Tiffani Thiessen

Tiffani Amber Thiessen (born January 23, 1974) is an American actress, who starred as Kelly Kapowski on NBC's Saved by the Bell (1989–1993), as Valerie Malone on Fox's Beverly Hills, 90210 (1994–98), and as Lori on Netflix's Alexa and Katie (2018–2020). Thiessen has also starred in other TV series such as Fox's Fastlane (2002–2003), ABC's What About Brian (2007), and USA Network's White Collar (2009–2014), as well as in a number of TV movies, and she has also appeared in several films, such as Son in Law (1993), Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the 13th (2000), Hollywood Ending (2002) and Cyborg Soldier (2008).

Tiffani Thiessen
Thiessen in 2018
Born
Tiffani Amber Thiessen

(1974-01-23) January 23, 1974
Long Beach, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1989–present
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2005)​
Children2
Websitewww.tiffanithiessen.com
Signature

Early life

Thiessen was born in Long Beach, California, the daughter of Robyn (née Ernest), a homemaker, and Frank Thiessen, a park designer and landscape architect.[1] She has credited her brother, Todd, as one of her most important sources of inspiration, and her mother and grandmother as role models.[2] However, Thiessen told InStyle magazine: "I'm a mutt. I have so much of everything in me, and half of it I don't even know. German on one side, Greek, Turkish and Welsh on the other. My mom is very olive-skinned; I get my blue eyes from my dad."[3][4]

She attended Cubberley Elementary and Marshall Junior High School in Long Beach. In 1992, Thiessen graduated as valedictorian at Valley Professional High School in Studio City, Los Angeles.

Career

Thiessen participated in beauty pageants during her childhood and was crowned Miss Junior America in 1987. The following year, she appeared on the cover of Teen magazine, having won the magazine's "Great Model Search". In 1989, she was named Cover Girl magazine's "Model of the Year", and landed her first role of Kelly Kapowski on NBC's television sitcom Saved by the Bell, starring until its end in 1993. The success of the show gave her career a boost and Thiessen received Young Artist Award nominations for Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in 1990 and Best Young Actress in an Off-Primetime Series in 1992 and 1993. Simultaneously, Thiessen guest-starred on series such as Married... with Children, Charles in Charge and Step by Step. In 1992, she starred in her first television movies Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style and A Killer Among Friends, making her film debut in Son in Law in 1993. She then continued with starring in spin-off Saved by the Bell: The College Years in its single season (1993–94) and in television movie Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas (1994), which marked the end of the original Saved by the Bell series.

In 1994, after her tenure on Saved by the Bell had ended, Thiessen landed the role of Valerie Malone in Fox's Aaron Spelling-produced hit teen-drama Beverly Hills, 90210, to fill the void after Shannen Doherty's departure. She was the first actress to join directly the main cast of the show and portrayed Valerie until 1998, when she left in the early episodes of the ninth season of the show. While starring in 90210, Thiessen began to take on continuous dramatic leading roles in television films: The Stranger Beside Me and She Fought Alone in 1995, Sweet Dreams and Buried Secrets in 1996. After her departure from the show, she appeared in a number of films, including Speedway Junky (1999), From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money (1999), Love Stinks (1999) and The Ladies Man (2000); she also guest-starred on NewsRadio (1999), Two Guys and a Girl (2000), Just Shoot Me! (2001) and Good Morning, Miami (2003–04). In 2000, she was featured in the music video for "You're a God" by Vertical Horizon, portraying a beauty pageant contestant, in her first music video appearance. That year she also dropped her middle name which she had been including professionally for many years and is now credited as simply Tiffani Thiessen.[5] Thiessen was Spelling's first choice to replace Doherty in the series Charmed in 2001, but she refused his offer because she was hoping the NBC pilot for Everything But the Girl would be picked up.[6] The role eventually went to Rose McGowan.

Meanwhile, Thiessen starred in direct-to-video parody film Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth (2000) and in television movie Everything But the Girl (2001), before appearing in the Woody Allen-directed film Hollywood Ending (2002) and starring in action-drama series Fastlane (2002–03) as Wilhelmina 'Billie' Chambers, for which she received a Teen Choice Award nomination for Choice TV Actress in Drama/Action Adventure. In 2003, she launched her production company Tit 4 Tat Productions, producing and directing the short film Just Pray in 2005,[7] which earned distinctions at several film festivals, including winning Best Score at the Rhode Island International Film Festival, an Academy Award qualifying festival. The original motion picture soundtrack album, co-produced by Thiessen and Al Gomes of Big Noise, was placed on the Official Ballot for the 49th Annual Grammy Awards by The Recording Academy in several categories including Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.[8]

Later on, she starred in television movies Stroller Wars (2006) and Pandemic (2007), she joined the cast of ABC's drama What About Brian (2007) for its last five episodes and starred in the science fiction film Cyborg Soldier (2008). In 2008, she made her second music video appearance, this time for Ben Lee's "American Television". Thiessen appeared with her husband Brady Smith on the September 6, 2009 episode of season four of the reality show HGTV Design Star. Interior designer Lonni Paul, one of the final three contestants of the season, was given the task of redesigning Thiessen's guest bedroom with an eco-friendly theme; Thiessen and Paul now have a nursery furniture line called PetitNest.[9] From 2009 through 2014 Thiessen appeared in the USA Network crime series White Collar as Elizabeth Burke.

On February 4, 2015, Thiessen reunited with Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Elizabeth Berkley, Dennis Haskins and Mario Lopez on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon where they appeared in a Saved by the Bell sketch with Fallon.[10][11][12] In the same year, Thiessen started hosting her own show on Cooking Channel called Dinner at Tiffani's, which ran until 2017.

On June 7, 2017, Thiessen was cast as Lori Mendoza, mother of the Mendoza family on the multi camera Netflix sitcom Alexa & Katie, which premiered its first two seasons on March 23 and December 26, 2018.[13]

In March 2020, it was announced that Thiessen would join the cast of the Saved by the Bell sequel series where she will reprise her role as Kelly Kapowski and will be together with Zack Morris again. She guest-starred in 3 episodes.[14] The show premiered on NBCUniversal's streaming network Peacock beginning November 2020.[15] In November, it was announced that Thiessen would host Ridiculousness spinoff, Deliciousness on MTV.[16]

Personal life

In early 1992, Thiessen started dating Brian Austin Green, introduced by mutual friend David Faustino;[17] they moved in together in July 1994, then broke up the next year.[18] In 1999, she went through a difficult period in her personal life, when David Strickland, also an actor, whom she had begun dating, committed suicide.[19] From 2001 to the spring of 2003, she was engaged to actor Richard Ruccolo, whom she had met during the Two Guys and a Girl run.[20] She married actor Brady Smith on July 9, 2005,[20] and they have two children: Harper Renn Smith, their daughter born in June 2010,[21] and Holt Fisher Smith, their son born in July 2015.[22]

Thiessen served as maid of honor at 90210 co-star and best friend Jennie Garth's 2001 wedding to actor Peter Facinelli, with whom she co-starred on Fastlane. Garth and Thiessen's friendship has since come to an end.[23] Her friendship with fellow 90210 star Tori Spelling also broke up, after Spelling's split from her first husband.[24]

In 2013, she participated in the One Bag party for April for Earth Month, in which the Glad company promoted "clean, green living".[25]

Public image

Thiessen was a teen idol during the 1990s, starting from her role as cheerleader Kelly Kapowski on Saved by the Bell and then playing bad girl Valerie Malone on Beverly Hills, 90210. In a much-discussed moment, Justin Bieber appeared wearing a T-shirt with a photo of Thiessen in her Saved by the Bell days at the 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards,[26] admitting his admiration for her. Basketball player Chris Paul also revealed publicly that he was a fan of Thiessen back then, when she sent him an autographed Saved by the Bell-era photograph of herself for his 29th birthday in 2014.[27]

Filmography

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1989 Live-In Girl Episode: "Mommy and Me and Au Pair Make Three"
1989–93 Saved by the Bell Kelly Kapowski Main role (75 episodes)
1990 Charles in Charge Jennifer Episode: "There's a Girl in My Ficus"
1990 Married... with Children Heather McCoy Episode: "What Goes Around Came Around"
1990 The Hogan Family Brooke Episode: "California Dreamin': Parts 1 & 2"
1992 Step by Step Tina Gordon Episode: "Daddy's Girl"
1992 Blossom Ricki Episode: "Driver's Education"
1992 Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style Kelly Kapowski Movie
1992 The Powers That Be Barbara Episode: "The Intern"
1992 A Killer Among Friends Jenny Monroe Movie
1993–94 Saved by the Bell: The College Years Kelly Kapowski Series
1994 Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas Kelly Kapowski Movie
1994–98, 2000 Beverly Hills, 90210 Valerie Malone Main role (136 episodes)
1995 The Stranger Beside Me Jennifer Gallagher Movie
1995 She Fought Alone Caitlin Rose Movie
1996 Sweet Dreams Alison Sullivan Movie
1996 Buried Secrets Annalisse Vellum Movie; also co-producer
1999 Cupid Stephanie MacGregor Episode: "Children's Hour"
1999 NewsRadio Foxy Jackson Episode: "Assistant"
2000 Two Guys and a Girl Marti 8 episodes
2001 Everything But the Girl Denise Pilot movie
2001 Just Shoot Me! Amy Watson 3 episodes
2002–03 Fastlane Wilhelmina 'Billie' Chambers 22 episodes
2003–04 Good Morning, Miami Victoria Hill 11 episodes
2006 Stroller Wars Lainey Pilot movie
2007 Pandemic Kayla Martin Movie
2007 What About Brian Natasha Drew 5 episodes
2009–14 White Collar Elizabeth Burke Main role (76 episodes)
2012–16 Jake and the Never Land Pirates Misty the Wonderful Witch / Mermaid Recurring voice role
2014 Northpole Chelsea Hastings Movie
2015 Hell's Kitchen Herself Episode: "Winner Chosen"; Chef's table guest in T's kitchen
2015 The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon Kelly Kapowski Episode 205 Saved by the Bell sketch
2015–17 Dinner at Tiffani's Herself / Hostess Cooking Channel series
Also executive producer
2017 American Housewife Celeste Episode: "Dude, Where's My Napkin"
2017 Food Network Star Herself Episode: "Summer Party Playoffs"
2018–2020 Alexa & Katie Lori Mendoza Main role
2019 Sugar Rush Christmas Herself Guest Judge, "Here Comes Santa Claus"
2020 Saved by the Bell Kelly Kapowski Morris Recurring
2020 Deliciousness Herself Host

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1993 Son in Law Tracy
1995 She Fought Alone Caitlin Rose TV Film
1999 Speedway Junky Wilma Price
1999 From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money Pam Direct-to-video
1999 Love Stinks Rebecca Melini / Juliette
2000 Ivans XTC Marie Stein
2000 The Ladies Man Honey DeLune
2000 Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth Hagitha Utslay Direct-to-video
2001 A Christmas Adventure ...from a Book Called Wisely's Tales Vixen (voice) Direct-to-video
2002 Hollywood Ending Sharon Bates
2005 Just Pray Short film; director
2008 Cyborg Soldier Lindsey Reardon
Music videos
Year Artist Song
2000 Vertical Horizon "You're a God"
2008 Ben Lee "American Television"
2020 Douglas Doug Douglason and the Hot Country Knights (Dierks Bentley alter ego) “Pick Her Up”

Accolades
Year Association Category Work Result
1990 Young Artist Awards Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast Saved by the Bell Nominated
1992 Best Young Actress Starring in an Off-Prime-time or Cable Series Nominated
1993 Best Young Actress in an Off-Prime-time Series Nominated
2003 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress – Drama/Action Adventure Fastlane Nominated

References
  1. "Tiffani Thiessen Biography (1974–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  2. "Tiffani Thiessen's interview". Tiffani Thiessen fansite. Archived from the original on November 4, 2007. Retrieved November 14, 2007.
  3. "InStyle Interview". tiffanithiessen.org. November 1998. p. 261.
  4. Team, Greek Gateway. "Celebrities you didn't know were of Greek descent". Greek Gateway - The Top Greek Entertainment Website. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  5. "TV STUFF: Tiffani Drops Amber". Hollywood.com. March 29, 2000. Archived from the original on March 18, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2007.
  6. "Charm's Way". Entertainment Weekly. June 12, 2001. Retrieved December 25, 2012.
  7. "News". imdb.com. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  8. "Tiffani Thiessen 'Just Pray' Soundtrack Official Site". Retrieved October 10, 2006.
  9. "About us". Petitnest.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  10. "Watch a Glorious Saved by the Bell Reunion Courtesy of Jimmy Fallon". Time. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  11. "Jimmy Fallon assembled the cast of 'Saved by The Bell' for an epic reunion". Business Insider. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  12. "Jimmy Fallon reunites most of the 'Saved by the Bell' cast". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  13. Nellie Andreeva (June 7, 2017). "Tiffani Thiessen To Co-Star In Netflix Multi-Camera Comedy 'Alexa & Katie'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  14. "The 'Saved By The Bell' Reboot Will Feature Zack & Kelly Together Again". March 1, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  15. "Saved by the Bell revival drops first official trailer: 'The old gang back together'". October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  16. https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1211679/mtvs-ridiculousness-spinoff-is-guaranteed-to-make-you-hungry-and-make-you-laugh
  17. "Brian Austin Green & Tiffani-Amber Thiessen". People.com. February 13, 1995. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  18. "Robin Williams Secures an 'Aladdin' Sequel". Entertainment Weekly. October 9, 1995. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  19. "Sudden Tragedy". Entertainment Weekly. April 2, 1999. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  20. "Tiffani Thiessen Weds Actor Brady Smith". People.com. July 12, 2005. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  21. Oh, Eunice (June 15, 2010). "Tiffani Thiessen Welcomes Daughter Harper Renn". People. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  22. Stroup, Kate; Leon, Anya (July 2, 2015). "Tiffani Thiessen Welcomes Son Holt Fisher". People.com. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  23. "Jennie Garth, Tiffani Thiessen Still Not Speaking". Us Weekly. May 15, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  24. "Tiffani Amber Thiessen Discusses Co-Star Feuds". The inquisitr. July 31, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  25. Elavsky, Cindy (May 19, 2013). "Celebrity Extra". Downriver Sunday Times. Times-Herald Newspapers. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  26. "Justin Bieber wears Tiffani Thiessen". Daily News. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  27. Finn, Natalie (June 3, 2014). "Chris Paul Gets "Best" Birthday Gift—A Saved by the Bell-Era Autographed Photo of Tiffani Thiessen!". E! Online. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
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