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Jennifer Eve "Jennie" 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.
Jennifer Eve Garth was born three hours south of Chicago, in Urbana,
Illinois, to John and Carolyn Garth, who each already had three children
from different marriages. Garth 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 years old, 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 Hollywood Talent Manager named
Randy James. 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, when she and her mother moved
to Los Angeles to work with James so Garth 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 tv series, A Brand New Life (1989-'90), which lasted eight episodes
including, "Episode Zero."
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
Erica 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 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. 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.
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 1994, Jennie Garth made a Special Guest Appearance at Wrestlemania X in
New York City's Madison Square Garden.
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. 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. Tori Spelling, who played Donna Martin in the original series,
later joined the spin-off in a recurring role as well. Garth reprised the
role in the second season.
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. This TV show also noted that Garth owns a horse ranch in
Santa Barbara, CA.
In 2009, she played the role of Natasha in Candace Bushnell's Web series
The Broadroom, which premiered in September.
In January 2010, Garth starred in a web series created by NBC Universal
called "Garden Party". The show is aired on iVillage and focuses on
various farms, vegetables, and how parents can promote healthy eating in
their children. "Garden Party" focuses on a different vegetable each month
and is sponsored by Hidden Valley Ranch.
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 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. 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.
On April 16, 1994, Garth married musician Daniel B. Clark. They separated
in 1995 and Garth filed for divorce in 1996. In 1996, 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). |
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"90210" .... Kelly Taylor (19
episodes, 2008-2009)
- To Thine Own Self Be True (2009) TV episode .... Kelly Taylor
- Unmasked (2009) TV episode .... Kelly Taylor
- Wild Alaskan Salmon (2009) TV episode .... Kelly Taylor
- Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat (2009) TV episode .... Kelly
Taylor
- One Party Can Ruin Your Whole Summer (2009) TV episode .... Kelly
Taylor
(14 more)
"The Broadroom" (2009) TV series .... Natasha (unknown episodes)
The Broadroom (2009) (V) .... Natasha
Girl, Positive (2007) (TV)
.... Sarah Bennett
... aka Girl Posi+ive (USA)
"American Dad!" .... Trudy (1 episode, 2006)
- Roger n' Me (2006) TV Episode (voice) .... Trudy
"What I Like About You" .... Valerie Tyler / ... (70 episodes,
2002-2006)
- Finally (2006) TV Episode .... Valerie Tyler
- Now and Zen (2006) TV Episode .... Valerie Tyler
- Friends & Lovers (2006) TV Episode .... Valerie Tyler
- Garden State (2006) TV Episode .... Valerie Tyler
- Your Money or Your Wife (2006) TV Episode .... Valerie Tyler
(65 more)
Secret Santa (2003) (TV) .... Rebecca Chandler
The Last Cowboy (2003) (TV) .... Jacqueline 'Jake' Cooper
Watching the Detectives (2001) (TV)
"The $treet" .... Gillian Sherman (8 episodes, 2000-2001)
- Framed (2001) TV Episode .... Gillian Sherman
- Junk Bonds (2001) TV Episode .... Gillian Sherman
- Past Performance (2001) TV Episode .... Gillian Sherman
- Turf Wars (2001) TV Episode .... Gillian Sherman
- Rebound (2000) TV Episode .... Gillian Sherman
(3 more)
"Beverly Hills, 90210" .... Kelly Taylor (292 episodes, 1990-2000)
- Ode to Joy (2000) TV Episode .... Kelly Taylor
- The Penultimate (2000) TV Episode .... Kelly Taylor
- I'm Happy for You... Really (2000) TV Episode .... Kelly Taylor
- Love Is Blind (2000) TV Episode .... Kelly Taylor
- And Don't Forget to Give Me Back My Black T-Shirt (2000) TV
Episode .... Kelly Taylor
(287 more)
Telling You (1998) (uncredited) .... Amber
... aka Love Sucks (UK: video title)
"Sin City Spectacular" (1 episode, 1998)
... aka Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular (USA)
- Episode #1.8 (1998) TV Episode
My Brother's War (1997) .... Mary Fagan Bailey
... aka Flashpoint (UK)
A Loss of Innocence (1996) (TV) .... Chelnicia Bowen
... aka The End of Eden (Australia)
Power 98 (1996) .... Sharon Penn
An Unfinished Affair (1996) (TV) .... Sheila Hart
"Biker Mice from Mars" .... Angel Revson (1 episode, 1995)
- Hit the Road, Jack (1995) TV Episode (voice) .... Angel Revson
Falling for You (1995) (TV) .... Meg Crane
Without Consent (1994) (TV) .... Laura Mills
... aka Tell Laura I Love Her
... aka Trapped and Deceived
Lies of the Heart: The Story of Laurie Kellogg (1994) (TV) ....
Laurie Kellogg
Star (1993) (TV) .... Crystal Wyatt
... aka Danielle Steel's 'Star' (USA: complete title)
"Melrose Place" .... Kelly Taylor (3 episodes, 1992)
- Lost & Found (1992) TV Episode .... Kelly Taylor
- Friends & Lovers (1992) TV Episode .... Kelly Taylor
- Pilot (1992) TV Episode .... Kelly Taylor
"A Brand New Life" .... Ericka McCray (6 episodes, 1989-1990)
- Even Housekeepers Sing the Blues (1990) TV Episode .... Ericka
McCray
- Children of a Legal Mom (1990) TV Episode .... Ericka McCray
- Private School (1989) TV Episode .... Ericka McCray
- I Fought the Law (1989) TV Episode .... Ericka McCray
- Above and Beyond Therapy (1989) TV Episode .... Ericka McCray
(1 more)
Just Perfect (1990) (TV)
"Teen Angel Returns" (1990) TV Series .... Karrie Donato
"Growing Pains" .... Denise (1 episode, 1989)
- Ben and Mike's Excellent Adventure (1989) TV Episode .... Denise |
