Andrew Rannells confirmed he had a \u201cvery brief relationship\u201d with Anderson Cooper over 20 years ago.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0actor made the revelation during a recent episode of Daily Beast\u2019s \u201cObsessed: The Podcast,\u201d<\/a> explaining his \u201cGirls\u201d character Elijah\u2019s short-lived relationship with a fictional television host was based on his time with Cooper.<\/p>\n \u201cI told\u00a0Lena [Dunham]\u00a0and [co-creator]\u00a0Jenni Konner\u00a0a story about when I was 25 that I had dated Anderson Cooper, and I told them about the experience and what that was like,\u201d Rannells said.<\/p>\n Andrew Rannells (pictured here in May) revealed that he and Anderson Cooper had \u201cvery brief relationship\u201d while he was in his 20s. WireImage<\/p>\n The actor said that he based his \u201cGirls\u201d character, Elijah\u2019s Season 5 relationship with fictional TV host Dill Harcourt (played by Corey Stoll) on Cooper (pictured here in 2023). Getty Images for SiriusXM<\/p>\n It then became Elijah\u2019s storyline on Season 5 of the HBO series, which ran for six seasons from 2012 until 2017.<\/p>\n Rannells, who is now 47, added that the co-creators thought it was a \u201cfun story.\u201d<\/p>\n During Season 5, Elijah and Dill Harcourt (Corey Stoll) had a dalliance before splitting over their age difference, with the latter confessing he wanted to date \u201csomeone less aimless.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI told\u00a0Lena [Dunham]\u00a0and [co-creator]\u00a0Jenni Konner\u00a0a story about when I was 25 that I had dated Anderson Cooper, and I told them about the experience and what that was like,\u201d the \u201cBlack Monday\u201d star (pictured here earlier this month) explained about how the 2016 storyline came to be. MediaPunch \/ BACKGRID<\/p>\n When the season was airing, Stoll (pictured here on the show with Rannells) refused to confirm the rumors, while the \u201cBoys in the Band\u201d actor told Elle that Dill simply represents a grown-up relationship. Apatow Productions\/Kobal \/ Shutterstock<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tWant more celebrity and pop culture news?\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with Page Six Daily.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n In 2016, when the season aired, Stoll told Queerty<\/a> that he \u201cdid not base this character on anybody.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t comment on it,\u201d the actor said about rumors his character was inspired by Cooper, who is 12 years Rannells\u2019 senior. \u201cI was playing Dill Harcourt.\u201d<\/p>\n Cooper, now 59, told\u00a0The Post<\/a>,<\/a> at the time, \u201cI thought he was more of a [Bill]\u00a0O\u2019Reilly\u00a0character.<\/p>\n \u201cI just met Lena Dunham at Sundance and she didn\u2019t mention anything to me, but I\u2019d be flattered,\u201c he mused. \u201cI\u2019m a friend of Andrew\u2019s. I should ask him.\u201d<\/p>\n For his part, the journalist (pictured here) said he would be \u201cflattered\u201d if that were true. 60 Minutes \/ CBS<\/p>\n The CNN star went on to date Benjamin Maisani (pictured here together in 2013) from 2014- 2019. Getty Images<\/p>\n