Jennifer Eve "Jennie" Garth is an American actress and film director, best known for
starring as Kelly Taylor throughout the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise and Valerie Tyler on
the sitcom What I Like About You.
In 2012, she starred in her own reality show, Jennie Garth: A Little Bit Country on CMT.
Early life Jennie Garth was born in Urbana, Illinois
to John and Carolyn Garth.
Garth is the youngest of seven children with each of her parents already having three children
from previous marriages.
Garth spent much of her youth on a 25-acre horse ranch in Arcola, Illinois.
Her family eventually moved to Tuscola, Illinois, and then, when Garth was 13 years old, to
Glendale, Arizona.
There, she began taking dancing lessons and modeling, which led to her participation in
a talent competition, where she was discovered by Hollywood talent scout and manager Randy
James.
She attended Greenway High School as a freshman and transferred to Apollo High School in her
sophomore year.
Determined to become an actress, she left school during her junior year to work with
James in Los Angeles.
She began taking acting classes and going to auditions almost daily and soon landed
a role as "Erica McCray" in the NBC television series A Brand New Life.
Career Garth landed her first role in the television
sitcom Growing Pains.
She also appeared in six episodes on A Brand New Life as Erica McCray.
In 1990, she landed the role of Kelly Taylor in the series Beverly Hills, 90210.
Throughout the series, Garth's character faces 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 appears in all ten seasons of the show.
She also directed two episodes.
She won a Young Artist Award and was nominated for a Teen Choice Award for the role.
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.
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, Without Consent, Lies of the Heart:
The Story of Laurie Kellogg, Falling for You, and An Unfinished Affair.
She also had minor and supporting roles in the theatrical films Telling You, My Brother's
War, and Power 98.
Garth ranked #59 on the FHM 100 Sexiest Women of 2000, and #93 on the magazine's 100 Sexiest
Women of 2001.
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 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 MacFarlane, 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 won a Prism Award for their performances.
In 2007, Garth appeared on season five of Dancing with the Stars and was paired with
Derek Hough.
They reached the semi-finals in the competition.
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 spinoff
in a recurring role as well.
Garth also reprised the role in the season two.
Garth appeared on the game show Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?
on November 21, 2008.
She won $100,000 for her charity, the American Heart Association, for which she is spokeswoman
for its "Go Red for Women" campaign.
This TV show also noted that Garth owns a horse ranch in Santa Barbara, California.
In 2009, she played the role of Natasha in Candace Bushnell's Web series The Boardroom.
She also appeared in a cameo role on the December 7 episode of the children's television show
Sesame Street, entitled "Mary Mary Quite Contrary".
In January 2010, Garth starred in an iVillage web series created by NBC Universal, Garden
Party, about farm life, fresh produce and healthy eating.
On February 18, 2014, it was announced that production had started on The Jennie Garth
Project, a ten-episode reality television series that will air on HGTV.
It chronicles Garth as she renovates a home Hollywood Hills, California for herself and
her three children.
The series is scheduled to premiere in September 2014.
Personal life Garth married Daniel Clark in 1994, and they
divorced in 1996.
In 1995, Garth met her second husband, actor Peter Facinelli, while filming the movie An
Unfinished Affair.
Garth and Facinelli married on January 20, 2001, in a traditional Roman Catholic ceremony.
They have three daughters: Luca Bella, Lola Ray, and Fiona Eve.
In March 2012, Facinelli filed for divorce.
The divorce was finalized in June 2013.
During 2013, Garth briefly dated Michael Shimbo, CEO of Trains, Planes and Automobiles.
Filmography Dancing with the Stars
In 2007, Garth appeared on season five of Dancing with the Stars and was paired with
Derek Hough.
They reached the semi-finals in the competition.
Awards and nominations Notes
a ^ Won by Andrea Barber for her role of Kimmy Gibbler in Full House
b ^ Won by Sarah Michelle Gellar for her role of Buffy Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
References
External links Jennie Garth at the Internet Movie Database
Dancing With The Stars Profile