Where Is The Cast Of 90210 Today?
A revival of Fox's hit '90s teen drama series "Beverly Hills, 90210" — which launched the careers of stars like Shannon Doherty, Tori Spelling, Luke Perry, Jason Priestley, and Brian Austin Green — "90210" aired on The CW from 2008 to 2013. Following the lives of several wealthy students attending West Beverly Hills High School in Southern California, the show immediately captivated fans with its stunning fashion, beautiful backdrops, and glamorous stars. Teens across the world tuned in to watch the alluring and superficial lifestyles of the "90210" main characters, always with plotlines salacious enough to live up to the show's tagline: "You wanna live in the zip, you've gotta live by the code."
It's been 14 years since the first episode of "90210" aired, and, while some cast members have seamlessly continued their work in the entertainment business, others have focused more on family life, dabbled in other careers, or found themselves embroiled in high-profile controversies. So, where is the main cast of "90210" now? Let's find out.
Shenae Grimes started a family and launched a podcast
Shenae Grimes stole the screen as the loveable Annie Wilson on "90210," but she has only taken a limited number of acting roles since the show's end in 2013. Most notably, Grimes played homicide detective Jacqueline Cooper on the Canadian police procedural drama series "The Detail" in 2018. In an on-set interview with the Toronto Star, Grimes spoke of her role. "I've literally never even played a grown-up, really," she said. "This is really the most bad-ass character I've ever gotten to play." Two days after the season finale in June 2018, Grimes learned that the show, unfortunately, would not be renewed for a second season.
Focusing on family life for a while, Grimes married British model and musician Josh Beech in May 2013 in Ashford, England. The couple, who share two children — a daughter, Bowie Scarlett, born in September 2018, and a son, Kingsley Taylor, born in August 2021, lives in Nashville, Tennessee. On December 20, 2019, Grimes announced on Instagram that she had become an American citizen, holding dual Canadian-American citizenship.
Grimes got back to entertainment in May 2021 by launching a podcast called "Unzipped" with her former "90210" co-star, AnnaLynne McCord. Of the podcast, she told E! News, "We have so many mutual passions that are really just centered around people and stories and life and feelings." She added how she was excited to "reunite in this space and reintroduce ourselves to people as ourselves."
Dustin Milligan took on a highly-acclaimed role in Schitt's Creek
After being written out of his role as Ethan Ward on "90210" following the first season, Dustin Milligan had featured and starring roles in a range of shows before landing the coveted part of Ted Mullens in "Schitt's Creek." The Canadian sitcom, written by father-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy, received massive critical acclaim, with Dustin's character being a fan favorite across all six seasons, until the show's end in 2020. On working alongside Eugene, Dustin gushed to BuzzFeed, "You get to meet these people sometimes throughout your career, and not everybody's nice, not everybody's kind, and not everybody's cool. And Eugene is all of those things."
Dustin last starred in "Rutherford Falls" as Josh Carter, a passionate journalist trying to cover a local dispute involving the fictional Minishonka tribe. The series launched on Peacock in April 2021 and has since been renewed for a second season. Speaking to Bustle about his role and its significance to him, the actor said, "I grew up in a small town in northern Canada, and of the many privileges I experienced growing up was that there was a lot of exposure to Indigenous cultures. I realize how lucky I was to have any kind of exposure to Indigenous communities, so it's special to have a show that is ... having them be an integral part."
AnnaLynne McCord started a podcast and found herself in controversy
Having achieved mainstream success in her roles as Naomi Clark on "90210" and Eden Lord on "Nip/Tuck," AnnaLynne McCord continued her career in show business, appearing in "Dallas," "Secrets and Lies," and "Let's Get Physical." In April 2022, McCord starred as Mia Stone in the mockbuster film "Titanic 666," which was, unfortunately, a commercial and critical flop. And, of course, she also co-hosts the podcast "Unzipped" alongside former "90210" co-star Shenae Grimes.
McCord, however, unexpectedly found herself in the news in February 2022 after posting a spoken word poem on Twitter entitled "Dear Mister President Vladimir Putin..." The post was inspired by the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine that had occurred only days earlier and which included the now infamous line, "I'm so sorry I was not your mother," directed at Putin. McCord's words were quickly labeled "tone-deaf" and "bizarre" by both commenters and the media, with the poem going viral for all the wrong reasons. Defending her post, McCord told BuzzFeed News, "I know how I could easily have moved in the direction of becoming a dictator myself. If certain circumstances of my life were different, were I a little less bent toward healing and more toward vindication, I could have been a darkly powerful person."
Lori Loughlin went to prison before returning to acting
Having already made a name for herself in Hollywood with roles in "Full House" and "The Edge of Night," Lori Loughlin continued a successful television acting career after wrapping her role as Debbie Wilson, Annie Wilson's mom, on "90210." In 2016, she reprised her role as Aunt Becky in Seasons 1 through 4 of the Netflix "Full House" revival, "Fuller House" (per IMDb).
Loughlin, however, found herself in the headlines for something other than work in March 2019 when she was among 50 people charged as part of the $25 million college admissions scandal. According to court papers, Loughlin and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, agreed to pay bribes totaling $500,000 to ensure their two daughters' admission to the University of Southern California. This included arranging for one of her daughters to be photographed on a rowing machine to support false claims of her position on the L.A. Marine Club team and agreeing to keep her daughter's acceptance and the overall scheme "hush hush." In May 2020, Loughlin pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and served nearly two months in a federal correctional facility in Dublin, California. She was released from prison in December 2020.
Though the actress lost work as a result of the scandal, Loughlin returned to acting in 2021 with the reprisal of her "When Calls the Heart" character, Abigail Stanton, in the GAC Family spinoff "When Hope Calls."
Rob Estes has focused on family and gotten into real estate
Having already appeared in the "Beverly Hills, 90210" spinoff, "Melrose Place," as two different characters, the role of Harry Wilson on "90210" was Rob Estes' third appearance in the franchise, solidifying his name as an adaptable dramatic actor in Hollywood (per IMDb). He left the show after the second season, releasing a statement saying, "This is my final season on '90210' and I wish the show, cast and crew nothing but the best. I am looking forward to spending time with my kids and exploring other opportunities."
Since leaving in 2010, Estes has been featured in "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "CSI: Cyber" and "Daytime Divas," among a range of other television shows. Most recently, as of this writing, he appeared as Ken Scott in the second and third films of the "After" series (via IMDb).
Following his 2006 split from Josie Bissett, his "Melrose Place" co-star with whom he shares two children, Estes married Erin Bolte in June 2010. The couple, who share a son named Makai Ever, born in 2011, lives in San Clemente, California. Outside of acting, Estes has even started dabbling in real estate, as he shared with The Orange County Register in 2017. "One of my neighbors offered me a job with Berkshire Hathaway," he said. "It's been great. I've met really cool people and gotten to experience a lot of great properties, and I like it."
Jessica Stroup became a scream queen and entered the MCU
After stealing hearts as fan-favorite Erin Silver on "90210," Jessica Stroup gained further acclaim for starring as Max Hardy on "The Following," opposite Kevin Bacon, from 2014 to 2015. Talking about the role in an interview with DuJour, Stroup said, "I was looking forward to working with the cast. [Kevin Bacon] is the most prepared man you'll ever meet, but he's also hilarious. He brings in joy and fun — it really welcomes everyone. We're dealing with pretty heinous crimes and intense scenes, but it's always fun."
From 2017 to 2018, Stroup took on the role of Joy Meachum in "Iron Fist," set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She has also developed a reputation as a scream queen for her work in a range of horror films including "The Hills Have Eyes 2," "Prom Night," and "Homecoming." In 2019, Stroup appeared as Alexandra Reid in the TV movie "Heart of Life," and, as of publication, she has a short film entitled "Freedom H.U.D" in post-production.
Michael Steger produced a one-woman show
Following his role as Navid Shirazi on "90210," Michael Steger produced a one-woman show called "Brandee Built on Crazee" starring his wife, Brandee Tucker. The show, which follows the life of a 6-year-old girl up until her teenage years, ran for eight weeks at the Stella Adler Theatre in Los Angeles. Speaking of "Brandee Built on Crazee," Steger told HuffPost in 2012, "It's very autobiographical with an exaggerated comedic twist. It deals with childhood bullies, and what it's like to fit in, and it's very moving." The show was later turned into a TV movie, released in 2015.
Steger continues to keep busy these days, appearing in the TV movies "Christmas on the Menu" and "Lethal Love Letter" and is filming the screen adaptation of Alyson Foster's acclaimed book, "God is an Astronaut."
Steger and Tucker married in 2008 and have two children together — a daughter, Poet Louise, born in 2016, and a son, Mozart Lee, born in 2020. The actor regularly posts photos and updates on his home life to social media.
Jessica Lowndes focused on her singing career
After performing multiple songs in character as Adrianna Tate-Duncan on "90210," Jessica Lowndes has largely focused on her music career. On January 25, 2012, she released her debut EP, "Nothing Like This," which includes her singles "I Wish I Was Gay" and "Nothing Like This," as well as two new songs: "Stamp of Love" and "Go Back."
In March 2013, Lowndes released her self-written second EP titled "TBT (Throwback Thursday)." Her September 2014 single, "Silicone in Stereo," peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard charts in both the U.S. and Canada. The star has released a range of other non-album singles, including "11:11" in February 2022. The same month, Lowndes sat down for an interview with The List where she spoke of her music career and teased her upcoming debut studio album, "Elemental." "I've been writing music for as long as I can remember," she said, "and I've always loved how people have come up to me from the few songs that I've put out in the past and they've been so affected by it."
Although music has been Lowndes' focus, she has also acted in a number of Hallmark Channel films and the 2020 Lifetime movie "Too Close For Christmas," which she co-produced with co-star Chad Michael Murray. In fact, in February 2022, Lowndes signed an impressive four-picture deal to star in, write, direct, and executive produce original films for GAC Family.
Tristan Wilds released two albums and received a Grammy nod
Since his time as Michael Lee on "The Wire" and Dixon Wilson on "90210," Tristan Wilds has been busy. He starred as Adele's love interest in the music video for her song "Hello" in 2015, and, in 2016, he starred in "The Breaks," a TV movie about the hip-hop industry in the '90s. After the successful movie, VH1 greenlighted a full season for the drama "The Breaks," which premiered in 2017. Though the show was renewed for a second season to air on BET, the renewal was, unfortunately canceled, in late November of that year.
Wilds also has a music career, which he launched after meeting producer Salaam Remi in 2008 at the BMI Awards. Under the name Mack Wilds, he released his debut album, "New York: A Love Story," on September 30, 2013. The album has received accolades, including a nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 2014 Grammy Awards (per Vibe). Wilds released his second album, "AfterHours," in April 2017.
In 2022, Wilds hosted the four-part documentary series "Profiled: The Black Man," released in February. Speaking about the series, he told the New York Post, "I think it is important to discuss Black men and the struggles and triumphs that we face, both good and bad. Black men are often stigmatized with negative connotations, so I am extremely happy to be a part of this journey."
Matt Lanter voiced Anakin Skywalker in the animated Star Wars series
A lot has happened since Matt Lanter played the role of Liam Court on "90210." In 2008, Lanter took on the gig of voicing Anakin Skywalker for the animated film "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," which was released in August 2008. Lanter continued in the role in the subsequent series of the same name, which premiered on the Cartoon Network in October 2008 and aired its final season on Disney+ in February 2020.
Outside of the "Star Wars" franchise, Lanter has featured in films such as "Disaster Movie," "Vampires Suck," and "Pitch Perfect 3." From 2016 to 2018, Lanter appeared as Wyatt Logan in "Timeless." He also starred as George Hutchence in the Netflix superhero series "Jupiter's Legacy" for one season until its cancelation. Speaking to CinemaBlend about the cancelation, Lanter said, "It's not something we expected. Honestly, I thought I was going to be doing that for probably the next 10 years of my life the way they shoot the seasons and put them together ... I'm glad we got one season of it out there."
Focusing on his personal life, Lanter married his longtime girlfriend, Angela Stacy, in June 2013 (per Us Weekly). The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named MacKenlee Faire, in 2017 (per People).
Trevor Donovan began to appear on the big screen
Trevor Donovan's first big role aside from Teddy Montgomery on "90210" was in Oliver Stone's film "Savages," released in July 2012. Donovan had originally screen-tested for a character who was edited out of the film, but after seeing the screen-test video recording, Stone wrote a new part just for him! As Donovan explained to E! News, "My character isn't in the book, so there are new scenes that I'm in that weren't in the book. It's kind of crazy."
From 2013 to 2014, Donovan appeared as a recurring character in the third season of the sitcom "Melissa & Joey." He then went on to star in a variety of Hallmark Channel TV movies, including "Love, Fall & Order," "USS Christmas," and "Two for the Win" (via IMDb).
Donovan will soon be seen as John Barletta in the upcoming film "Reagan," slated for a 2022 release. The drama, which is based on the life of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, stars Dennis Quaid in the lead role. "I didn't get the role until the last minute ... There was not a lot of time to prepare," Donovan told TV Shows Ace of the role, adding, "I had to learn a Boston accent on the fly."
Jessica Walter voiced a character in Archer before sadly passing away
Before appearing as Tabitha Wilson on the first season of "90210," Jessica Walter, a two-time Golden Globe nominee, had already established an extremely successful acting career, starring in shows that include "Arrested Development," "Just Shoot Me," "The Big Bang Theory," "NCIS," and "Good Girls," as noted by her extensive IMDb profile. As such, it was no surprise that her work in entertainment continued after her character was written out of "90210" in 2009. Walter then voiced the character of Malory Archer on the FX animated series "Archer" until 2021.
Walter died in her sleep on March 24, 2021, at the age of 80. Her daughter, Brooke Bowman, confirmed the news in a statement, saying, "It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of my beloved mom Jessica. A working actor for over six decades, her greatest pleasure was bringing joy to others through her storytelling both on screen and off."
Ryan Eggold plays the lead on New Amsterdam
After taking on the role of Ryan Matthews in "90210," Ryan Eggold continued his acting career, playing Tom Keen on the NBC crime drama series "The Blacklist" from 2013 to 2017, as well as its spinoff series "The Blacklist: Redemption" in 2017. These days, he appears as hospital director Dr. Max Goodwin in the drama series "New Amsterdam," which has aired since September 2018.
In an interview with Collider about his work on "New Amsterdam," Eggold shared what he loves about the project, saying the "script had a real energy to it, and a real pace, dynamic and kinetic quality, which I really liked, that I feel like they executed."
Eggold also appeared in the Academy Award-winning film "BlacKkKlansman" in 2018 and 2020's "Never Rarely Sometimes Always" (per IMDb). Most recently, as of publication, he played the role of Jacob in the film "Junction," currently in post-production and set for a 2023 release.