The Golden Bachelorette has revealed the bachelors -- including The Bachelor alum Kelsey Anderson's father, Mark Anderson -- who will be competing to win Joan Vassos' heart on the ABC show this fall.
ADVERTISEMENT
ABC has announced the 24 men, ages 57 through 69, who will be competing for Joan's final rose on The Golden Bachelorette when it premieres with a two-hour episode on Wednesday, September 18 at 8PM ET/PT on ABC.
These accomplished "golden" men will be taking time away from their established lives at home -- and their family, friends and children -- to hopefully rediscover love with the 61-year-old mother and grandmother from Rockland, MD, or at least learn something new about themselves.
While many of the senior bachelors are retired from their jobs, quite a few men in Joan's The Golden Bachelorette cast are still working. The lineup includes a private investor, an ER doctor, a rancher, a caterer, a salon owner, and a fire department chief.
Shortly after Joan was announced as The Golden Bachelorette star in May, Kelsey -- who got engaged to Joey Graziadei at the end of The Bachelor's 28th season -- apparently made a "funny" joke about how Joan could end up being her "stepmom," according to Joan.
ADVERTISEMENT
And before filming began in June, Joan was asked how she'd feel if Mark, a 57-year-old army veteran from Leesville, LA, just so happened to step out of a limo on Night 1 of her journey.
"I think he was a really sweet man. He was handsome, he was a family kind of guy, he lost his spouse, and I think we have a lot in common!" Joan gushed to Entertainment Tonight of the man who's already adored by Bachelor Nation.
"I don't doubt that we could have maybe a little spark! I'm hoping so. If he steps out of a limo, I'm going to be happy."
Joan had quit Gerry Turner's season of The Golden Bachelor, which wrapped in November 2023 on ABC, a couple of weeks into filming last year to help her daughter recover from postpartum depression at home.
"I so thought that I was going to be that girl who left that nobody remembers," Joan told ET, reflecting back on her early The Golden Bachelor departure.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I really was sad about that, honestly, because I loved being here. I think the process worked. I was sad when I had to leave, so having the opportunity to come back and [having] people actually remember me a little bit [is amazing]."
ABC teased that Joan is a "remarkable woman" whose life has been "defined by her resilience, zest for adventure, and strong family values."
The network added how Joan "remains an embodiment of strength and grace as a devoted mother of four, grandmother of two, and school administrator, while finding solace in the music of Elton John, spending time with her dog, and cooking."
Joan previously revealed that she's looking for a family man, a gentleman, and someone who's very polite, charming, endearing and adventurous.
Joan admitted to ET she had "planned on" having all those adventures with her late husband, John Vassos, but he passed away from cancer at age 59 in 2021.
ADVERTISEMENT
"When all of that kind of vanished, I really missed that thought and planning a future with somebody and doing new things... So I am ready for someone who has a little sense of adventure and is ready to have some fun," Joan said.
Below is the list of 24 bachelors who will appear on The Golden Bachelorette, but click on the BEGIN GALLERY link below to also see photos of all the men!
- William "Bill" Hernandez a 68-year-old retired videographer from Portland, OR
- Robert "Bob" Kilroy a 66-year-old chiropractor from Marina Del Ray, CA
- Charles King, a 62-year-old portfolio manager from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
ADVERTISEMENT
- Charles Ling, a 66-year-old retired financial analyst from Philadelphia, PA
- Charles "Chock" Chapple, a 60-year-old insurance executive from Wichita, KS
- Christopher Stallworth, a 64-year-old contractor from West Babylon, NY
- Daniel "Dan" Roemer a 64-year-old private investor from Naples, FL
- David Huff, a 68-year-old rancher from Austin, TX
- Gary Levingston, a 65-year-old retired finance executive from Palm Desert, CA
- Gil Ramirez, a 60-year-old educator from Mission Viejo, CA
- Gregg Lassen, a 64-year-old retired university VP from Longboat Key, FL
- Guy Gansert, a 66-year-old ER doctor from Reno, NV
- John "Jack" Lencioni a 68-year-old caterer from Chicago, IL
- Jonathan Rone, a 61-year-old shipping consultant from Oakland, IA
ADVERTISEMENT
- Jordan Heller, a 61-year-old sales manager from Chicago, IL
- Keith Gordon, a 62-year-old girl dad from San Jose, CA
- Kenneth "Ken" O'Brien a 60-year-old property management treasurer from Peabody, MA
- Kim Buike, a 69-year-old retired navy captain from Seattle, WA
- Mark Anderson, a 57-year-old army veteran from Leesville, LA
- Michael Stevens, a 65-year-old retired banking CEO from Denver, NC
- Pablo Gonzalez-Juana, a 63-year-old retired UN agency director from Cambridge, MD
- Pascal Ibgui, a 69-year-old salon owner from Chicago, IL
- Ralph "RJ" Johnson a 66-year-old financial advisor from Irvine, CA
- Thomas, a 62-year-old fire department chief from New York, NY