Jason Priestley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jason Priestley
Priestley in 2012
Born	Jason Bradford Priestley (1969-08-28) August 28, 1969 (age 55) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Citizenship	Canada United States
Occupation	Actor television director
Years active	1978–present
Spouse(s)	Ashlee Petersen ​ ​ (m. 1999; div. 2000)​ Naomi Lowde ​ ​ (m. 2005)​
Children	2

Jason Bradford Priestley (born August 28, 1969) is a Canadian-American actor and director. He is best known for playing the good-hearted character Brandon Walsh on the popular 1990s TV show Beverly Hills, 90210.

Priestley has also starred in other TV shows, like Call Me Fitz and Private Eyes. Besides acting, he has also directed many episodes for different television series.

Early Life

Jason Bradford Priestley was born in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His mother, Sharon Kirk, was an actress and acting coach, so he grew up around the world of performing. He has an older sister, Justine, who is also an actress.

He went to Argyle Secondary School in North Vancouver. In 2007, he became a citizen of the United States, so he now holds both Canadian and American citizenship.

Acting and Directing Career

First Roles

Priestley started his career in TV commercials. He then appeared in guest roles on shows like Airwolf and 21 Jump Street. His first major role was in the 1989 sitcom Sister Kate, where he played a foster child looked after by a nun.

Breakthrough with Beverly Hills, 90210

Priestley with co-star Shannen Doherty at the Emmy Awards in 1991.

In 1990, Priestley landed the role of Brandon Walsh in Beverly Hills, 90210. The show became a huge hit all over the world. It followed a group of friends in high school and made Priestley a famous teen idol.

His performance earned him two nominations for the prestigious Golden Globe Awards. Priestley also got to work behind the camera, directing 15 episodes of the show. He left the series in 1998 but stayed on as an executive producer until it ended in 2000.

Later Roles and Directing

After 90210, Priestley continued to act in many TV shows and movies. He had a main role in the show Tru Calling and later starred in the comedy series Call Me Fitz from 2010 to 2013. From 2016 to 2021, he played a former hockey player who becomes a private detective in the show Private Eyes.

Priestley is also a talented director. He has directed episodes for many popular shows, including 7th Heaven, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and even an episode of the 90210 reboot, where he directed his former co-star Tori Spelling. In 2016, he was honored with a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.

Personal Life

Jason Priestley with his wife Naomi Lowde-Priestley in 2012.

On May 14, 2005, Priestley married make-up artist Naomi Lowde. They have two children together: a daughter named Ava Veronica, born in 2007, and a son named Dashiell Orson, born in 2009.

His sister, Justine Priestley, is also an actress and appeared in the 90210 spin-off show, Melrose Place.

In 2013, the Canadian restaurant chain Tim Hortons created a doughnut called "The Priestley" in his honor. A year later, he published his life story in a book called Jason Priestley: A Memoir.

A Passion for Racing

Outside of acting, one of Priestley's biggest hobbies is race-car driving. In the 1990s, he competed in rally racing. He later moved to circuit racing, driving Ford Mustangs.

In 2002, he was seriously injured during a practice run at the Kentucky Speedway when his car crashed into a wall at nearly 180 miles per hour. After his recovery, he stayed involved in the sport by becoming a co-owner of a new IndyCar Series team called Rubicon Race Team. He later co-owned another team, FAZZT Race Team, which competed in the famous 2011 Indianapolis 500 race.

Helping a Favorite Band

Priestley is a big fan of the Canadian band Barenaked Ladies. In the 1990s, he wanted to help them become more popular in the United States. He offered to direct the music video for their song "The Old Apartment".

He used his fame to convince American TV stations to play the video. He also invited the band to perform on Beverly Hills, 90210. The band's members have said that Priestley was a big reason for their success in America. He later directed a documentary about the band called Barenaked in America.

Selected Film and TV Roles

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Jason Priestley para niños

• List of celebrities who own wineries and vineyards