FIRST LOOK: Brett Donahue Will Play John F. Kennedy Jr. in The Kennedys – After Camelot

John F. Kennedy Jr. captured the hearts of the American people the moment he gave his famous salute in front of his father's coffin after the assassination in 1963.

The son of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died in a plane crash in 1999 when the plane he piloted carrying Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and her sister Lauren crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on the way to Martha's Vineyard.

Seventeen years after his death, Reelz is filming a new mini-series The Kennedys – After Camelot about the the family's life after 1963.

Canadian actor Brett Donahue landed the role of JFK Jr. in the miniseries, joining Katie Holmes as Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Matthew Perry as Ted Kennedy.



Donahue, 30, may be best known to American audiences from his roles in film and television productions including Total Recall, Suits and Beauty and the Beast.

"Our casting team looked at dozens of young actors for this iconic role before we landed on Brett Donahue – whose final audition was absolutely riveting," said Michael Prupas CEO of Muse Entertainment, which is producing the series.

The miniseries is based on the New York Times bestseller After Camelot: Personal History of the Kennedy Family 1968 to the Present by J. Randy Taraborrelli and will air in spring 2017.