ARTICLES
Priestley Gets Jail, Probation
March 28, 2000
If you've ever wanted to chauffeur
Jason Priestley
around, now's your chance. The former Beverly Hills,
90210 star won't be driving himself around anytime soon.
In addition to forfeiting his license for a year, Priestley
will spend five days in jail and three years on probation.
He pleaded no contest today to a misdemeanor drunken-driving
charge stemming from a Dec. 3 car crash in the Hollywood
Hills area. Priestley, who initially claimed to be swerving
in order to avoid hitting a deer, was not injured in the
crash, but his passenger, best friend Chad Cook, suffered
a broken arm.
Superior Court Judge Michael E. Pastor ordered him to enter
a three-month alcohol-treatment program.
Priestley will be allowed to serve his time at Gateway Correctional
Institute, a private work-release facility in nearby Echo
Park, instead of in county jail.
The
actor's lawyer told reporters, "He's not one of the bad
boys of Hollywood, so he found it very traumatic [to be
prosecuted]." The Vancouver, British Columbia, native waived
his right to be present at the hearing.
As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to downgrade
one felony DUI charge to a misdemeanor and to dismiss another
felony DUI charge.
Under the terms of his sentence, Priestley must send his
driver's license back by April 12 and, the judge warned,
under "no circumstances is Mr. Priestley to drive a motor
vehicle in the state of California while his license is
suspended." Priestley could face a one-year jail term if
he violates the terms of his probation.
Deputy District Attorney Melinda Murray said prosecutors
agreed to the deal because the actor had no prior record
and Cook did not want him prosecuted. Cook's broken arm
has already healed, the prosecutor said.
The
crash occurred just days after Priestley and his wife, makeup
artist Ashlee Peterson, announced their trial separation.
Jason
Priestly Finds "Common Ground"
Mon, Jan 24, 2000 03:57 PM PST
Since
leaving "Beverly
Hills, 90210," Jason Priestley has gone to new places.
The young actor has earned solid reviews and industry respect
for taking chances with his image, and he does that again
in "Common Ground," which has its first Showtime showing
Saturday, January 29, at 8 p.m. (ET). The trilogy of short
dramas by gay authors traces attitudes toward homosexuality
in small-town America over the past half-century, and Priestley
appears in the first segment.
Written by Pulitzer Prize-winner Paula Vogel, it casts him
as a mid-1950s Navy man who takes a fellow officer (Brittany
Murphy) to a gay bar. Terrence McNally wrote the second
story, "Mr. Roberts," about a confused 1970s teen (Jonathan
Taylor Thomas) counseled by a closeted gay teacher (Steven
Weber). James Le Gros and Andrew Airlie play homosexual
partners on their wedding day in the modern third tale,
"Andy & Amos," written by Harvey Fierstein.
Other cast members include Edward Asner, Beau Bridges, Margot
Kidder, Dan Lauria, Mimi Rogers, Helen Shaver and Eric Stoltz.
"Playing the same character for eight years can get
tedious at times," Priestley says, "so when I left '90210,'
I just tried to do different things in projects that were
interesting. I'm not only acting now, I'm also producing
and directing. I've always tried to stay diversified, even
in the movies I did while I was still on the series, so
I've been working hard to find that kind of material."
For Priestley, "Common Ground" immediately qualified. "Donna
Deitch, the director, sent me the script along with a letter
saying she'd love to have me play the part. I just looked
at the writers who were involved and knew it would be interesting.
Truly well-written material comes along so infrequently,
when you have an opportunity to do it, you need to take
it."
"To examine the gay lifestyle in 1954, and how it was seen
from both the inside and the outside, was very interesting
to me," Priestley adds. "On one hand, you can look at this
and think, 'Look how far we've come.' You can also look
at it and think, 'Wow, we are one (nonprogressive) society.'
The same prejudice and distrust still exists 46 years later,
which is strange to me."
SOMETHING IN COMMON WITH KERWIN
Priestley appreciated that "Common Ground" was co-produced
by another actor branching into behind-the-scenes work,
Brian Kerwin (of the Showtime series "Beggars
and Choosers"). Priestley reports, "He's an old buddy
of mine, and I had no idea Brian was involved that way until
I got to the set. He's been working in this business forever,
and he really understands the process. I love to see guys
like him get behind the camera and make things happen."
(Kerwin also has an acting role in the story that features
Priestley.)
Some of Priestley's best notices to date came for the 1997
movie "Love and Death on Long Island," about a struggling
actor idolized by an unlikely admirer portrayed by John
Hurt. "That was an amazing experience all the way through,"
Priestley reflects. "To me, it's one of the highlights of
my career thus far. I spoke with John recently. He's really
a special man."
BREAKING NEW GROUND
Currently rehearsing for a London staging of the play "Side
Man," Priestley hopes 2000 proves brighter than the way
1999 ended for him: He separated from his wife, Ashlee Peterson,
and DWI charges were filed against him in Los Angeles after
he wrecked his car. At least he's starting the year promisingly
in career terms, since he also co-stars with Ashley Judd
and Ewan McGregor in the new movie "Eye of the Beholder."
Additionally, Priestley has directed an episode of the upcoming
UPN police show "The Beat,"
and that show's producer--Tom Fontana--gave him a role as
a detective in a "Homicide:
Life on the Street" movie that NBC plans to air February
13. "Things are going quite well for me professionally,"
Priestley concludes. "Touch wood, I seem to have been able
to move on OK."
"Common Ground" airs Saturday, January 29, at 8 p.m.
(ET) on Showtime.
Priestley
Pleads Innocent
Wed, Dec 22, 1999 08:36 AM PST Ultimate TV
LOS ANGELES (UltimateTV.com) - Jason Priestley has pleaded
innocent to a felony drunken driving charge after a December
3 crash that destroyed his 1999 Porsche and left his passenger
with a broken arm.
The crash, which took place in the Hollywood Hills, injured
his friend, Chad Cook, when Priestley's car hit a power
pole, garbage cans and a parked car.
Priestley, 30, appeared in court on Tuesday to enter his
plea. The former "Beverly Hills, 90210" star, who is free
on $50,000 bond, was ordered to return January 27 for a
preliminary hearing.
If convicted, the actor could face up to three years in
prison.
Priestley denied that alcohol was a factor and told investigators
the accident occurred when he swerved to avoid a deer.
Priestley
Joins Cast Of "Side Man"
Fri, Dec 10, 1999 09:15 AM PST Ultimate TV
LOS ANGELES (UltimateTV.com) - Jason Priestley, former star
of TV's "Beverly Hills, 90210," has joined the London production
of Warren Leight's Tony-winning play "Side Man." According
to Variety, the show will begin its run at the Apollo Theater
in the West End on February 17. Some of the other cast members
will include Edie Falco ("The Sopranos"), Frank Wood, Kevin
Geer, Michael Mastro, Angelica Torn and Jeff Binder.
Priestley's name has been in the news quite a bit lately.
Last week he announced his pending divorce; a few days later
he was booked on suspicion of drunk driving after he crashed
his Porsche in the Hollywood Hills.
Actor
Jason Priestley Charged With Drunken Driving
Fri, Dec 17, 1999 08:07 AM PST
LOS ANGELES (UltimateTV.com) - Jason
Priestley, the former "Beverly
Hills, 90210" star, has been charged with drunken driving.
The charges are the result of an early morning December 3
car accident, in which Priestley crashed his 1999 Porsche
in the Hollywood Hills.
The actor allegedly hit a power pole, trashcans, and a parked
car, injuring passenger Chad Cook, 27, a friend of Priestley's
who suffered a broken arm.
Priestley, 30, was charged Thursday. The former FOX celebrity
remained free on $50,000 bond pending a December 28 arraignment.
Jason
Priestley Separates From Wife
Tue, Nov 30, 1999 11:47 AM PST
LOS ANGELES (UltimateTV.com) - Jason Priestley has separated
from his wife of nine months, Ashlee Petereson. E! Online
reports it is the first marriage for both Priestley ("Beverly
Hills 90210" ) and Peterson, although Peterson has a child
from a previous relationship.
Beverly
Hills Says Bye to Brandon
After
nine years, Jason Priestley will leave "Beverly Hills 90210"
in this Wednesday's episode of the FOX mainstay. His character,
Brandon, is forced to decide whether to pursue a dream job
in Washington, D.C. or stay with his friends. Luke Perry,
who left the show in 1995, will return November 18. "Beverly
Hills 90210" airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on FOX.
Priestley
Denies Drug Rumor
After
a tabloid said "Beverly Hills 90210" star Jason Priestley
was a heroin junkie, Priestley was quick to discount the
story -- and was upset at how it affected his family. Priestley
told USA Today "Sometimes I feel like quitting the business
when I see stuff like that which affects my mother and everyone
who cares about me," he said. "My poor mom called me crying,
saying she thought I was dead." Priestley will leave the
show later this year, but will stay on in a creative capacity.
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