In the ‘90s, no show was cooler than Beverly Hills, 90210, which was TV network Fox’s biggest moneymaker given its impressive teen viewership. After debuting in 1990, the show remained relevant due to its risqué storylines, but there was also some gossip-worthy drama behind the scenes as well. Tori Spelling, Shannen Doherty, Luke Perry, and Jennie Garth represented the future of young Hollywood at the time.
However, the sudden influx of fame inevitably led to some drama. Some “90210” cast members decided to speak out about how their supposedly glamorous life was actually anything but. From feuds with co-stars to abrupt and unexpected firings, the show had a major impact on everyone in the cast. Here are the most tragic details that affected the stars of one of the most epic ‘90s shows ever.
“90210” was a failure when it debuted
Many people assumed that this teen show was an instant success, but its release and the circumstances surrounding it were somewhat chaotic. Darren Star, a now-famous TV show creator, had never written a pilot before, and actor Jason Priestly was a last-minute casting decision as Brandon. Even after filming wrapped, Star explained that the show was in a precarious position—#118 to be exact—against its competitor, “Cheers.” But after a Fox executive gave Star the go-ahead to write sex into the storylines, viewership skyrocketed—specifically after Brenda and Dylan slept together at the end of Season 1.
Jennie Garth detested her character, Kelly
Jennie Garth played blonde bombshell Kelly Taylor, who became instant besties with Brenda. Although she was a popular protagonist, Garth disliked that her character was a bully who bragged about her cosmetic surgery and spoke badly about her ex. Ultimately, the character was a vain bully, so she wasn’t the most inspiring to Garth as an actress. To Rolling Stone, Garth called her “one-dimensional.”
Lukey Perry fought with Tori Spelling’s boyfriend
As the star of her dad’s show, Tori was a golden girl of the 90s. Her castmate, Luke Perry, was particularly protective over Spelling and got into a physical fight with her boyfriend, Nick Savalas, as a result. In a book by Margaret Wappler released in 2024, Wappler revealed that Perry told Savalas, “I love her, and you should not be in her life” at a party, and guests watched as a fight ensued. He even staged an intervention with Spelling to get her to break up with Savalas. Later, Spelling admitted that her ex was abusive and often called her ugly, making her cry.
The cast asked for Shannen Doherty to be fired
Tori Spelling and Shannen Doherty had a well-known beef that continued for years, and it all started on this show. In Season 4, Doherty was unhappy, and it showed in her behavior. She consistently showed up to work late, and the cast saw that as the last straw, calling Aaron Spelling and getting her fired. Tori Spelling admitted that she called her father and caused the decision, which she felt bad about, and called Doherty “one of the best friends I ever had,” even though her decision felt right at the time.
Jennie Garth’s mental health issues
In Jennie Garth’s memories, she admitted that she had anxiety ever since she was 19 years old. The set of “90210” was a safe space for her, but she had a tough time when people recognized her after fame. Even simple tasks became anxiety-inducing for the actress, affecting her daily life and draining enjoyment from everything. It made her scared to leave the house, and after her divorce from Peter Facinelli, she spent “a couple of years” being depressed in bed.
Bryan Austin Green was enraged when his girlfriend was hired
Before Megan Fox, Green was with actress Tiffani Amber Thiessen. Cast as Valerie in the show’s fifth season, she replaced Shannen Doherty as Brenda after Doherty was fired. Green was upset about the casting decision since it meant that “other people would be kissing and feeling up his girlfriend” by the other guys, according to producer Larry Mollin. Mollin continued that while the male actors on the show weren’t bad guys, they were working at a time when sexual harassment wasn’t publicly acknowledged in Hollywood.
Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth fought constantly
Doherty’s hard time at “90210” was also partially due to the fact that she was constantly pitted against co-star Jennie Garth. It also didn’t help that Doherty pulled up Jennie Garth’s skirt when the two were teasing one another, which understandably upset Garth. In fact, the two almost physically fought but were separated by the male castmates. Before Doherty’s passing, she spoke on her podcast to ex-co-star Jason Priestly, saying she blamed herself for getting fired because of a “horrible marriage” that she was in.
Brenda and Dylan broke up due to complaints
When Shannen Doherty and Luke Perry’s characters became the defining love story of “90210,” complaints started for the same reason the show’s popularity did: because wholesome Brenda lost her virginity to Dylan. This wasn’t yet normalized back then, and people were angry that Brenda was happy about the event, which led to Darren Star being advised to address the “consequences” of the experience. That’s why Brenda and Dylan broke up in the Season 2 premiere.
Jason Priestley’s hard-partying habits
Jason Priestly, who played the heartthrob Brendon Walsh, went down a dark path with his partying, telling “The Hollywood Reporter” that many of his struggles began with drugs and alcohol. He told the magazine that an inner voice told him he was a “fluke,” and he tried to silence that with substances. Although he grew past that, he revealed that he felt deserted by his agents and even his family.
Hilary Swank and Ian Zering were cut
Despite joining the show as a single mom named Carly Reynolds with a two-year contract, Hilary Swank was fired after just 16 episodes. Additionally, Ian Ziering, who played Steve, had his scenes cut due to being part of a storyline where he was accused of sexual assault. Ziering was frustrated that much of the heavy subject matter, which should have been discussed, was cut from the show.
