Who Is Connor Douglas Gilliland? Age, Family and Life Story of Jean Smart’s Oldest Son
Many people know Jean Smart from TV shows like Designing Women, 24 and Hacks. Fewer people know her son, Connor Douglas Gilliland. He is her oldest child, and he lives a quiet life away from the camera.
Quick Bio of Connor Douglas Gilliland
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Connor Douglas Gilliland |
| Date of birth | October 25, 1989 |
| Age | 37 years old (as of November 2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Mother | Jean Smart, Emmy-winning actress |
| Father | Richard Gilliland (1949 to 2021), actor |
| Sibling | Forrest Gilliland, younger brother, adopted in 2009 |
| Known for | Being the oldest son of Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland |
| Social media | Not active, according to NBC |
| Public profile | Very private |
Who Is Connor Douglas Gilliland?
Connor Douglas Gilliland is the first child of actors Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland. NBC reports that he was born on October 25, 1989. That means he turned 37 in October 2026.
Connor is not a public figure. He is not an actor with a long list of roles, and he does not share his life online. Most of what people know about him comes from interviews his mother has given and from a few public events where he stood next to her.
Hello! Magazine notes that he chose a quieter life, but that he does have a little experience on set. That is not surprising. Both of his parents worked in TV, so he grew up close to the world of acting.
Connor’s Parents: Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland
Jean Smart
Jean Smart was born on September 13, 1951, in Seattle, Washington. She became famous in the 1980s and 1990s for her role as Charlene Frazier Stillfield on the CBS comedy Designing Women. Later, she played First Lady Martha Logan on 24. In recent years, she has won wide praise for playing comedian Deborah Vance in the HBO Max series Hacks.
In 2021, Jean won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Hacks. During her speech, she thanked her sons, Connor and Forrest. Today.com reported this moment.
Richard Gilliland
Richard Gilliland was an American actor. He played J.D. Shackelford, the boyfriend of Mary Jo Shively, on Designing Women. He also appeared in 24, where he played Captain Stan Cotter. His wife, Jean, played the First Lady on the same show.
Richard and Jean met while working on Designing Women. They got married in June 1987. Connor was born a little more than two years later.
Early Life and Childhood
Connor grew up in a home full of actors, scripts and TV sets. Soap Central describes his early years as a mix of long days on soundstages and normal family life. His parents were both busy, but they worked hard to give him a steady home.
Very little is known about his school years or which college he attended. His family has not shared those details, and we do not want to guess. Websites that give a full education history for Connor often copy each other and do not name a real source.
Connor’s Brother, Forrest Gilliland
Connor has one younger brother, Forrest. The family adopted him from China in May 2009. According to NBC, Forrest was born in July 2008.
The age gap between the two brothers is almost 19 years. Because of this, Connor was already an adult when Forrest came into the family. Jean Smart has talked about how different it is to raise a grown son and a teenage son at the same time.
Today.com reports that Forrest was known as Bonnie in earlier years and that he identifies as male. You may still see his old name in older articles. Today he goes by Forrest, and that is the name we use here.
How Connor Helped His Family After His Father’s Death
Richard Gilliland died on March 18, 2021, at the age of 71. NBC reports that the cause was a heart condition. The family lost him very suddenly, just before Jean was due to start filming the second season of Hacks.
Jean Smart has said in interviews that Connor stepped up after the loss. Soap Central shares that she credits him with helping the family through a very hard time. This tells us something about Connor. Even though he avoids the spotlight, he is a strong support for his mother and brother when they need him.
Connor in Public
Connor is rarely seen at big events. Still, there are a few moments when he appeared with his mother. One of them was her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in Los Angeles in April 2022. News photo agencies shared pictures of Jean with her family that day, and Connor was one of the people next to her.
Besides events like this, he stays out of the news. NBC says he has no social media accounts. If you find an account that claims to be Connor Douglas Gilliland, be careful. It is most likely not real.
What Does Connor Do for a Living?
This is one of the most searched questions about him, but there is no reliable answer. Neither Connor nor his family has shared a job title or a company name. Some websites say he works in a certain field, but they do not name a source we can trust.
The same is true for net worth. You will see numbers online, but no trustworthy outlet has confirmed any of them. It is better to say that this information is not public than to repeat a guess.
Is Connor Douglas Gilliland Married?
There is no confirmed information about his love life. We could not find a reliable report about a wife, a partner or children. Since Connor keeps his private life private, it makes sense to respect that.
Why Do People Search for Connor Douglas Gilliland?
There are a few clear reasons:
- Jean Smart is more popular than ever thanks to Hacks, so people want to know more about her family.
- Connor rarely appears in public, which makes people curious.
- Some people confuse his name with other people named Gilliland, so they search to be sure.
- Fans of Designing Women like to follow what happened to the cast and their families.
Tips for Finding Real Information About Celebrity Families
Because Connor is private, many sites fill their pages with guesses. Here are a few simple ways to avoid false facts:
- Check if the site names a real source, such as an interview or a news story.
- Be careful with exact numbers like height, weight or net worth. They are often made up.
- Compare two or three trusted outlets before you share a detail.
- Remember that private people have the right to stay private.
Final Thoughts
Connor Douglas Gilliland is the oldest son of Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland. He was born on October 25, 1989, and he is 37 years old today. He has a younger brother named Forrest, and he has been a big support for his family, especially after the death of his father in 2021.
He does not use social media, and he does not share details about his work or personal life. That is his choice. What we know for sure is small, but it shows a calm, caring son who stays close to his family and away from the spotlight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Connor Douglas Gilliland?
He is the oldest son of actress Jean Smart and the late actor Richard Gilliland. He lives a private life and is not a public figure.
How old is Connor Douglas Gilliland?
He was born on October 25, 1989, so he is 37 years old as of November 2026.
Does Connor Douglas Gilliland have any siblings?
Yes. He has a younger brother, Forrest, who the family adopted from China in May 2009.
Is Connor Douglas Gilliland on social media?
No. NBC reports that he is not on social media and keeps his life out of the spotlight.
What happened to Connor’s father, Richard Gilliland?
Richard Gilliland died on March 18, 2021, at age 71, from a heart condition. Jean Smart has said that Connor was a big help to the family after that loss.
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