Connor Douglas Gilliland is the eldest son of actress Jean Smart and her late husband, actor Richard Gilliland. He was born in October 1989 and grew up around television sets because both of his parents were actors.
Unlike his parents, Connor has stayed away from the entertainment spotlight. He has also remained close to his mother and younger sibling, Forrest Gilliland.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Connor Douglas Gilliland |
| Born | October 1989 |
| Reported birthday | October 25, 1989 |
| Age | 36 as of September 2026 |
| Nationality | American |
| Mother | Jean Smart |
| Father | Richard Gilliland |
| Sibling | Forrest Gilliland |
| Known for | Being Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland’s son |
| Profession | Not publicly known |
| Relationship status | Private |
| Social media | No known public profiles |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
Connor Gilliland’s Age and Early Life
Connor Douglas Gilliland was born in October 1989. One report gives his exact birthday as October 25, 1989.
If that date is correct, Connor is 36 years old as of September 2026.
His exact birthplace has not been publicly confirmed in the available information.
Connor Douglas Gilliland grew up in an acting family. His mother, Jean Smart, and father, Richard Gilliland, both worked in television.
He Grew Up Around TV Sets
Connor Douglas Gilliland spent time on television sets when he was very young.
Jean Smart recalled bringing him to the set of Designing Women when he was about 2 years old.
According to Jean, Connor quickly learned how a television set worked. When he heard the buzzer that signaled everyone needed to be quiet before filming, he would tell people to be quiet.
Jean described Connor as a very serious child, even though he grew up surrounded by actors and laughter.
Who Is Jean Smart?
Connor’s mother, Jean Smart, is an American actress born on September 13, 1951.
She became widely known for playing Charlene Frazier Stillfield on the sitcom Designing Women.
Her other major television and film work includes 24, Garden State, The Accountant, Babylon, and the HBO comedy series Hacks.
Jean has won multiple Primetime Emmy Awards during her career.
Who Was Richard Gilliland?
Connor’s father, Richard Gilliland, was an American actor.
Jean met Richard when he appeared on Designing Women. His character was romantically connected with the character played by Annie Potts.
Jean and Richard married in June 1987.
Their marriage lasted for more than three decades, until Richard died in March 2021 at age 71 following a brief illness.
Jean Smart’s Pregnancy With Connor
One report says Jean had to carefully manage her diabetes while pregnant with Connor.
She reportedly monitored her blood sugar levels to help make sure the pregnancy was progressing safely.
Detailed information about her pregnancy is otherwise limited.
Connor’s Younger Sibling Forrest
Connor Douglas Gilliland has one younger sibling, Forrest Gilliland.
Jean and Richard adopted Forrest from China in 2009, when Connor was around 20 years old.
Older media reports referred to Forrest as Bonnie Kathleen Gilliland, while more recent coverage uses the name Forrest Gilliland.
Jean has said Connor was initially very interested in the trip to China. After meeting his new sibling, however, he quickly became attached.
She recalled Connor saying that he had not expected to feel such a strong connection.
Connor’s Relationship With Forrest
Connor and Forrest have an age difference of nearly 20 years.
Jean said shortly after the adoption that Connor was very happy about having a younger sibling.
Forrest has shown some interest in acting and has appeared publicly with Jean at entertainment events.
Richard Gilliland’s Death
Connor Douglas Gilliland lost his father in March 2021.
Richard’s death left Jean raising Forrest without her longtime husband. Forrest was still young at the time, while Connor was already an adult.
Jean later spoke about how difficult it was to adjust to being the only parent.
Connor Moved Back Home to Help His Mother
After Richard died, Connor moved back in with Jean and Forrest.
Jean told PEOPLE in 2023 that Connor had been helping her a lot since they lost Richard. She said it was good to have him around during that period.
Jean has also said both of her children take good care of her.
Her children encouraged her to see a doctor when she was experiencing heart problems. She later underwent a minor medical procedure.
His Public Appearances
Connor Douglas Gilliland rarely appears at major public events.
One notable appearance came on April 25, 2022, when he joined Jean and Forrest at Jean Smart’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in Los Angeles.
Jean has also mentioned Connor during major award moments.
At the 2021 Screen Actors Guild Awards, she thanked both of her children while accepting an award and described Forrest and Connor as her life.
Connor Gilliland’s Education
Connor’s education has not been publicly documented in detail.
There is no reliable information confirming the school or university he attended or what subject he studied.
What Does Connor Gilliland Do?
Connor’s current profession is not publicly known.
Although he grew up around actors and television sets, there is no reliable evidence that he followed his parents into acting.
He appears to have chosen a life outside the entertainment spotlight.
Is Connor Gilliland Married?
Connor Douglas Gilliland keeps his relationships private.
There is no reliable public information confirming whether he is married or currently has a partner.
There are also no publicly confirmed children linked to him in the available information.
Social Media
Connor does not appear to have widely known public social media profiles.
Unlike many celebrity family members, he has maintained a limited online presence.
Connor Gilliland’s Net Worth
Connor Douglas Gilliland’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
His profession and income are private, so there is not enough reliable information to give an accurate estimate.
Interesting Facts
- Connor Douglas Gilliland was born in October 1989.
- One report lists his birthday as October 25.
- His mother is actress Jean Smart.
- His father was actor Richard Gilliland.
- His parents married in June 1987.
- Connor Douglas Gilliland grew up around television sets.
- Jean described him as a very serious child.
- His younger sibling is Forrest Gilliland.
- Forrest was adopted from China in 2009.
- Older reports referred to Forrest as Bonnie Kathleen Gilliland.
- Connor moved back home after his father’s death to help Jean and Forrest.
- Richard Gilliland died in March 2021.
- Connor attended Jean Smart’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2022.
- His education and profession are not publicly known.
- His relationship status is private.
- He has no widely known public social media profiles.
- His personal net worth has not been reliably confirmed.
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