Connor McNelis (he/him) is an American actor, writer, and director born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA.
A graduate of Edinboro University, his film work includes four back-to-back award-winning films in the Pittsburgh 48 Hour Film Project, all receiving Best Film. His third effort, "The Young One-Two", which he was awarded Best Actor for, along with being both casting director and a story writer, would go on to receive multiple accolades at the international festival Filmapalooza, and be selected to screen in the Short Film Corner of the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. His most recent 48 Hour film, "Dry Spell", which he also co-wrote and directed, would give him his second Best Actor award in a row.
Other film works include the lauded short film "A Funny Man", which he co-wrote and produced, and his directorial debut with the LGBTQ-film "Santorum", receiving Best Writing at the 2019 Indie Oaks Film Festival. His theatre work extends throughout the Pittsburgh region, including All Quiet on the Western Front with Prime Stage Theatre (U.S. Premiere), Steel with Pittsburgh CLO, and multiple award-winning productions with the Pittsburgh New Works Festival.
“Connor McNelis shows powerful range as the unnamed thief, and is lucky enough to come away, as we do, with a life lesson that questions more than it teaches.”
- Stuart Sheppard, City Paper
on the Pittsburgh New Works Festival
“Connor McNelis is utterly irresistible as the charmingly cocky Hanschen, and his chemistry with the wonderful Palmer Masciola (Ernst) is blissfully great to watch.”
-Eva Phillips, onStage Pittsburgh
on Spring Awakening at Comtra Theatre
The drama is narrated in play-by-play style by the young German protagonist Paul (the impressive Connor McNelis), who evolves from naïve, patriotic student to seasoned soldier at the speed of war. It’s a Hamlet-like role, his character on stage for most of the two-hour run-time — sometimes stepping into things, sometimes stepping back and commenting, and even stepping outside of himself, as in one poignant scene when he tries to comfort a dead soldier’s mother.
