There are a lot of issues to like concerning the new FX collection Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette; the performances by Paul Anthony Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon because the doomed couple, the fastidiously curated early ’90s soundtrack, and the respectful exploration of superstar, love, and societal expectations. Additionally worthy of adulation is the collection’ devotion to recreating Nineteen Nineties glamour, from the glossy New York places of work of Calvin Klein — the place Bessette labored earlier than marrying Kennedy — to the stylish fashions and film stars with whom each Kennedy and Bessette work together.
Present creator Connor Hines (and, okay, government producer Ryan Murphy, too) deserves credit score for his accuracy to the time interval, using spot-on references to ’90s phenomenons like Heather Locklear and Brad Pitt. Different celebrities featured on Love Story are full-fledged characters who drive the narrative ahead, together with Daryl Hannah, Kate Moss, and Annette Bening. We have compiled essentially the most notable superstar characters and mentions beneath, leaving out others talked about solely briefly, like Jason Priestley, Keanu Reeves, Michael Jackson, and Saddam Hussein (!). We’re additionally not together with members of the Kennedy and Bouvier households who seem on the present, like Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Caroline Kennedy, Sen. Ted Kennedy, Edwin Schlossberg, and Lee Radziwill, since they function within the household and political spheres reasonably than Hollywood or vogue.
Mickey Rourke
The 9½ Weeks actor has the consideration of being the primary superstar name-dropped in Love Story, when, in 1992, Carolyn Bessette’s co-worker at Calvin Klein humblebrags that she ended up in a ball pit with the actor at legendary ’90s nightclub Tunnel. The Rourke reference informs the viewers that Carolyn and her coterie of buddies function on the fringes of America’s elite.
Calvin Klein
Subsequent up is the style designer himself (performed by Alessandro Nivola), who’s first seen entering into an elevator with Bessette. Klein is a significant character within the collection and a giant supporter of Bessette.
Kelly Klein
Calvin’s spouse is a confidante and advocate of Bessette’s. Klein (Leila George) expresses reservations about marrying her well-known husband, warning Bessette of the pitfalls of being hooked up to “shiny individuals.”
Demi Moore
Oscar-nominated legend Moore is briefly talked about within the pilot when Bessette is reprimanded by her CK boss for not urgent and bagging garments for Moore, who, post-Ghost, was one of many largest film stars of the time.
Annette Bening and Warren Beatty on the 1992 Golden Globe Awards.
Credit score: Photograph by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Photographs
Annette Bening
One other Oscar-nominated actress who loves Calvin Klein, Bening is fitted by the designer for the premiere of Bugsy, her movie with husband Warren Beatty. Bening, depicted as candy and delicate by actress Megan Channell, doesn’t love her costume however is guided by Bessette to a special, gender-bending look. Bening is besotted with Bessette, which impresses King Klein and units the saleswoman up for her promotion to CK’s publicity division.
Mashable High Tales
Madonna
Oddly sufficient, Bening is adopted by Madonna, who might or is probably not the topic of the Queen of Pop’s 1993 music “Thief of Hearts,” which went viral in 2026. Madonna, who dated Kennedy within the late ’80s, is talked about as a part of a crude joke by one in every of Kennedy’s soccer buddies. Madonna is referenced once more within the collection (see beneath).
Daryl Hannah on the 1992 MTV Film Awards.
Credit score: Photograph by Kypros/Getty Photographs
Daryl Hannah
The Splash star and on-again/off-again associate of JFK Jr. is a significant character within the collection, first talked about at a dinner with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and her grown youngsters. Hannah, portrayed as variety, delicate, and a bit hippie-dippy by actress Dree Hemingway, is just not Jackie’s favourite, probably as a result of she evokes recollections of her first husband’s affair with one other well-known blond actress. Hannah is a three-dimensional character within the first two episodes of the collection, however her portrayal in episode three is much less nuanced.
Pope Paul IV
We get a quick point out of Pope Paul IV, when JFK, Jr. claps again at his judgmental mom by mentioning the pope condemned her 1968 marriage to Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis (although it was extra akin to disapproval for Jackie marrying a divorced man).
Michael Bergin
This ’90s mannequin is a significant character within the collection, as he had an on-again, off-again relationship with Bessette (the latter claimed the connection continued even after her marriage to Kennedy). Once we first meet Bergin (Noah Fearnley), he is hustling his means by New York, working as a bellhop and cater waiter, pining for one thing extra critical with Bessette. Their relationship grows extra critical, at the very least within the present, after JFK, Jr. rekindles his relationship with Hannah. Afterwards, Bessette works to raise Bergin, sending his nascent modeling profession into orbit when he turns into Calvin Klein’s new sizzling male face (and physique), because of her advocacy.
Cindy Crawford
The supermodel is referenced a couple of instances within the early episodes of the collection. First, Klein is contemplating making her the face of his line, however Bessette pushes for the then-relatively unknown Kate Moss. The subsequent is historical past, as Moss skyrockets to stardom through her CK campaigns. Crawford is talked about once more when Kennedy is pitching his new political journal, George, to buyers; Crawford famously served because the publication’s first cowl mannequin, styled in George Washington drag.
Michael Bergin and Kate Moss selling Calvin Klein in 1994.
Credit score: Photograph by Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Assortment through Getty Photographs
Kate Moss
In Love Story, Bessette is depicted as one of many first individuals to see potential within the British mannequin. Bessette tells Klein that Moss has the elusive and guarded nature that drives individuals mad with need, a delicate reference to Bessette’s personal worldview, at the very least in line with the collection.
Mark Wahlberg
No superstar comes off worse in Love Story than Mark Wahlberg, then often called rapper Marky Mark. As a Calvin Klein underwear mannequin, MM’s future with the label is unsure after he will get right into a battle with Madonna’s entourage and makes use of an antigay slur. Bessette calls MM a purveyor of “shitty hip-hop,” and the entire CK group sours on him after discovering he does not just like the homosexual male consideration he obtained due to the underwear marketing campaign. With Bessette’s urging, Marky Mark is dumped by Calvin.
Marlon Brando
An ailing Jackie Kennedy burns her private letters within the days previous her dying, together with one correspondence from the Oscar-winner the place he recollects a wild evening out the place they danced and partied collectively.
