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Jason Priestley

Jason Priestley

Jason Priestley is one of the most versatile talents in Hollywood. Priestley will soon be seen starring in three independent films and also continues to be a successful director and producer.

Priestley will be seen in several upcoming projects, including Dominic Shiach's thriller Darkness Falling and Wilson Coneybeare's comedy Call Me Irresponsible, with Ewan Bremner and Dave Foley. Most recently, he was seen in the VH1 film Warning: Parental Advisory, a comic look at the Senate/PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center) hearings that led to the music industry's labeling records for content. The film co-stars Griffin Dunne and Mariel Hemingway.

Priestley most recently starred opposite Jeremy Irons, Forest Whitaker and Charlotte Rampling in the independent feature film The Fourth Angel, directed by John Irvin and produced by Peter Simpson and Allan Scott. Priestley plays the role of a London-based CIA agent who assists Irons in bringing justice against the murderers of his family. Other recent films include the Canadian feature Cover Story, in which Priestley portrays a wealthy industrialist who becomes entangled in a web of mystery with a magazine publisher who is researching a cover story. The suspense thriller is directed by Eric Weston (The Iron Triangle), produced by Chad Oaks (Hugo Pool) and written by Ron Base.

In 2001, Priestley joined ABC Sports' Indy Racing League broadcast team. He made his debut on March 18th, covering the late-afternoon Pennzoil Copper World Indy 200 live from Phoenix International Raceway and went on to commenting on his first Indianapolis 500 Race on May 27th. Also in 2001, Priestley guest-starred on an episode of Spin City with Charlie Sheen and Heather Locklear. He also directed and appeared in an episode of the comedy Grosse Pointe.

In 2000, Priestley starred in the London production of Warren Leight's Tony Award winning play Side Man, directed by Michael Mayer, alongside the original Broadway cast.

Priestley made an indelible mark with his portrayal of 'Brandon Walsh' on the hit series Beverly Hills 90210 for eight seasons, a role for which he earned two Golden Globe nominations. He made his directorial debut on the show in 1993 and produced and directed numerous episodes.

Priestley also directed and produced the critically acclaimed documentary for the Canadian rock band, The Barenaked Ladies, titled Barenaked in America. The documentary, which premiered at the 1999 Toronto Film Festival and screened at the 2000 Slamdance Film Festival, had a successful theatrical release in Fall 2000.

Priestley directed the television thriller Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye, in which he also has a supporting role. The movie tells a story of a movie producer who believes he is responsible for the death of a young woman who falls victim of a blackmailer. The movie aired in August 2000.

Priestley was also seen in the screen adaptation of the dark thriller Eye of the Beholder, based on the novel by Marc Behm. The film starred Ashley Judd and Ewan McGregor, and was directed by Stephan Elliot (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert). Prior to Eye of the Beholder Priestley was seen in Common Ground.

Priestley's additional directing credits include an episode of The Outer Limits for and a music video for The Barenaked Ladies. The video, The Old Apartment, garnered a Best Director nomination for Priestley at the 1996 Canadian Music Video Awards.

Priestley received critical acclaim in the independent feature film Love and Death on Long Island, starring opposite John Hurt. The film, a co-production of Imagex (Canada) and Skyline Films (UK), was presented at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section. The film's director, Richard Kwietniowski, received a Pierrot award, the European's critics' prize given out for the first time at Cannes and the 1998 New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best First Film.

In 1995, Priestley starred in the independent black comedy Cold-Blooded, which was one of the biggest hits of the Sundance Film Festival that year.

A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Priestley appeared in Canadian television commercials and starred in his first telefilm by the age of eight. In addition to his work on television, Priestley has appeared in the feature films The Boy Who Could Fly, No Where to Run with David Carradine, Calendar Girl, executive produced by Penny Marshall, and the western drama Tombstone.

Priestley, who resides in New York is an avid hockey player and works closely with a number of charitable organizations, including the Pediatric AIDS Foundation.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2002.

Jason Priestley Facts

Birth NameJason Bradford Priestley
OccupationActor
BirthdayAugust 28, 1969 (54)
SignVirgo
BirthplaceVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Height5' 7" (1m70)  How tall is Jason Priestley compared to you?

Selected Filmography

Not available.