Jason Bradford Priestley (born August 28, 1969)[3][4] is a Canadian actor and television director. He is best known as the virtuous Brandon Walsh on the television series Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990–1998, 2000), as Richard "Fitz" Fitzpatrick in the show Call Me Fitz (2010–2013) and for his role as Matt Shade in the Canadian series Private Eyes (2016–2021).
Early life
Jason Bradford Priestley was born on August 28, 1969, in North Vancouver, British Columbia. His mother, Sharon Kirk, was an actress and acting coach.[5] He is a graduate of Argyle Secondary School in North Vancouver. He has an older sister, actress Justine Priestley, and two step-siblings, Karin and Kristi. He became a naturalized American citizen in 2007.
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 fourth and final 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 foster children 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 popularity and made Priestley a teen idol, he was nominated for two Golden Globes for his work on the show. He also directed 15 of the show's episodes. He remained on the show until 1998, when Brandon moved to Washington, D.C. 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 during 2004 and 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[citation needed] 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 19th 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.
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 starred as the main character of the HBO Canada TV show Call Me Fitz from 2010 to 2013. It ended after its fourth season in December 2013. In August 2011 Priestley joined the cast of sci-fi television show Haven, in a recurring role during its second season and made two appearances in the final season. He also directed two episodes.
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, Priestley starred alongside Gael García Bernal in Zoom, a comedy directed by Pedro Morelli that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
In May 2016, Priestley began starring in the Global TV Network comedy–drama series Private Eyes, in the role of Matt Shade, a former hockey player turned private detective.
In August 2016, Priestley was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.
Jason Priestley was nominated for best lead actor in a comedy series for The Movie Network's Nova Scotia-filmed Call Me Fitz.
In 2013, Priestley directed one episode of the CTV television series Satisfaction.
Personal life
Jason Priestley with his wife Naomi Lowde-Priestley (2012)
In 1999, Priestley crashed his Porsche car into a telephone pole in Hollywood Hills and was arrested for driving while under the influence. His driver's license was suspended for a year, and he was ordered to complete an alcohol-management program.
On May 14, 2005, Priestley married make-up artist Naomi Lowde. On July 2, 2007, the couple had a daughter, Ava Veronica.[17] On April 13, 2009, Priestley announced that he and his wife were expecting their second child.[18] On July 9, 2009, the couple had a son, Dashiell Orson.
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 actor and appeared in a couple of episodes of the 90210 spin-off Melrose Place, in 1996.
In 2013, the restaurant chain Tim Hortons created a new doughnut in Priestley's honor, called The Priestley. It was not rolled out on a nationwide scale, however.
On May 6, 2014, HarperOne published Priestley's autobiography Jason Priestley: A Memoir.
Courtesy – Wikipedia
- Jason Priestley