Actor Jason Priestly was born on August 28, 1969 in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He would, however, later take American citizenship in 2007. A graduate of Argyle Secondary School in his hometown, he began acting in 1986, appearing in several television programs and films. His film debut came that year, when he played a supporting role in the fantasy film The Boy Who Could Fly. He also had roles in the short-lived shows Teen Angel and Sister Kate, both of which aired in the late 1980s.
Priestly’s biggest break came in 1990, when he joined the cast of the drama series Beverly Hills 90210. He played the role of Brandon Walsh, the twin brother of Brenda (Shannen Doherty). Highly ethical and eventually more compassionate throughout the show’s run, he was notorious for having a very high number of relationships, often lasting only one episode (when he was involved with guest stars). Ultimately, however, he had the deepest love for Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth), and he eventually straightened up and went with her. He was the last member of the Walsh family to move out and, consequently, leave the series; he left the role in 1998, but continued to serve as an executive producer until the show’s cancellation in 2000.
When Beverly Hills 90210 ended its run, Priestly continued appearing in several films and television shows. He returned to regular small-screen work in 2004, when he joined the cast of Tru Calling. He played the role of Jack Harper, a counterpart to Tru Davies (Eliza Dushku), who makes sure everything happens according to fate—the two constantly race to either save a dead person or to restore what fate that person has. In 2006, he joined the cast of the short-lived drama Love Monkey, playing Mike, the best friend of lead Tom Ferrell (Tom Cavanagh). The following year, he joined the cast of another drama series, Side Order of Life, where he played the role of Ian Denison, the ex-fianc? of series lead Jenny McIntyre (Marisa Coughlan).
Priestly also appeared in several films; his most notable was the 1997 drama Love and Death on Long Island. He is also an avid race car driver, initially providing commentary for ABC’s coverage of IndyCar racing, and later participating in races himself. He is also set to become joint owner of a new IndyCar Series team.