Jason Priestley (1969)

 early life

Born Jason Bradford Priestley on August 28, 1969 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Priestley became a naturalized American citizen in 2007. His mother is actress Sharon Kirk. He is a graduate of Argyle Secondary School in North Vancouver. He has a twin sister, Justine Priestley, and two step siblings, Karin and Kristi.

 career

Priestley first started his television career 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 then moved onto 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. 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 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.

On October 15, 2008 TV Guide announced that Priestley would make a guest appearance on NBC’s My Name Is Earl. Priestley played Blake, Earl's better-looking and more successful cousin.

On November 11, 2008, TV Guide reported that Priestley would direct five episodes of Secret Life. 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 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.

Priestley directed his former co-star Luke Perry in the Hallmark Channel movie Goodnight for Justice, which aired in January 2011.

Priestley guest starred as one half of a con artist couple along side Jennifer Finnigan in a sixth season episode of USA's Psych.

Priestley has 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, Priestly joined the cast of sci-fi television show, Haven, in a recurring role during its second season. He also directed one episode.

 personal life

On May 14, 2005, Priestley 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.

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

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