American actress Jennifer Garth was born on April 3, 1972 in Urbana, Illinois. Her family moved to Phoenix, Arizona when she was 11 years old; there, she took some dancing lessons and also dabbled in modeling, and aspired to start her own dance studio. At age 15, she won a talent competition and was consequently discovered by a talent scout, who encouraged her to pursue an acting career. She dropped out of high school and moved to Los Angeles to do just that.
After several guest roles in television, the first being a 1989 episode of the comedy Growing Pains, Garth got her big break. In 1990, she joined the cast of the prime time drama Beverly Hills 90210, where she would eventually stay for the next ten years. She played the role of Kelly Taylor, who was the female lead for the majority of the show’s duration. Her role was introduced as a self-absorbed teenager, but through the many challenges she encounters, she grows into a more mature and sensitive adult. The character appeared prominently in most of the show’s franchise: she was key to the launch of the first spin-off, Melrose Place, in 1992, and also appears in the 2008 spin-off, 90210.
Garth’s next major television role was in the comedy series What I Like About You, where she starred alongside Amanda Bynes. She played the role of Valerie Tyler, the sister of Holly (Bynes), whose uptight and somewhat neurotic nature deeply contrasts her sister’s rambunctious and narcissistic personality, yet nevertheless strongly love each other. The series premiered in 2002 and ended in 2006; she stayed in the series all throughout.
Garth was also a participant in the reality competition Dancing with the Stars, entering its fifth season with professional partner Derek Hough. She has consistently high scores throughout her run, but in the ninth week, just when she received her first perfect score, she was shockingly eliminated. Nevertheless she received a rare standing ovation from the audience and the judges.