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. 

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.