Broadway star and actor Andrew Rannells has publicly confirmed for the first time that he briefly dated CNN anchor Anderson Cooper when he was 25 years old.
Speaking on a recent episode of The Daily Beast’s Obsessed podcast, the 47-year-old Girls alumnus shared details of the long-rumored romance. Rannells revealed that the real-life experience directly inspired a major television storyline for his character, Elijah Krantz, on Lena Dunham’s hit HBO comedy series.
The confirmation solves a decade-long mystery for fans of the show, who had long speculated about the true identity of a high-profile news anchor character introduced in the series.
A Brief Twentieth-Century Romance Revealed
During his podcast appearance, Rannells detailed how the short-lived relationship occurred long before he found mainstream television fame. At 25, Rannells was working in theater and navigating early adulthood in New York City when he crossed paths with the notable broadcast journalist.
“I told [creators] Lena [Dunham] and Jenni Konner a story about when I was 25 that I had dated Anderson Cooper,” Rannells said on the podcast. “And I told them about the experience and what that was like.”
Rannells described the relationship as “very brief” but memorable enough to catch the attention of the Girls writing team. “When I told them that, they were like, ‘Oh, that’s a fun story,'” Rannells recalled, leading the producers to weave elements of his real life into the script.
From Real Life to HBO: The Dill Harcourt Connection
The real-life romance served as the baseline for a major multi-episode arc during Season 5 of Girls, which originally aired in 2016. In the series, Rannells’ character, Elijah, meets Dill Harcourt (played by Corey Stoll), a powerful, charming, and highly influential television news anchor, while at a bar.
Elijah and Dill quickly begin a whirlwind romance, with Elijah becoming deeply infatuated with the successful, older media figure. However, the fictional relationship eventually collapses due to the vast age difference, lifestyle gaps, and Dill’s commitment issues.
When the episodes first broadcasted, television critics and fans instantly pointed out similarities between the fictional Dill Harcourt and Anderson Cooper, who is one of the most visible gay journalists in American media. At the time, however, the cast and crew played down the direct connection. Rannells told Elle magazine in 2016 that the character wasn’t a direct parody, stating, “I think the general idea that he’s this powerful, you know, adult, is what’s important.”
Actor Corey Stoll also maintained at the time that his performance was completely independent. “I did not base this character on anybody,” Stoll previously told Queerty.
How Anderson Cooper Originally Reacted to the Rumors
Interestingly, Anderson Cooper himself was asked about the brewing Girls theories back when Season 5 was actively airing in 2016. At the time, Cooper confessed to being a massive fan of the HBO series but claimed to be unaware of any direct inspiration.
“I’m obsessed with Girls, but I’m a few episodes behind,” Cooper told the New York Post in 2016. “I just met Lena Dunham at Sundance and she didn’t mention anything to me, but I’d be flattered.”
Upon hearing more about the storyline from reporters, Cooper added, “Wait — is that the guy Andrew Rannells’ [character] is dating? I thought he was more of a [Bill] O’Reilly character. I’m a friend of Andrew’s. I should ask him.”
Where Both Stars Stand Today
While the brief romance did not work out long-term, both public figures have moved on to high-profile relationships and family milestones in the years since.
Rannells has been in a committed relationship with fellow actor Tuc Watkins since 2019. The couple initially met in 2018 while working together on the Broadway production of The Boys in the Band and have since shared both the stage and screen in subsequent projects. Rannells is currently promoting his film Miss You, Love You, starring alongside Allison Janney.
Cooper, 59, was in a long-term relationship with nightclub mogul Benjamin Maisani from 2014 to 2019. Though they split romantically, the two remain close co-parents to their two young sons, Wyatt and Sebastian.
A representative for Anderson Cooper has been reached out to for comment regarding Rannells’ recent podcast disclosures.
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