Charlie O'Connell takes the plunge on the latest installment of ABC's The Bachelor – all thanks to actor brother Jerry (Jordan's Crossing). "(His) friend is one of the producers, and Jerry said, 'What do you think of becoming the next Bachelor,' " recalls Charlie. "I chuckled." Then the New Yorker thought, "Why not?" Charlie, 29, recently talked about finding love among 25 women and confronts the rumor that he dumped his girlfriend for the gig.
Jerry was a pudgy kid who grew into a star. What about you?
I was born two months premature, so I was about half my brother's size up until maybe 11th grade when I sprouted up (to 6'3"). Before that, I was 5'7". Now I teach sailing every summer in Montauk, Long Island. I'm basically a camp counselor to 10- to 13-year-olds for three months out of the year.
It's been alleged that you dumped your girlfriend to be on the show. Any truth to that?
After about a year you have to decide if it's right and if it's worth going on, and it just so happened it was around the same time. But I broke up with her, and what better way to break up with a girl than to tell her you're going on The Bachelor?
What's your dating life like?
I was a late bloomer. My first girlfriend was the senior year of college. I've had three relationships in my life that lasted for just about over a year. My parents have been married for 33 years. I am not trying to rush into marriage because I'm only going to do it once in my life.
What's your ideal woman?
What I am looking for in a girl? ... If I knew what I was looking for, I'd go get a mail-order bride! Obviously, I like a pretty girl, but then you've got to be able to make me laugh.
Any turnoffs?
If they like my brother. No! An immediate turnoff? Probably rudeness, like to a waiter or someone like that.
Had you watched the show in the past?
I haven't watched the other ones, but I will tell you I am more of a jeans guy than a suit any day, so I thought it would be a better way to portray myself. I am not trying to fake who I am. I am definitely not Mr. Right.
Were you worried at all that some of the women were there because of your famous brother?
If you've ever watched his movie Calendar Girl, I don't know why you'd think that! ... We competed a lot growing up, but in high school he would always sell me as a date, and my mom would always make me go on these dates. This one I thank him for.
Are you really thinking you're going to find love here?
I am really hoping so.
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