90210

Background:

American actor Ian Ziering is most undeniably prominent for portraying well-to-do jock Steve Sanders on the Fox popular long-running drama “Beverly Hills, 90210” (1990-2000). Prior to his successful drama series, he appeared on the daytime shows “Love of Life,” “The Doctors” (1981-1982) and “The Guiding Light” (1986-1988), and in several “afterschool” and “schoolbreak” specials. Post-“90210,” he appeared periodically on television in guest roles, including in the hit comedy “Son Of A Beach” (2002). On the wide careen, Ziering is probably best remembered for playing himself in the Tiny Scott-directed Domino (2005), opposite Keira Knightley and Brian Austin Green. He is now participating in the high-rated Reality-TV “Dancing with the Stars” (2007).

In addition, Ziering has enjoyed a productive side career as a voice artist. He has worked on various animated series, including “Biker Mice from Mars” (1993-1996, 2006), “Mighty Ducks” (1996) and “Godzilla: The Series” (1998) and “Spider-Man” (2003).

Outside the spotlight, the 6-foot TV lead was divorced from former Playboy Playmate Nikki Schieler Ziering in 2002, after marrying for five years. His romantic life has also been linked to Nancy Poznak.


George Washington

Childhood and Family:

In Newark, New Jersey, Ian Andrew Ziering was born on March 30, 1964. He is the youngest of three siblings of Paul and Micki Ziering (deceased), and was raised in West Orange, New Jersey. As a child, Ian earned the nickname “George Washington” after having his front teeth knocked out. He graduated with a BA in Dramatic Art from William Patterson College in Wayne, New Jersey.

On July 4, 1997, Ian tied the knot with Nikki Schieler Ziering, the former Playboy Playmate. In 2002, he filed for divorce from his wife of five years, citing “incompatible” differences. Currently, he resides in the Hollywood hills and takes pleasure in his life.


Domino

Career:

Ian Ziering started working in commercials in his pre-teen. During this period, he also made his TV acting debut on the 1951 daytime drama “Love of Life.” He continued to collect some stage credits, including playing Nils in the short-lived musical “I Remember Mama” (1979), opposite Liv Ullmann, and as John in the nation tour of “Peter Pan.” He got his first taste in front of the film camera in 1981, when director Franco Zeffirelli cast him in the role of Sammy Butterfield on the drama/romance Endless Love, starring Brooke Shields. From

Returning to daytime drama after the 1981-1982 appearance as rich Aldrich #3 on “The Doctors,” Ziering took on the role of a tormented teen named Cameron Stewart on the CBS long-running soap opera “The Guiding Light” (1986-1988). After this, he appeared on daytime “afterschool” and “schoolbreak” specials like “Terrible Things My Mother Told Me” (ABC, 1988) and “Flour Babies” (1990, NBC).

Following a guest appearance on “Married with Children” (1990), Ziering scored a huge breakthrough when he landed the starring role of Steve Sanders, the well-to-do jock turned newspaper publisher on the high school drama “Beverly Hills 90210,” opposite Tori Spelling, Jason Priestley, Luke Perry and Jennie Garth. Debuting in 1990, the series soon became a hit, and Ziering stayed with the show until it came to an end ten years later. The role made the actor a well-known TV actor.

While working on the Fox show, the well-built curly-haired blond performer maintained himself busy by working on numerous other projects. He reprised his Steve Sanders role for three episodes of the long-running series “Melrose Place” (1992), played George Peck, the young desk manager at the hotel who approaches Shelley Long in the drama-romance made-for-TV The Women of Spring Break (1995), appeared with Russell Crowe in the action movie No Way Back (1995), starred as a videogames programmer in the cult favorite Subliminal Seduction (1996, TV) as well as costarred with Olivier Gruner in the indie-Western Savate (1997). Besides, he extensively did voice-overs for such animated programs as the syndicated series “Biker Mice from Mars” (1993-1996), Disney’s “Mighty Ducks” (1996), “Godzilla: The Series” (1998) and Batman Beyond: The Movie (1999, TV). Ziering revisited the stage in the 1997 L.A production of “What Is Art?”

Following the demise of “90210,” Ziering made sporadic appearances on television. He picked up guest roles in “Inside Schwartz” (2001), “JAG” (2001) and “What I Like About You” (2002). He also had a recurring role, as Harry Johnson, on the well-liked comedy “Son Of A Beach” (2002), and provided the voice of Harry Osborn on two episodes of “Spider-Man: The New Animated Series” (2003). In 2005, the actor offered an unforgettable image-tweaking role as himself in Tony Scott’s Domino. The action film starred Keira Knightley as Domino Harvey, a model turned bounty hunter and daughter of actor Lawrence Harvey. His fellow “90210” alum Brian Green also acted in the movie. The same year, he also was featured in the short film Six Months Later. Next, Ziering directed and appeared in the short-comedy Man Vs. Monday (2006) and portrayed Francis in the drama/thriller film Stripped Down (2006). He reprised his voice role of Vinnie on two episodes of the cartoon series “Biker Mice from Mars” (2006).

Currently, Ziering becomes a contestant in the popular ABC reality series “Dancing with the Stars” (2007).


Awards:
---