Jennie Garth
When you see Jennie Garth on “Dancing with the Stars” this fall, you may recognize her from her roles on “Beverly Hills, 90210” or “What I Like About You.”
Jennifer Eve Garth was born in Urbana, Illinois on April 3, 1972. Her family moved from their horse ranch to Phoenix when Jennie was 13. She began dabbling in modeling and took dance lessons. A talent scout encouraged her to take up acting at the age of 15 after seeing her win a talent competition. She dropped out of Greenway High School in her junior year to move to Los Angeles with her mom. She began taking acting lessons and after four months in LA, Jennie landed the role as Erica McCray on “A Brand New Life” in 1989. She also appeared on an episode of “Growing Pains” and “Teen Angel Returns.”
Jennie appeared as Kelly Taylor in three episodes of “Melrose Place.” During the early Nineties, she also appeared in several made for TV movies including Danielle Steel’s “Star,” Lies of the Heart: The Story of Laurie Kellogg, Without Consent, Falling for You, A Loss of Innocence, and An Unfinished Affair. She is also listed as an executive producer on Without Consent and An Unfinished Affair.
Jennie got her big break when she was recast as Kelly Taylor in “Beverly Hills, 90210.” The show ran from 1990 to 2000 and followed the lives of teens living in Beverly Hills and attending the fictitious West Beverly Hills High School and California University.
Jennie’s character was often involved in controversial plot lines including a love triangle, abusing diet pills and cocaine, becoming involved in a cult, being raped, shot, and having a miscarriage. The show also starred Shannen Doherty, Luke Perry, Gabrielle Carteris, Jason Priestley, Tori Spelling, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, and former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant Ian Ziering.
After “Beverly Hills, 90210” ended, Jennie starred in eight episodes of “The $treet.” She also starred in more made for TV movies: Watching the Detectives, The Last Cowboy, and Secret Santa. She starred as Valerie Tyler in 71 episodes of the WB sitcom “What I Like About You.”
Jennie’s first marriage to Daniel B. Clark ended in divorce after only two years. She and actor Peter Facinelli became the parents of daughter Luca Bella in June 1997. The two married in 2001 and welcomed their second daughter Lola Ray on December 6, 2002 and third daughter Fiona Eve on September 30, 2006.
Jennie will be dancing with partner Derek Hough. Derek is the older brother of dancer Julianne Hough, who along with Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno, won season four of “Dancing with the Stars.”
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