Jason Priestley
history
| location = Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| spouse = Naomi Lowde-Priestley (2005-present)
Ashlee Petersen (1999-2000) (divorced)
| occupation = Actor/Director
| yearsactive = 1986âpresent
}}
Jason Bradford Priestley (born August 28, 1969) Rovin, Jeff (1991) Luke mania! Jason fever! Fantail, London is a Canadian-American actor and director. He is best known as the virtuous Brandon Walsh on the television series Beverly Hills, 90210, a role which catapulted him to recognition in the early 1990s.
Early life
Born Jason Bradford Priestley on August 28, 1969 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Priestley became a naturalized American in 2007. »Top 100 He is a graduate of Argyle Secondary School in North Vancouver.
He has a sister, Justine Priestley Rovin, ibid. , and two step siblings, Karin and Kristi.
Career
Jason Priestley first started his television career in 1989 on the short-lived sitcom Sister Kate which starred Stephanie Beacham. He played Todd, one of the fosterchildren under the care of Sister Kate, an English nun. In 1990, Priestley was chosen as Brandon Walsh on the hit series Beverly Hills, 90210. He also directed nineteen of the show's episodes. He remained on the show until 1998, when Brandon moved to Washington, DC. Brandon was the last Walsh to leave the show, however, Priestley would continue to serve as an executive producer until the show's cancellation in 2000.
Priestley joined the cast of Tru Calling as Jack Harper from 2004-2005. He was also a regular on the 2006 program Love Monkey. His television work also includes the WB show What I Like About You and a February 2006 appearance on Without a Trace. Priestley has also made several films, his most notable role perhaps being in 1997's Love and Death on Long Island, in which he played a teen idol struggling to be taken seriously as an actor. He directed the nineteenth episode in the ďŹnal season of 7th Heaven. He also directed two episodes of The Secret Life of the American Teenager "Slice of Life"and "Just Say No". They appeared on August 26, 2008 and September 9, 2008 on ABC Family.
On July 15, 2007 he returned to series television as one of the lead males in Lifetime Television's comedy-drama Side Order of Life.
On October 15, 2008 TV Guide announced that Priestley would make a guest appearance on NBCâs My Name Is Earl. Priestley played Blake, Earl's better-looking and more successful cousin.»Camden County, 08102: Priestley to Play Blake on Earl" TV Guide.Retrieved on October 16, 2008.
On November 11, 2008, TV Guide reported that Priestley would direct five episodes of Secret Life.»Jason Priestley Gets Busy on Earl, Secret Life, 90210" TV Guide. Retrieved on November 12, 2008. Priestley directed the episode when Tori Spelling returned to 90210.
On August 2009, Priestley directed and co-produced all 12 episodes of the web-series The Lake»http://www.thewb.com/thelake on TheWB.com
In December 2009 along with Dougray Scott, Brian Cox and Eddie Izzard Priestley featured in The Day of the Triffids, written by Patrick Harbinson, whose credits include ER and Law & Order. The drama is based on John Wyndham's best-selling post-apocalyptic novel, The Day Of The Triffids.»http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/4592119/Vanessa-Redgrave-to-star-in-BBCs-The-Day-of-the-Triffids.html
Personal life
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Priestley dated Beverly Hills, 90210 co-star Shannen Doherty between 1990-1991, later admitting on The Howard Stern Show that the two had slept together. Between 1992â1997, Priestley lived with actress Christine Elise, who had a recurring role on Beverly Hills, 90210 as Emily Valentine. In 1999, he married film and television actress Ashlee Petersen, whom he met on the set of Beverly Hills, 90210. They divorced in 2000.
In 2005, he married make-up artist Naomi Lowde. On July 2, 2007, he became a father to daughter, Ava Veronica, with his wife Naomi. She weighed 7 lbs, 4 oz at birth. On April 13, 2009, Priestley announced that he and his wife were expecting their second child, a son, who was born on July 9, 2009 and is reportedly named Dashiell Orson.»http://celebrity-babies.com/2009/04/13/jason-priestley-and-naomi-lowde-expecting-second-child/
On July 9, 2007, he revealed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien that he had become an American citizen several weeks prior.
Priestley older sister (not his twin - as is often reported), Justine, is also an actress. He tried to get her to audition for the role of Brenda Walsh on Beverly Hills 90210. Although this never came to pass, she did appear in a couple of episodes on the 90210 spin-off show Melrose Place in 1996.
Jason and his co-star on Beverly Hills, 90210, Luke Perry were and still are very good friends. Luke Perry revealed on Dame Edna's chat show in 1990-1991 that there is no competition between them at all, and that they get on very well, as well as going fishing and bungee jumping together.
Race car driving
His hobbies include race car driving. He rallied a Toyota Celica All-trac ST185 in the SCCA Pro Rally Series. He has provided commentary and interviews of racers for ABC's TV coverage of IndyCar racing. In 1999 he participated in the first Gumball 3000 rally, driving a Lotus Esprit V-8. On August 11, 2002, he was seriously injured during a practice run at the Kentucky Speedway when his Indy Pro Series car crashed into a wall at nearly 180 miles per hour. He made a quick and full recovery.
According to a January 2008 Associated Press article, it was announced that Priestley would become a joint owner in a new IndyCar Series team. The new team was known as Rubicon Race Team managed by co-owner Jim Freudenberg. They initially entered a car in the 2008 Indianapolis 500. The car was prepared by Indianapolis-based Sam Schmidt Motorsports and the driver was Max Papis. »www.motorsport-total.com, March 04, 2008
In the article, Jason was interviewed and said, "I'm excited to be able to spend the month of May in Indy with my good friends and be a part of the greatest open wheel race," "It's been more than five years since my accident, and it's going to be so good to get to see everyone."Herman, Steve. »Actor Jason Priestley to become joint owner in new IRL race team, Associated Press, January 21, 2008 Despite the team's enthusiasm, it suffered a crash during the second weekend of qualifying then had subsequent gearbox problems and failed to qualify for the race.
Priestley is listed as an owner of the new FAZZT Race Team which intends to compete full time in the IndyCar Series beginning in 2010.
Promotional activity for Barenaked Ladies
Priestley is a big fan of the band Barenaked Ladies and went to many of their California concerts in the early to mid-1990s. He eventually met the band and in his desire to help them succeed, suggested that he direct the music video for "The Old Apartment", »Jason Priestley - Beverly Hills 90210 and used his fame to persuade American stations to air it. He did just that, and also invited the band to play at the "Peach Pit After Dark" on an episode of 90210.»Barenaked Ladies Biography on Yahoo! Music Lead singer, Ed Robertson, continues to cite him as being instrumental in their American success. His final notable contribution to the band came when he directed a feature-length documentary about the band's 1999 whirlwind of success entitled Barenaked in America, intending to capture on film the fun he had while riding around on the tour bus with the band. »Review: Barenaked in America directed by Jason Priestley
Movies
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"
! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Film
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1986
| The Boy Who Could Fly
| Gary
|
|-
| 1988
| Watchers
| Boy on Bike
|
|-
| 1989
| Nowhere to Run
| Howard
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|1993
| Calendar Girl
| Roy Darpinian
|
|-
| Tombstone
| Deputy Billy Breckinridge
|
|-
| 1995
| Coldblooded
| Cosmo Reif
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|1997
| Love and Death on Long Island
| Ronnie Bostock
|
|-
| Hacks
| The Dude
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|1998
| Conversations in Limbo
|
|
|-
| The Thin Pink Line
| Hunter Green
|
|-
| rowspan="4"|1999
| Choose Life
| DJ
|
|-
| Dill Scallion
| Jo Joe Hicks
|
|-
| Standing on Fishes
| Jason
|
|-
| Eye of the Beholder
| Gary
|
|-
| rowspan="3"|2000
| Lion of Oz
| Lion
| Voice Role
|-
| Herschel Hopper: New York Rabbit
| Xavier
| Voice Role
|-
| The Highwayman
| Breakfast
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|2001
| Zigs
| David
|
|-
| The Fourth Angel
| Davidson
|
|-
| rowspan="5"|2002
| Darkness Falling
| Michael Pacer
|
|-
| Cherish
| Andrew
|
|-
| Cover Story
| JC Peck
|
|-
| Time of the Wolf
| Mr. Nelson
|
|-
| Fancy Dancing
| Asa Gemmil
|
|-
| 2003
| Die, Mommie, Die!
| Tony Parker
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|2004
| Chicks with Sticks
| Steve Cooper
|
|-
| Going the Distance
| Lenny Swackhammer
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|2006
| Hot Tamale
| Jude
|
|-
| Made in Brooklyn
| D.J.
|
|}
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"
! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | TV
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| rowspan="3"|1987
| Airwolf
| Bobby
| A Piece of Cake
|-
| 21 Jump Street
| Tober
Brian
| Mean Streets and Pastel Houses
Episode: Two for the Road
|-
| Danger Bay
| Derek
| Deep Trouble
|-
| 1988
| MacGyver
| Danny
| Blood Brothers
|-
| rowspan="3"|1989
| Teen Angel
| Buzz Gunderson
|
|-
| Quantum Leap
| Pencil
| Camikazi Kid
|-
| Sister Kate
| Todd Mahaffey
|
|-
| 1990
| Teen Angel Returns
| Buzz Gunderson
|
|-
| 1990-1998
| Beverly Hills, 90210
| Brandon Walsh
|
|-
| rowspan="3"|1992
| Saturday Night Live
| Host
| Jason Priestley/Teenage Fanclub
|-
| Drexell's Class
| Teen Priest
| Cruisin'
|-
| Eek! The Cat
| Bo Diddly Squat
| Voice Role
|-
| 1994
| Kings Island 20th Anniversary Special
| Host
| TV Special
|-
| rowspan="2"|1995
| Choices of the Heart: The Margaret Sanger Story
| Narrator
| TV-Movie
|-
| Biker Mice from Mars
| Jack McCyber
| Virtual Unreality
Hit the Road, Jack
|-
| rowspan="2"|1997
| Vanishing Point
| The Voice
| TV Movie
|-
| The Outer Limits
| Anthony Szigetti
| New Lease
|-
| 1998
|
| Reep Daggle/Chameleon Boy
| New Kids in Town
|-
| rowspan="4"|2000
| Common Ground
| Billy
| TV Movie
|-
| Homicide: The Movie
| Det. Robert Hall
| TV-Movie
|-
| The 11 O'Clock Show
| Himself
| 4.41
|-
| Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
| Jarred
| TV Movie
|-
| 2001
| Spin City
| Scott
| In the Company of Dudes
|-
| rowspan="4"|2002
| Jeremiah
| Michael
| ...And the Ground, Sown with Salt
|-
| Tom Stone
| Doug
| Little Bitty
|-
|
| Charlie Burner
| TV Movie
|-
| The True Meaning of Christmas Specials
| Santa Dude
| TV Special
|-
| 2003
| 8 Simple Rules
| Carter Tibbits
| Every Picture Tells a Story
|-
| rowspan="4"|2004
| Rides
| Host
| Documentary
|-
| I Want to Marry Ryan Banks
| Ryan Banks
| TV Movie
|-
| Sleep Murder
| Peter Radwell
| TV Movie
|-
| Quintuplets
| Steve Chase
| Thanksgiving Day Charade
|-
| 2004-2005
| Tru Calling
| Jack Harper
|
|-
| rowspan="4"|2005
| Colditz
| Flying Officer Rhett Barker
| TV Movie
|-
| Murder at the Presidio
| Tom
| TV Movie
|-
| What I Like About You
| Charlie
| The Perfect Date
Halloween
|-
| Snow Wonder
| Warren
| TV Movie
|-
| rowspan="6"|2006
| Hockeyville
| Himself
|
|-
| Love Monkey
| Mike Freed
|
|-
| Without a Trace
| Allen Davis
| Crossroads
|-
| Above and Beyond
| Sir Frederick Banting
| Miniseries
|-
| Shades of Black: The Conrad Black Story
| Jeff Riley
| TV Movie
|-
| Masters of Horror
| Alan
| The Screwfly Solution
|-
| rowspan="7"|2007
| Subs
| Mr. Clayton
| Pilot
|-
| Luna: Spirit of the Whale
| Ted Jeffries
| TV Movie
|-
| Medium
| Walter Paxton
| Head Games
Heads Will Roll
Everything Comes to a Head
|-
| Don't Cry Now
| Nick
| TV Movie
|-
| Termination Point
| Caleb Smith
| TV Movie
|-
| Everest '82
| John Lauchlan
| Miniseries
|-
| Side Order of Life
| Ian Denison
|
|-
| rowspan="3"|2008
| The Other Woman
| Pete
| TV Movie
|-
| My Name Is Earl
| Cousin Blake
| Earl and Joy's Anniversary
|-
| A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride
| William
| TV Movie
|-
| rowspan="2"|2009
| Expecting a Miracle
| Pete Stanhope
| TV Movie
|-
| The Day of the Triffids (2009 TV series)''
| Coker
| TV Series
|-
|}
Awards and nominations
Gemini Awards
- 2003: Nominated, "Best Performance or Host in a Variety Program or Series" - The True Meaning of Christmas Specials (shared w/co-stars)
- 1993: Nominated, "Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series (Drama)" - Beverly Hills, 90210
- 1995: Nominated, "Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series (Drama)" - Beverly Hills, 90210
Young Artist Awards
- 1990: Nominated, "Best Young Actor Supporting Role in a Television Series" - Sister Kate
- List of celebrities who own wineries and vineyards
- »Official Jason Priestley Website
- »Jason Priestley Interview on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos
- »Jason Priestley directs The Lake on TheWB