Born in Canada, Priestley began as a child model and was just a teen when he started guest-starring on TV series. Still, he was relatively unfamiliar to audiences until Beverly Hills, 90210 turned him into an instant sex symbol. During his eight years on the show, he branched out into directing and producing, and attempted to parlay his small-screen success into big-screen fame. After 90210, Priestley continued to appear in films and in supporting roles on television (Tru Calling, Medium). Well-known for his love of racing, his career as a race-car driver ended when he crashed his vehicle into a wall in 2002.  But Priestley continues to be involved with the sport as an owner.