Tiffani Thiessen (born Tiffani-Amber Thiessen on January 23, 1974) is an American actress known for her roles as Kelly Kapowski in Saved by the Bell and as Valerie Malone in Beverly Hills, 90210. After many years of going by her full name, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, she is now credited as simply Tiffani Thiessen.¹

Early life

Thiessen was born in Long Beach, California. Her father, Frank, was a park designer; her mother, Robyn, was a homemaker. She is of Turkish, German, Greek and Welsh descent. She 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."² She credits her brother, Todd, as one of her most important sources of inspiration, and her mother and grandmother as role models.³ Her uncle, Roger Ernest, attended college with Steven Spielberg and co-wrote one of his student films called Slipstream. He also appeared in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and The Sugarland Express, playing a police officer in both films. Ernest was the first person to suggest that Thiessen enter show business.

Career

After a childhood of beauty pageants, Thiessen was crowned Miss Junior America in 1987 and won Teen magazine's "Great Model Search" in 1988, gracing the cover of that issue. A year later, her first big break in show business was her role on the television program Saved by the Bell, which was publicized and given a great deal of fanfare by the same magazine. She portrayed Kelly Kapowski, a role she continued playing in the short-lived Saved by the Bell: The College Years. Thiessen began to appear in guest roles on several television film, including Hawaiian Style, A Killer Among Friends, Son in Law, and Wedding in Las Vegas.

In 1994, Thiessen was cast in Beverly Hills, 90210 playing Valerie Malone. This was very different from her previous roles, playing a naive, and a fun young woman but also a trouble maker at times. She played the role of Valerie Malone for five seasons.

Thiessen later guest-starred in the sitcom Two Guys and a Girl and the short-lived action show Fastlane, as well as guest-starring on Just Shoot Me! playing Amy Watson. Her transition to film has not gone well so far, as most of her movies have been critically panned. In 2002, she appeared in the film Hollywood Ending, directed by Woody Allen.

In 2005, Thiessen directed a 21-minute film called Just Pray. It placed at several film festivals and was the first major effort from her new production company, Tit 4 Tat Productions.

In January 2007, Thiessen joined the cast of ABC's drama What About Brian, playing the boss of Brian, and potential love interest for Adam. However, in May 2007, ABC officially canceled the series.

Personal life

She has had past relationships with co-stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Brian Austin Green and Mario Lopez. In March of 1999, Thiessen's then-boyfriend, actor David Strickland, committed suicide. From October 2001 to April 2003, she was engaged to actor Richard Ruccolo, whom she had met during the Two Guys and a Girl run. On July 9, 2005, she married actor Brady Smith in Montecito, California.

Thiessen is a part of the Make-a-Wish Foundation. In February 2006, she accepted an invitation to serve on the National Advisory Council for the organization.

Filmography

Award nominations

Teen Choice Awards

• 2003 - Choice TV Actress: Drama, "Fastlane"

Young Artist Awards

• 1989 - Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast, "Saved by the Bell"
• 1991 - Best Young Actress Starring in an Off-Prime Time or Cable Series, "Saved by the Bell"
• 1992 - Best Young Actress in an Off-Prime Time Series, "Saved by the Bell"

Radio

• Recorded a public service announcement for Deejay Ra's 'Hip-Hop Literacy' campaign
• She was featured in the following music videos:
  • "You're a God" by Vertical Horizon
  • "American Television" by Australian artist Ben Lee.

References

External links

• Official website
• Tiffani Thiessen at the Internet Movie Database
• tit 4 tat Productions - Thiessen's production company. Includes her profile.
• Biography at TV.com
• Fansite