Jennie Garth

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Jennie Garth

Jennie Garth backstage at the 2009 Heart Truth fashion show
Born Jennifer Eve Garth
April 3, 1972 (1972-04-03) (age 37)
Urbana, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1989–present
Spouse(s) Daniel B. Clark
(1994–1996)
Peter Facinelli
(2001–present)
Official website

Jennifer Eve Garth (born April 3, 1972) is an American actress, best known for starring in the prominent role of Kelly Taylor throughout the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise. She is also known for starring as Valerie Tyler in What I Like About You.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Jennifer Eve Garth was born in Urbana, Illinois to John (died 2008)[1] and Carolyn Garth, who each already had three children from different marriages. Urbana is the home of University of Illinois and is located about three hours south of Chicago, Illinois. She grew up on a 25-acre (100,000 m2) horse ranch in Arcola, Illinois, with her six older half-siblings: Johnny, Chuck, Lisa, Cammie, Wendy and Lynn. Jennie also lived in Tuscola, Illinois, during her younger years. When Garth was 13, she and her family moved to Glendale, Arizona. She took dancing lessons and modeled while living there, which led to her participation in a talent competition where she was discovered by a talent scout. She attended Greenway High School her Freshman year and transferred to Apollo High School for her Sophomore year. She later left Apollo High School during her junior year, and she and her mother moved to Los Angeles so she could become an actress, later obtaining her high school diploma in California. There, she started taking acting classes and went to auditions almost every day. After living in L.A. for about four months, she landed the role of Erica McCray on the NBC series A Brand New Life (1989).

[edit] Career

Garth landed her first role starring as Denise in the television series Growing Pains. She also appeared in six episodes on A Brand New Life as Ericka McCray. Garth then auditioned for the part of Kelly Kapowski on Saved by the Bell, but the role eventually went to her Beverly Hills, 90210 co-star and best friend Tiffani Thiessen.

In 1990, she landed the role of Kelly Taylor on the television series Beverly Hills, 90210. Throughout the series, Garth's character faced several trials and tribulations, along with difficult issues regarding family and her romantic life. Garth displayed an exceptional understanding of the character's struggles and triumphs, portraying Kelly in a relatable way which made her one of the most developed and popular characters on the show.[2] Garth appeared on the series for the full 10 seasons until its end in 2000, along with Ian Ziering, Tori Spelling, and Brian Austin Green. She won a Young Artist Award and was nominated for the Teen Choice Awards, both for her role on Beverly Hills, 90210. She was also instrumental in launching the spin-offs Melrose Place and 90210, with the character of Kelly becoming a continuity icon by appearing in the most franchise episodes as of 2009.[3]

Jennie Garth at the 1992 Emmy Awards

Her successful role on Beverly Hills, 90210 opened the door to several lead roles in made-for-TV films in the 1990s, including Danielle Steel's Star (1993), Without Consent (1994), Falling for You (1995), and An Unfinished Affair (1996). She also had minor and supporting roles in the theatrical films Telling You (1998), My Brother´s War (1997), and Power 98 (1996).

In 2002, Garth starred in the sitcom What I Like About You as Valerie Tyler. Along with co-star Amanda Bynes, she appeared on the show for all four seasons. The show centered around the relationship of the Tyler sisters, along with their friendships and romances. In 2003 she starred in the television movies The Last Cowboy and the Christmas family drama Secret Santa, playing as a journalist. She and the cast Secret Santa won the 2004 CAMIE Award.

In 2005 she voiced her Beverly Hills, 90210 character Kelly Taylor, as well as an additional role in the DVD Film Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story. The ensemble cast also included Seth McFarlane, Alex Borstein, Mila Kunis, and Drew Barrymore. Garth also starred in the 2007 TV teen drama film Girl, Positive, playing a teacher who was HIV positive. She and co-star Andrea Bowen (known for the series Desperate Housewives) won a Prism Award for their performances.

In September 2008, Garth returned to the role of Kelly Taylor on the series premiere of the CW Network's spin-off series, 90210. In the new series, Garth's character Kelly Taylor is now a guidance counselor at West Beverly High, where her half-sister Erin Silver also attends.[4] Kelly was reintroduced with a four-year-old son, whose father is ex-boyfriend Dylan McKay. The writers were eager to have her share scenes with former Beverly Hills, 90210 co-star Shannen Doherty, who reprised her role of Brenda Walsh.[5] Tori Spelling, who played Donna Martin in the original series, later joined the spin-off in a recurring role as well.

Garth appeared on the U.S. game show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? on November 21, 2008. She won $100,000 for her charity, the American Heart Association.

[edit] Dancing with the Stars

In 2007, Garth appeared on Season 5 of Dancing with the Stars and was paired with Derek Hough. Garth had consistently high scores throughout the entire competition and was one of the few contestants to maintain 8s and above after week two. She was eliminated on the ninth week of competition finishing at a respectable fourth out of 12, after scoring her first perfect score of the competition with her Cha-Cha-Cha [6] while Marie Osmond (who came in last place for three weeks up to that point) remained in the competition. The audience gave her a standing ovation (something very uncommon in the show). Judge Len Goodman stated that it "was not her time to go." In her exiting montage video, Derek Hough stated how proud he was of her for going on an emotional journey and improving from three 7s to three 10s.

[edit] Performances

Week # Dance/Song Judges' score Result
Inaba Goodman Tonioli
1 Cha-Cha-Cha/ "Uptown Girl" 7 7 7 Safe
2 Quickstep/ "Suddenly I See" 7 7 7 Safe
3 Tango/ "Cite Tango" 9 8 9 Safe
4 Paso Doble/ "Because We Can" 8 10 9 Safe
5 Samba/ "Cosmic Girl" 8 9 8 Safe
6 Mambo/ "Mambo Baby" 9 9 9 Safe
7 Viennese Waltz/ "Runaway"
Rumba/ "Fallen"
8
9
8
9
9
10
Last One Saved1
8 Jive/ "It Takes Two"
Foxtrot/ "I've Got You Under My Skin"
8
9
8
9
8
8
Last One Saved1
9
Semi-finals
Tango/ "The Take Over, The Breaks Over"
Cha-Cha-Cha/ "Mustang Sally"
9
10
10
10
9
10
Eliminated


1Maybe or Maybe not in Bottom Two

Jennie Garth is also a spokesperson for Wen Haircare products.

[edit] Popularity

Garth at the Twilight premiere in Los Angeles

Garth ranked #59 on the FHM 100 Sexiest Women of 2000,[7] and #93 on the magazine's 100 Sexiest Women of 2001.[8]

[edit] Personal life

On April 16, 1994, Garth married musician Daniel B. Clark. They separated in 1995 and Garth filed for divorce in 1996. In 1995, Garth met actor Peter Facinelli while filming the movie An Unfinished Affair. On January 20, 2001, the pair were married. They have three daughters: Luca Bella (born on June 29, 1997), Lola Ray (born on December 6, 2002), and Fiona Eve (born on September 30, 2006).

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Film

Year Title Role Notes
1989 Just Perfect Girl TV-film
Minor Role
1993 Danielle Steel's Star Crystal Wyatt TV-film
First Lead Performance
1994 Without Consent Laura Mills TV-film
Lead Role
1995 Lies of the Heart: The Story of Laurie Kellogg Laurie Kellogg TV-film
Lead Role
Falling for You Meg Crane TV-film
Lead Role
1996 A Loss of Innocence Chelnicia Bowen TV-film
Supporting Role
An Unfinished Affair Sheila Hart TV-film
Lead Role
1996 Power 98 Sharon Penn Lead Role
First Theater Film
1997 My Brother's War Mary Fagan Bailey Lead Role
1998 Telling You Amber Supporting Role
2001 Watching Detectives Celeste TV-Film
Lead Role
2002 How High Elle TV-Film
Minor Role
2003 Secret Santa Rebecca Chandler TV-film
Lead Role
Won CAMIE AWARD
2003 The Last Cowboy Jackie Cooper TV-film
Lead Role
2005 Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story Kelly Taylor (voice) DVD film
Supporting Voice
2007 Girl, Positive Sarah Bennett TV-film
Won PRISM AWARD
Lead Role

[edit] Television

Year Title Role Notes
1989 Growing Pains Denise 1 episode
1989-1990 A Brand New Life Ericka McCray 6 episodes
1990 Teen Angel Karrie Donato
1990-2000 Beverly Hills, 90210 Kelly Taylor Main Role
292 Episodes
Won Young Artist Award

Nominated for Teen Choice Award

1992 Melrose Place Kelly Taylor Guest Appearance
1993 Teen Angel Returns Karrie Donato Guest Appearance
1994 WrestleMania X Herself Guest timekeeper
2000 The Street Gillian 8 episodes
2002-2006 What I Like About You Valerie "Val" Tyler Main Role
86 Episodes
2007 Dancing with the Stars Herself Season 5
Contestant
9 episodes
2008- Present 90210 Kelly Taylor Special Guest Star
15 episodes
2008 Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Herself 1 Episode

[edit] Awards and Nominations

3 wins and 2 nominations

  • Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress Co-starring in a Television Series = 1991 (nominated) [for BH90210]
  • Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress Supporting or Re-Occurring Role for a TV Series = 1992 (Won) [for BH90210]
  • Teen Choice Award for TV -Choice Actress = 1999 (nominated) [for BH90210]
  • Character and Morality in Entertainment Awards for Best Ensemble Cast = 2005 (Won) [for Secret Santa (TV)]
  • Prism Award for Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries = 2008 (Won) [for Girl, Positive (TV)]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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