Wedding bells are ringing for Joe Manganiello and Caitlin O’Connor! The couple is officially engaged. Beloved “America’s Got Talent” Judge Sofia Vergara‘s ex-husband, Maganiello, 48, is reportedly engaged to longtime girlfriend Caitlin O’Connor, TMZ has confirmed.
Sources close to the couple say they’re “excited for this next chapter” and have been celebrating with friends and family. Manganiello publicly referred to O’Connor as his fiancée while accepting his Career Spotlight Award at the San Diego Film Festival, thanking her for her love and support during his speech.
While the exact proposal date hasn’t been revealed, engagement rumors first began circulating in June when O’Connor was spotted wearing a large diamond ring on her left hand during a trip to Italy with Manganiello.
A Second Chance at Love
(Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Maui Film Festival )This marks O’Connor’s first marriage and Manganiello’s second. He was previously married to actress Sofía Vergara for nearly eight years before filing for divorce in 2023.
O’Connor, 35, is an actress and TV host known for her work with ArsenicTV and Maxim Magazine, where she’s interviewed stars such as Hailey Bieber and Post Malone. She’s also appeared on Two and a Half Men, Key & Peele, Southpaw, and HBO’s Winning Time.
(Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for Universal Studios Hollywood)Manganiello, meanwhile, most recently hosted NBC’s Deal or No Deal Island and continues to expand his producing and directing work.
From Red Carpets to Romantic Gestures
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)Manganiello and O’Connor first sparked dating rumors in September 2023, just two months after his split from Vergara. They confirmed their relationship that December, making their red carpet debut at the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) Gala in New York City.
Since then, the two have become inseparable. When Manganiello turned 48 on December 28, O’Connor planned an intimate dinner at Carousel, a popular Lebanese-Armenian restaurant in Los Angeles.
“She had custom Steelers cakes,” a source told People. “One was lemon and one was mocha.”
Her thoughtful gift was a custom-made, solid gold crocodile pendant, inspired by Manganiello’s One Piece character, Mr. 0.
A Celebration of Love
People reported that the couple also spent the holidays traveling, celebrating Christmas in the Bahamas, and ringing in the New Year in Las Vegas. They were spotted at an Incubus concert before sharing a midnight kiss on the rooftop of the Cosmopolitan Hotel.
“Joe and Caitlin have a really natural connection,” a source close to the couple said. “She makes him laugh, and he feels completely himself around her. They’re the real deal.”
With the engagement now official, friends say the pair are taking time to enjoy the moment before jumping into wedding planning.
