Kevin Connolly is an accomplished actor and director whose captivating performances and diverse skill set have made a lasting impression on the entertainment industry. He is relatable to audiences all over the world because, despite the glamour of Hollywood, he has been transparent about his personal struggles, including heartbreaks and obstacles.
During a recent appearance on the Hey Dude… The 90s Called! podcast with hosts Christine Taylor and David Lascher, Kevin Connolly opened up about the painful memory of his first breakup.
The 49-year-old Entourage star talked about his early career as a child performer in the 1990s and the heartbreak he felt when his girlfriend Nikki Cox left him for Unhappily Ever After co-star Bobcat Goldthwait.
Kevin Connolly shared his experience of a breakup with Nikki Cox
Connolly disclosed that during seasons four and five of Unhappily Ever After, he began dating Nikki Cox, who portrayed his sister on the program.
The story focuses on a dysfunctional family headed by a mentally ill father named Jack (Geoff Pierson), who was very close to his son’s talking toy rabbit, Mr. Floppy (Goldthwait). A few days prior to the season five table read, the actor recalled getting a call from Jeremy London telling him to pick up the National Enquirer.
Connolly opened the magazine and saw a photo of Nikki Cox and Bobcat Goldthwait together. With a knot in his stomach, the actor described how he drove to the 711 convenience store to pick up the magazine. Connolly experienced emotional turmoil for the next 24 weeks after learning the revelation, which heightened the tension in the table read and cast meetings.
The breakup took a heavy toll on Kevin Connolly
52-year-old Taylor showed her condolences for Kevin Connolly, highlighting the challenge of learning about private matters in public. She expressed how upsetting it is to learn such information in the open. 51-year-old
David Lascher added his voice, highlighting the additional difficulty that arises when the person in question is a coworker.
Connolly went on to discuss the deep effects of the affair on him, sharing how the last few years of the series, which ran from 1995 to 1999, were heartbroken for him because of Nikki Cox’s actions.
He emphasized the emotional toll the breakup took on him by saying it was the “first time” he felt like he was “going to die,” which kept him from sleeping.
Connolly said that despite the difficult situation, he and Cox have “stayed in touch over the years” and still “catch up once in a while.” With a hint of humor, the actor said that Taylor, a longtime friend, was in “front-row seat” to the “Bobcat incident.”
Following Connolly and Cox’s split, the actress became engaged to Bobcat Goldthwait in the late 1990s, and the two stayed together until 2005.
More about Kevin Connolly
Accomplished American actor and director Kevin Connolly is best known for his memorable roles as Eric Murphy in the HBO series “Entourage” and as Ryan Malloy, the eldest son in the 1990s sitcom “Unhappily Ever After.”
Apart from his prosperous acting career, Connolly has established himself as a renowned director, having supervised multiple TV series and movies, including “Gardener of Eden,” “Dear Eleanor,” and “Gotti.” Connolly was reared in Medford, Long Island, but his birthplace is unclear; sources place him either in New York City or Patchogue.
His older brother Tim works as a police detective for Suffolk County, New York, and his mother Eileen is of Irish descent. In 1992, Connolly received his diploma from Patchogue-Medford High School.
His journey in the entertainment industry began at the young age of six, featuring in television commercials, notably the “Betcha bite a chip” campaign for Chips Ahoy!. In 1990, he secured his first film role as Chickie in “Rocky V.”
Shortly after, he portrayed Shaun Kelly in the film adaptation of Myron Levoy’s novel “Alan & Naomi” and co-starred with Tobey Maguire in the Fox sitcom “Great Scott!,” earning a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Young Actor Co-starring in a Television Series.
Connolly’s versatility was further showcased in his role as Dabney Coleman’s son in the comedy film “The Beverly Hillbillies.” He continued to make guest appearances in various television series, including “Wings,” “Getting By,” and the medical drama “ER.”
