Erik van der Woodsen

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Erik van der Woodsen
Replace this image male.svg
Gossip Girl
Portrayed by Connor Paolo
First appearance Book Series:
Gossip Girl
TV Series:
Pilot
Last appearance Book Series:
Would I Lie To You
Created by Cecily von Ziegesar
Profile
Gender Male
Age TV Series: 14
Occupation Book Series:
College Student at Brown University
TV Series:
High School Student at St. Jude's
Residence Book Series:
Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
994, Fifth Ave., Upper East Side of Manhattan
TV Series:
The New York Palace Hotel in Midtown Manhattan (TV series)

Erik van der Woodsen is one of the secondary characters in the book series Gossip Girl. His character is portrayed by Connor Paolo, as Eric van der Woodsen, in the TV series.

Contents

[edit] Book Series Background

Erik is the eldest child and only son of the wealthy Dutch shipping business owner William van der Woodsen and socialite Lillian van der Woodsen. He is close with his younger sister, uber girl Serena van der Woodsen. It is presumed he grew up at 992 Fifth Avenue, as that is his sister’s residence when she returns home from boarding school. Before going off to Brown University, Erik attended Hanover Academy in Hanover, New Hampshire as his sister did for her junior year. His middle and lower school education is not known, but he most likely attended either St. Jude’s or Riverside Prep. Erik, Serena, and their parents are all described as blonde, tall, and thin.

[edit] Overview

Erik in the book series is a junior at Brown University. Serena has said he has “at least six or seven different girlfriends he sleeps with routinely”. On a trip to Sun Valley, Erik and Serena’s best friend Blair Waldorf dated briefly.

Highly close to Serena, Erik threw her a giant sixteenth birthday bash and drove her up to Hanover on her first day of school there.

Other than this, Erik remained a relatively quiet secondary character throughout the series, however he did have a bigger part in the Gossip Girl prequel.

[edit] Television Background and Season 1 Overview

Eric is the son of Lily van der Woodsen and younger brother of Serena. He attempted suicide and was consequentially a patient at the Ostroff Center, which prompts his sister to return home from boarding school in the first episode. He resides with his family and soon to be step family, the Basses, at The New York Palace Hotel and attends St. Jude's School for Boys. In episode 1.16 Dan sees Asher Hornsby (who Eric met at Ostroff) and Eric kissing in front of St. Jude's, and Georgina outs Eric in front of Serena and Lily at dinner. Eric finally comes out of the closet at Jenny and Asher's party, confessing to everyone present.

[edit] Family

[edit] Book Series

[edit] TV Series

  • Lillian "Lily" Rhodes- van der Woodsen (mother)
  • Serena van der Woodsen (older sister)
  • Catherine Celia "Cece" Rhodes (maternal grandmother)
  • Carol (maternal aunt)
  • Bart Bass (step father)
  • Chuck Bass (step brother)

[edit] Romance

[edit] Book Series

[edit] TV Series

  • Asher Hornsby (ex-boyfriend)

[edit] Differences between the novels and TV series

  • In the book his name is spelled Erik whilst in the TV Series it's spelled Eric.
  • In the book Erik is older than Serena, but in the TV Series he's younger.
  • In the books he's a junior in college at Brown University, while in the TV series he's a freshman in high school at St. Jude's.
  • In the book Erik wasn't the reason for Serena's return, but in the TV Series his suicide attempt is what compels her to retun.
  • In the books Erik is heterosexual and has been projected by sister Serena as a "womanizer"; in the TV series, Eric came out as gay.
 v • d • e  GOSSIP GIRL
Primary
characters		 Serena van der Woodsen | Blair Waldorf | Dan Humphrey | Nate Archibald
Jenny Humphrey | Chuck Bass | Vanessa Abrams
Lily van der Woodsen | Rufus Humphrey | "Gossip Girl"
Secondary
characters		 Eric van der Woodsen | Isabel Coates | Howie "The Captain" Archibald | Bart Bass
Eleanor Waldorf | Alison Humphrey | Anne Archibald | Harold Waldorf | Georgina Sparks
Locations New York City | Upper East Side, Manhattan | Williamsburg, Brooklyn | The Palace
Other Episodes | Constance Billard School for Girls
St. Jude's School for Boys | Cecily von Ziegesar's book series

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