Jason Priestley

Jason Priestley
Born Jason Bradford Priestley
(1969-08-28) August 28, 1969
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Occupation Actor, director
Years active 1984–present
Spouse(s) Naomi Lowde-Priestley (m. 2005)
Children 2

Jason Bradford Priestley (born August 28, 1969)[1][2] is a Canadian-American actor and director. He is best known as the virtuous Brandon Walsh on the television series Beverly Hills, 90210 and for his role starring as Richard "Fitz" Fitzpatrick in the show Call Me Fitz.

Early life

Jason Bradford Priestley was born on August 28, 1969 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His mother is actress Sharon Kirk.[3]

He is a graduate of Argyle Secondary School in North Vancouver. He has an older sister, Justine Priestley,[4] and two step-siblings, Karin and Kristi. He became a naturalized American citizen in 2007.[5]

Career

Priestley first started his television career doing commercials for companies such as Fletcher's Meats and then guest-starring as Bobby Conrad a.k.a. Roberto Coronado Jr., a mobster's grandson, in the early 1987 episode "A Piece of Cake" from the final 4th season of the television series Airwolf, and appeared in two episodes of 21 Jump Street in 1987–88, then moved on to the 1989 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. The show garnered worldwide fame and made Priestley a teen idol, he was nominated for two Golden Globes for his work on the show. 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 ended in 2000.

Priestley joined the cast of Tru Calling as Jack Harper from 2004–05. 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 final 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. Priestley made a guest appearance on NBC's My Name Is Earl in 2008. He played Blake, Earl's better-looking and more successful cousin.[6] That year, Priestley directed five episodes of Secret Life.[7] Priestley directed the episode when Tori Spelling returned to 90210. In 2009, Priestley directed and co-produced all 12 episodes of the web-series The Lake[8] on TheWB.com. In December 2009 along with Dougray Scott, Brian Cox, and Eddie Izzard, Priestley was 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.[9]

Priestley directed his former co-star Luke Perry in the Hallmark Channel movie Goodnight for Justice, which aired in January 2011.[10] He guest starred as one half of a con artist couple alongside Jennifer Finnigan in a sixth season episode of USA's Psych[11] and also appeared in the music video "Boys" by Britney Spears. Priestley has been the title role and main character of the HBO Canada TV show Call Me Fitz since 2010, which completed its second season in December 2011. In August 2011, Priestley joined the cast of sci-fi television show Haven, in a recurring role during its second season. He also directed one episode.

Priestley's feature film directorial debut was the independent road trip comedy Cas & Dylan, starring Richard Dreyfuss and Tatiana Maslany.

In April 2013 Priestley appeared in Canadian Stage's production of Race, a David Mamet play, in Toronto at the Bluma Appel Theater.[12] In 2015, Priestely starred alongside Gael Garcia Bernal in Zoom, a comedy directed by Pedro Morelli that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Personal life

On May 14, 2005, Priestley married make-up artist Naomi Lowde. On July 2, 2007 the couple had a daughter, Ava Veronica.[13] 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.[14]

On July 9, 2007, he revealed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien that he had become an American citizen several weeks earlier.

Priestley's sister, Justine, is also an actress, and appeared in a couple of episodes on the 90210 spin-off Melrose Place in 1996.

On May 6, 2014, HarperOne published his autobiography, Jason Priestley: A Memoir.[15]

Race car driving

Priestley's hobbies include race car driving. He rallied a Toyota Celica All-Trac ST185 in the SCCA Pro Rally Series during the early to mid-1990s. He has provided commentary and interviews of racers for ABC's TV coverage of IndyCar racing. Priestley transitioned toward circuit racing in 1996.[16] Over the following two seasons, he drove Ford Mustangs in IMSA GTS, USRRC GT1, and Motorola Cup competition with Multimatic Motorsports.[17][18] 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.

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.[19]

In the article, Priestley 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."[20] 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 was among the owners of the FAZZT Race Team, which competed in the IndyCar Series in 2010 with Canadian racer Alex Tagliani. The car, numbered 77 and sponsored by Bowers & Wilkins, it was bought out in 2011 by Sam Schmidt Motorsports. With Tagliani retained by the team, he won the pole at the 2011 Indianapolis 500. In October 2011, two-time and defending Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon took over at Kentucky. At the season-ending IZOD IndyCar World Championship at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Wheldon was killed in a 15-car crash.

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",[21] 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.[22] 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.[23]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1986 The Boy Who Could Fly Gary
1988 Watchers Boy on Bike
1993 Calendar Girl Roy Darpinian
Tombstone Deputy Billy Breckinridge
1995 Coldblooded Cosmo Reif
1997 Love and Death on Long Island Ronnie Bostock
Hacks The Dude
1998 Conversations in Limbo
The Thin Pink Line Hunter Green
1999 Choose Life DJ
Dill Scallion Jo Joe Hicks
Standing on Fishes Jason
Eye of the Beholder Gary
2000 Lion of Oz Lion Voice role
Herschel Hopper: New York Rabbit Xavier Voice role
The Highwayman Breakfast
2001 Double Down David
The Fourth Angel Davidson
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
2004 Chicks with Sticks Steve Cooper
Going the Distance Lenny Swackhammer
2006 Hot Tamale Jude
Made in Brooklyn D.J.
2013 Enter the Dangerous Mind Dr. Dubrow
2015 Zoom Dale Completed; voice role

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1978 Stacey Duncan TV movie
1987 Airwolf Bobby Episode: "A Piece of Cake"
21 Jump Street Tober / Brian Krompasick Episodes: "Mean Streets and Pastel Houses", "Two for the Road"
Danger Bay Derek Episode: "Deep Trouble"
1988 MacGyver Danny Episode: "Blood Brothers"
1989 Teen Angel Buzz Gunderson Lead role, 10 episodes
Quantum Leap Pencil Episode: "Camikazi Kid - June 6, 1961"
1989–90 Sister Kate Todd Mahaffey Main role, 19 episodes
1990 Teen Angel Returns Buzz Gunderson Lead role, 4 episodes
1990–2000 Beverly Hills, 90210 Brandon Walsh Main role (seasons 1–9); 1 guest appearance (season 10), 246 episodes
1992 Saturday Night Live Host Episode: "Jason Priestley/Teenage Fanclub"
Drexell's Class Teen Priest Episode: "Cruisin'"
Eek! The Cat Bo Diddly Squat Voice role; 6 episodes
1994 Kings Island 20th Anniversary Special Host TV special
1995 Choices of the Heart: The Margaret Sanger Story Narrator TV movie
Biker Mice from Mars Jack McCyber Voice role; Episodes: "Virtual Unreality", "Hit the Road, Jack"
1997 Vanishing Point The Voice TV movie
The Outer Limits Anthony Szigetti Episode: "New Lease"
1998 Superman: The Animated Series Reep Daggle/Chameleon Boy Voice role; Episode: "New Kids in Town"
2000 Common Ground Billy TV movie
Homicide: The Movie Det. Robert Hall TV movie
The 11 O'Clock Show Himself 4 episodes
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye Jarred TV movie
2001 Spin City Scott Episode: "In the Company of Dudes"
2002 Jeremiah Michael Episode: "...And the Ground, Sown with Salt"
Tom Stone Doug Episode: "Little Bitty"
Warning: Parental Advisory Charlie Burner TV movie
The True Meaning of Christmas Specials Santa Dude TV special
2003 8 Simple Rules Carter Tibbits Episode: "Every Picture Tells a Story"
2004 Rides Host Documentary
I Want to Marry Ryan Banks Ryan Banks TV movie
Sleep Murder Peter Radwell TV movie
Quintuplets Steve Chase Episode: "Thanksgiving Day Charade"
2004–05 Tru Calling Jack Harper Recurring role (season 1), main role (season 2), 13 episodes
2005 Colditz Flying Officer Rhett Barker TV movie
Murder at the Presidio Tom TV movie
What I Like About You Charlie Episodes: "The Perfect Date", "Halloween"
Snow Wonder Warren TV movie
2006 Hockeyville Himself
Love Monkey Mike Freed Main role, 8 episodes
Without a Trace Allen Davis Crossroads
Above and Beyond Sir Frederick Banting TV miniseries
Shades of Black: The Conrad Black Story Jeff Riley TV movie
Masters of Horror Alan Alstein Episode: "The Screwfly Solution"
2007 Subs Mr. Clayton Unsold TV pilot
Luna: Spirit of the Whale Ted Jeffries TV movie
Medium Walter Paxton Episodes: "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 TV miniseries
Side Order of Life Ian Denison Main role, 13 episodes
2008 The Other Woman Pete TV movie
My Name Is Earl Cousin Blake Episode: "Earl and Joy's Anniversary"
A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride William TV movie
2009 Expecting a Miracle Pete Stanhope TV movie
The Day of the Triffids Coker TV miniseries
2010–13 Call Me Fitz Richard "Fitz" Fitzpatrick Lead role, 48 episodes
2011 Haven Chris Brody Recurring role, 5 episodes
Stephen King's Bag of Bones Marty TV miniseries
2012 Psych Clive Episode: "Neal Simon's Lover's Retreat"
2013 How I Met Your Mother Himself Episode: "P.S. I Love You (How I Met Your Mother)"
2013 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Jack Witten Episode: "Frame by Frame (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)"
2014 Hot in Cleveland Corey Chambers Episode: "Rusty Banks Rides Again (Hot in Cleveland)"
2015 Welcome to Sweden Himself Episode: ""Ljuden"/"Searching for Bergman"
2016 Raising Expectations Wayne Wayney Series lead

Music videos

Year Song Performer Notes
1992 I Drove All Night Roy Orbison with Jennifer Connelly

As a director

Year Title Medium Notes
1993–97 Beverly Hills, 90210 TV episodes 15 episodes
1997 The Outer Limits TV episode Episode: "New Lease"
1997 Barenaked in America Documentary film
2007 7th Heaven (TV series) TV episode Episode: "Some Break-Up and Some Get-Togethers"
TBA Untitled Phil Hartman biopic

Awards and nominations

Gemini Awards

Golden Globe Awards

Young Artist Awards

References

  1. ↑ "Jason Priestley". TVGuide.com. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  2. ↑ Rovin, Jeff (1991). Luke Mania! Jason Fever!. London: Fantail. page #??
  3. ↑ Profile, filmreference.com; accessed June 7, 2015.
  4. ↑ Rovin, p. #??
  5. ↑ Top 100, historicracing.com; accessed June 7, 2015.
  6. ↑ Camden County, 08102: Priestley to Play Blake on Earl" TV Guide.Retrieved on October 16, 2008.
  7. ↑ Jason Priestley Gets Busy on Earl, Secret Life, 90210" TV Guide. Retrieved on November 12, 2008.
  8. ↑ "The Lake - Show Info". TheWB.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2009.
  9. ↑ "Vanessa Redgrave to star in BBC's The Day of the Triffids". The Daily Telegraph (London). February 11, 2009. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Goodnight for Justice (TV 2011)". imdb.com. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  11. ↑ Mitovich, Matt Webb (July 11, 2011). "Psych Pscoop: Jennifer Finnigan Cast as Bonnie to Jason Priestley's Clyde". TVLine.com. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Jason Priestley to Star in David Mamet's 'Race' on Toronto Stage. The Hollywood Reporter, April 7, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Jason Priestley: First Look at My Daughter "Took My Breath Away"". USmagazine.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  14. ↑ "Celebrity Babies and Kids – Moms & Babies – People.com". celebrity-babies.com.
  15. ↑ Jason Priestley (May 6, 2014). Jason Priestley: A Memoir. HarperOne. ISBN 978-0062357892. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  16. ↑ Feature on Jason Priestly Racing 1995 Cobra R Mustang, 1996, retrieved November 7, 2015
  17. ↑ "Jason Priestley (CDN) - Complete Archive - Racing Sports Cars". www.racingsportscars.com. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  18. ↑ "http://www.autocourse.ca/archives/national/motorolacup/1998/motorolacup.htm". www.autocourse.ca. Retrieved June 17, 2015. External link in |title= (help)
  19. ↑ www.motorsport-total.com, March 4, 2008
  20. ↑ Herman, Steve. Actor Jason Priestley to become joint owner in new IRL race team, Associated Press, January 21, 2008
  21. ↑ "Jason Priestley - Beverly Hills 90210". canada.com. Postmedia Network, Inc.
  22. ↑ Barenaked Ladies Biography on Yahoo! Music
  23. ↑ Review: Barenaked in America directed by Jason Priestley

External links

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