Joe Manganiello Celebrated His 48th Birthday with Party Thrown by Girlfriend Caitlin O'Connor — Featuring Custom Steelers Cakes (Exclusive Source)
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01/06/2025 03:31 PM
A source tells PEOPLE that O'Connor threw Manganiello a dinner party in Los Angeles for his 48th birthday
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Caitlin O'Connor and Joe ManganielloJoe Manganiello felt the love during his recent birthday celebrations.
The Magic Mike star turned 48 on Dec. 28, and a source tells PEOPLE that his girlfriend, Caitlin O'Connor, took the reins when it came to planning his party. According to the source, O'Connor, 35, threw Manganiello a dinner with his friends and family at the famous Lebanese-Armenian restaurant Carousel in Los Angeles.
"She had custom Steelers cakes," the source shares. "One was lemon and one was mocha."
"His birthday gift from Caitlin was a custom-made solid gold crocodile pendant," they add, explaining that it was a nod to Manganiello's One Piece character Mr. 0.
Related: Who Is Joe Manganiello's Girlfriend? All About Caitlin O'Connor
The couple snuck in the celebration after spending Christmas in the Bahamas and leaving days later for New Year's Eve in Las Vegas, continues the source. They reportedly watched the band Incubus perform before they "rang in the New Year with a New Year's kiss" on the rooftop of the Cosmopolitan Hotel.
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Caitlin O'Connor and Joe ManganielloManganiello and O'Connor first sparked dating rumors in September 2023 — just two months after Manganiello filed for divorce from ex-wife Sofía Vergara following seven years of marriage. In December 2023, Manganiello and O'Connor confirmed the relationship while making their red carpet debut at the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) Gala in New York City.
O'Connor is a host and actress, having worked for ArsenicTV and Maxim Magazine interviewing a variety of celebrities ranging from Hailey Bieber to Post Malone. She has also appeared on Two and a Half Men, Key & Peele, Southpaw and HBO's Winning Time.
In July 2024, a source told PEOPLE that Manganiello and O'Connor were prioritizing open communication about having children after Vergara revealed she attributed her divorce from the True Blood alum to their differing views on starting a family. While Manganiello wanted to have a baby, now-52-year-old Vergara said it was "not for me" at that stage in her life.
"My marriage broke up because my husband was younger; he wanted to have kids and I didn't want to be an old mom," Vergara told El País at the time. "I feel it's not fair to the baby. I respect whoever does it, but that's not for me anymore."
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The source explained that "the 'kids conversation' has been something that Joe and Caitlin have both had to navigate now because of Sofía's statements, which make it seem like Joe is only in the relationship to have kids and that he is with Caitlin because she's of 'child-bearing years.'"
The insider added that the Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty actress "would not enter that kind of relationship" and the two have "a good partnership."
Season 2 of Manganiello's hit show, Deal or No Deal Island, premieres Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
