Tori Spelling biography

Synopsis

Early Acting Career

Actress and author Tori Spelling was born Victoria Davey "Tori" Spelling on May 16, 1973, in Los Angeles, California, as the oldest of two children. Her mother, Candy Spelling, is best known for her work as an author. Spelling's father, Aaron Spelling, was a Hollywood director known for producing the TV hits Charlie's Angels, Dynasty and Fantasy Island. As a result of her father's success, Tori was raised in the lap of luxury; her family lived in the largest single-family home in the state of California, a mansion featuring more than 100 rooms including a gift-wrapping room, doll museum and bowling alley.

Spelling's early immersion in the world of Hollywood gave her the acting bug at a young age. When Spelling turned six, her father hired an acting coach to give the young girl lessons twice a week. She bean making her first television appearances around this age, landing a part on her father's television detective drama, Vega$, as well as his popular shows T.J. Hooker starring Heather Locklear, and The Love Boat with Teri Hatcher.

'Beverly Hills 90210' Fame

By 1989, the 16-year-old Spelling was attending Beverly Hills High School in Beverly Hills, California, and had gotten a nose job after, she says, a parrot bit her. The "new and improved" Tori transferred to the Westlake School for Girls, and appeared at the audition for her father's new teen drama, Beverly Hills, 90210 under the alias Tori Mitchell. Despite the new moniker, Tori was recognized during her audition for the role of Kelly Taylor. Spelling's connections, however, didn't get her the part; actress Jennie Garth landed the coveted role, instead and Spelling was cast as the virginal Donna Martin.

In 1990, Spelling graduated from Westlake. That same year, Beverly Hills, 90210 premiered on FOX. The show skyrocketed in popularity and thrust the cast into the spotlight. In addition to Spelling, actors Gabrielle Carteris, Shannen Doherty, Jennie Garth, Brian Austin Green, Luke Perry, Jason Priestley and Ian Ziering all became teen idols.

Spelling stayed on the show for its entirety, appearing from 1990 until the show's tenth season in 2000. During her time on the show, Spelling received attention from the press for remaining a stalwart virgin until the show's seventh season. While other cast members made numerous promiscuous trysts, Spelling held out for love. Many speculate that her father was responsible for Spelling's chastity on the show.

By 1997, Spelling had also appeared in several made-for-TV movies, as well as several big screen hits, including the cult hit The House of Yes (1997) starring Parker Posey and the blockbuster thriller, Scream 2 (1997). By the end of the Beverly Hills, 90210, Tori was ready to move on to bigger projects.