If you were anywhere near a television in the 1990s, the zip code 90210 wasn’t just a location in California; it was a cultural reset. It basically invented the modern teen soap. Before Euphoria or Gossip Girl were even flickers in a producer’s eye, we had the Peach Pit. We had the high-waisted jeans. We had the sideburns.
But time is a weird thing. Looking back at the cast of 90210 old photos compared to where these actors are in 2026 feels like a fever dream. Some have stayed in the spotlight, reinventing themselves through reality TV or directing, while others have faced tragedies that honestly still hurt to talk about. It wasn't just a show; it was a decade of our lives played out by people who became our surrogate friends.
The Tragedy and Resilience of Shannen Doherty
You can’t talk about West Beverly High without starting with Brenda Walsh. Shannen Doherty was the "bad girl" of the 90s, or at least that’s how the tabloids painted her. Honestly, she was just ahead of her time—a woman who knew her value and didn't back down.
Sadly, Shannen passed away in July 2024 after a years-long, incredibly public battle with Stage 4 breast cancer. She spent her final years being brutally honest about the process on her podcast, Let’s Be Clear. She didn't want to leave. She fought until the very last second. Her death marked the end of an era for the cast of 90210 old school fans who remembered her as the fiery girl from Minnesota who shook up Beverly Hills. It’s still hard to believe she’s gone.
Luke Perry: The Forever Heartthrob
If Shannen was the soul of the show, Luke Perry was its heartbeat. Dylan McKay was the brooding loner we all wanted to save. When Luke passed away in 2019 following a massive stroke, it felt like a collective gut punch to Gen X and Millennials alike.
He had just found a whole new generation of fans playing Fred Andrews on Riverdale. Everyone who worked with him said the same thing: he was the kindest guy in the room. He wasn't Dylan McKay in real life; he was a father who loved his kids and a craftsman who preferred fixing a fence to walking a red carpet. His absence in the 2019 reboot BH90210 was a gaping hole that no amount of meta-humor could fill.
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Jason Priestley and the Pivot to Directing
Brandon Walsh was the moral compass we all found a little annoying but secretly respected. Jason Priestley, however, was always more than just a pretty face. While he still acts—you might have caught him in Private Eyes—his real passion turned out to be behind the camera.
He’s directed dozens of episodes of television, including some of the original 90210 back in the day. He also famously survived a terrifying racing accident in 2002 at the Kentucky Speedway. It’s wild to think he nearly lost his life at the height of his post-show career. Today, he’s basically a Canadian icon, often seen at racing events or working on sets across North America. He’s aged incredibly well, too, mostly because he seems to have found a balance between the Hollywood madness and a normal family life.
Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling: The BFFs
Kelly Taylor and Donna Martin. These two were the social glue of the show. In real life, Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling stayed remarkably close.
- Jennie Garth: She’s leaned heavily into the lifestyle space. She has her own brand, her own podcast (9021OMG with Tori), and has been very open about her struggles with osteoarthritis. It’s refreshing to see a celebrity talk about the actual physical reality of getting older.
- Tori Spelling: Her life has been... a lot. Between very public financial struggles, a highly publicized divorce from Dean McDermott, and living in an RV for a stint due to mold issues in her home, Tori is the ultimate survivor. People love to judge her, but she’s constantly hustling. She’s the daughter of Hollywood royalty who has had to scrap for every dime in the last decade.
They’ve leaned into their "old cast" status with a sense of humor that most people lack. They know they’re icons of a specific time, and they aren't afraid to capitalize on the nostalgia.
Ian Ziering: From Steve Sanders to Sharknado King
If you told someone in 1992 that Steve Sanders would eventually become the face of a global phenomenon involving sharks and tornadoes, they’d have laughed you out of the room. But Ian Ziering is nothing if not a businessman.
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The Sharknado franchise turned him into a cult hero. Beyond that, Ian has been a massive success in the direct marketing world with Nu Skin. He’s arguably one of the wealthiest members of the cast of 90210 old lineup because he diversified. He didn't just wait for the phone to ring for acting gigs. He also looks like he hasn't aged a day since 1995, which is honestly a little bit suspicious. Is there a fountain of youth in the hills? Maybe.
Brian Austin Green and the Megan Fox Era
David Silver went from the dorky kid trying to be cool to the actual cool guy on the show. Brian Austin Green’s career has been a rollercoaster of high-profile relationships and steady TV work.
His marriage to Megan Fox kept him in the tabloids for years, but these days, he seems much more settled with Sharna Burgess from Dancing with the Stars. He’s a father of five now. Five! He’s leaned into the "dad" role heavily, using his platform to talk about co-parenting and the complexities of modern family life. He still does the occasional acting gig, but he seems most at home in the podcasting booth or at home with his kids.
Gabrielle Carteris: The Powerhouse
Andrea Zuckerman was the brain. It turns out, Gabrielle Carteris is also a powerhouse in real life. She served as the president of SAG-AFTRA for years, leading the union through some of its most turbulent times.
She was significantly older than the rest of the cast when the show started—she was 29 playing a 16-year-old—and she’s worn her age with immense grace. She’s focused on fighting ageism in Hollywood, which is a massive issue that often gets swept under the rug. She’s not just an actress; she’s an advocate.
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Why We Still Care About the 90210 Cast
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug. But it’s more than that. The cast of 90210 old and new represents a specific moment in time before the internet ruined everything. We watched them grow up while we were growing up. Their scandals felt like our scandals.
The 2019 "reboot" BH90210 was weird. It wasn't a revival; it was a mockumentary where the actors played heightened versions of themselves. It was polarizing, sure, but it showed that the chemistry between these people is still very much alive. They are bonded by a level of fame that most people can't comprehend.
Actionable Next Steps for 90210 Fans
If you’re feeling nostalgic and want to catch up with the cast properly, don't just scroll through Instagram. Here is how to actually engage with their current work:
- Listen to "9021OMG": Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling rewatch every single episode. It’s full of "behind the scenes" details about who was dating whom and which outfits they actually hated.
- Watch "Let’s Be Clear": Even though Shannen is gone, her podcast archive is a masterclass in resilience. It changes how you view her time on the show.
- Support Gabrielle Carteris’s Advocacy: Follow her work regarding ageism in the industry. It’s the most "Andrea Zuckerman" thing she could have done, and it’s actually making a difference in how actors are hired.
- Revisit the Original on Streaming: Most platforms have the original run, though be warned—the music rights often changed, so the iconic 90s soundtracks are sometimes replaced by generic elevator music.
The West Beverly High gang isn't in high school anymore. They’ve dealt with cancer, loss, bankruptcy, and divorce, just like the rest of us. That’s probably why we’re still talking about them thirty years later. They aren't just characters; they’re a reflection of a generation that’s trying to navigate the "old" phase of life with as much style as they did the "young" one.