Born in Los Angeles but raised in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Caitlin’s path to success hasn’t followed the typical Hollywood fairy tale. Growing up in Uniontown—a small town about an hour south of Pittsburgh—she was surrounded by family and close friends. She describes it as a tight-knit community where everyone knew each other, a stark contrast to the anonymity of Los Angeles.
For Caitlin, it was the perfect place to grow up, and she still treasures the close-knit upbringing it provided. “My mom and I moved back here when I was five, almost six years old. I’m deeply connected to this place; in fact five generations of my maternal family is from Uniontown. So I had a lot of close friends growing up, and my grandparents and I were very close, as well as my mother,” she recalls. “I was a cheerleader in high school, and I really liked coming into Pittsburgh during my senior year. I’d go to Market Square with friends. And Station Square for Joe’s Crab Shack!”
As it turns out, Joe’s Crab Shack has since closed, but Caitlin has found another Pittsburgh staple to satisfy her cravings. “Uniontown recently got a Primanti’s, so I’ve been there more times than I should have,” she admits.
Her love for performing started early. “At Uniontown High School, I did some theater, but what really sparked my interest in TV hosting was hosting the Christmas program when I was at John F. Kennedy Elementary,” she says. “That was my first real experience in front of an audience.”
It was clear that Caitlin had the presence and charisma to be in front of the camera, but at the time, she wasn’t entirely sure what path she would take.
At 17, she left Uniontown for Los Angeles to attend UCLA. “I didn’t really know what I wanted to do in high school,” she says. “But when I got into UCLA, I started to form a new outlook. As an English major, I could go on to do a lot of different things—creative writing, screenwriting, journalism. It felt like a broad enough path to explore.”
While exploring those academic opportunities, Caitlin began to dip her toes into the world of modeling, looking for ways to gain experience in front of the camera and build her confidence in a competitive industry.
“I was the BruinBearWear model at UCLA,” she explains. “I got cast during an open call.”
That role led her to start self-submitting for other gigs, an unconventional move in an industry where connections are often everything. But Caitlin wasn’t going to sit around and wait for opportunities to come to her.
“The first big job I got was for the Simple Plan Astronaut music video,” she says. “I self-submitted on a casting website—no agent, no manager, just me putting myself out there.”
From there, her career has taken off. Caitlin has landed acting roles on hit shows like Two and a Half Men, Tosh.0, and Key & Peele, while also building a name for herself in the modeling world.
She quickly became a recognizable face for brands like Budweiser Black, Pepsi Next, and Target. She adds, “Maxim is one of my biggest platforms,” she says. “Hosting for them, as well as TheChive and a few other outlets, has really been my bread and butter.”
Despite the cutthroat nature of Hollywood, Caitlin credits her longevity to a few simple things: “Drive. Passion. Consistency…and social media,” she adds. “That’s what really set me apart.”
In addition to her growing career, Caitlin’s love life has been making waves—particularly her relationship with fellow Pittsburgh native Joe Manganiello.
The couple first met in September 2023 at an HBO Winning Time afterparty. “We hit it off right away,” she says with a smile. By December, they made their red carpet debut at the Children of Armenia Fund Gala in New York City, and since then, they’ve been inseparable. Their shared Pittsburgh roots made the connection even more special.
Joe, known for his roles in True Blood and Magic Mike, is as proud of his hometown as Caitlin is. Their bond extends beyond red carpets and travel—they are deeply committed to philanthropy together. One of the things that solidified Caitlin and Joe’s relationship was their shared dedication to giving back—especially to Pittsburgh.
“Joe is on the board of UPMC Children’s Hospital, and we go there every six months or so,” Caitlin says.
“Last time, after the Pirates game, we played bingo and Deal or No Deal with the kids so they could have some fun. It’s something we love doing together,” Caitlin shares. “It’s amazing to see their faces light up, even for a little while. They’re so strong, and if we can give them a moment to laugh and just be kids, that means everything to us.”
For Caitlin, the visits aren’t just about bringing smiles to the kids—they’re about staying connected to the city that raised her. “It’s important to us to show up and spend time with them,” she says. “These kids are going through so much, and even if we’re only there for a few hours, we want them to know they’re not alone, that people care about them, and that Pittsburgh is a community that always looks out for its own.”
That deep sense of community—the idea that people look out for one another—is something Caitlin has carried with her far beyond Pittsburgh. In an industry as fast-paced and competitive as Hollywood, staying grounded can be a challenge, but she credits her hometown values with keeping her centered.
“You can really get lost in Los Angeles,” she reflects. “If you go to a coffee shop, nobody will know your name—even if you go every day. It’s just a different atmosphere.”
But she’s found ways to carry the values she learned in Uniontown with her. “Pittsburgh is full of hardworking, genuine people,” she says. “We take pride in our friendships, our families, and our town. People from Pittsburgh are really hard workers and understand what it means to be a good person.”
That work ethic is something she hopes to pass on to young dreamers who want to follow in her footsteps. “If you want to make it in entertainment, hone your talent and skill set. Do your research. Use social media—not just for doomscrolling, but for networking,” she advises.
“The more people who know what you do, the easier it will be to get work. In the arts, you have to make your own connections and forge your own path. No one’s going to do it for you. It’s trial and error in this industry sometimes.”
With her career in full swing, a relationship that continues to grow, and a passion for giving back, Caitlin O’Connor is just getting started.
And as for what’s next? Well, she’s keeping her options open. “I’ve always done all of these things at the same time,” she says. “Acting, modeling, hosting—it’s a juggling act, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
One thing is certain: no matter where life takes her, Pittsburgh will always be home.
