him 35 years old as of mid-2025. He was born in Los Angeles, California, where his parents were working at the time.
Who are Connor Douglas Gilliland’s parents? Connor’s parents are actress Jean Smart and actor Richard Gilliland. His father Richard, known for Designing Women and The Unit, and his mother Jean, star of Hacks and Watchmen, raised Connor and later adopted his brother Forrest. (Any mentions of “Goddard parents” online appear to be errors; credible sources list Smart and Gilliland as his parents.)
Has Connor Douglas Gilliland appeared in any movies? No, there are no public records of Connor acting in films or TV shows. Although he grew up on sets, the son of actors Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland did not follow them into show business. Searches for “connor douglas gilliland movies” come up empty because he has not been credited in any movie or series to date.
Is Connor Douglas Gilliland Richard Gilliland’s son? Yes. Connor Douglas Gilliland is the firstborn child of Richard Gilliland and Jean Smart. This is well documented in biographies of Richard Gilliland and interviews with Jean Smart.
What does “Goddard parents” refer to for Connor Douglas Gilliland? The term “Goddard parents” has no factual connection to Connor. Some online searches may jumble names, but reliable information confirms that Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland are his only parents. “Goddard” is not mentioned in any trustworthy biography or interview, suggesting it’s a mistaken reference.
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