Jason Priestley Discusses Why He Left 'Beverly Hills, 90210'

Actor Jason Priestley recently opened up about his departure from the hit 1990s television drama "Beverly Hills, 90210," explaining the creative frustrations that led him to leave the show during its ninth season. Priestley, who starred as Brandon Walsh alongside twin sister Brenda, played by the late Shannen Doherty, shared insights during a recent podcast appearance with former costar Jennie Garth.

Reflecting on his time on the show, Priestley explained that by the end of the eighth season, the storyline began shifting in a direction that felt increasingly like a daytime soap opera. Despite praising the talent of showrunner John Eisendrath, Priestley noted that plots involving characters in comas and surprise twin brothers appearing at hospitals made him feel ready to move on. He wanted the writing team to build toward a deliberate and successful conclusion rather than continuing indefinitely.

Seeking a definitive ending, Priestley recalled repeatedly urging executive producer Aaron Spelling to wrap up the series while it was still performing well. According to the actor, Spelling firmly rejected the idea, famously replying that network crew members would have to pull him off the set in a body bag. Realizing that Spelling had no intention of ending the program, Priestley made the difficult decision to exit so he could pursue other professional opportunities.

His departure significantly altered the narrative trajectory of the series, notably derailing the planned onscreen marriage between Brandon and Kelly Taylor, played by Garth. With Priestley leaving the show, his character moved to Washington, D.C., to work as a journalist. Garth noted on her podcast that his presence was deeply missed behind the scenes, leaving the remaining cast members to navigate the final seasons without the foundational Walsh siblings.

Priestley admitted that his choice might have been different had he known how much longer the production would actually last. "If I'd have known the show was only going to go for another year and a half after I left, I would have stayed," he told Garth. The original teen drama ultimately concluded on May 17, 2000, after running for ten seasons.

Beyond his memories of the iconic Fox series, Priestley continues to stay active in television. He currently stars in and directs episodes of the spinoff series "Private Eyes West Coast," which airs on The CW and reunites him with costar Cindy Sampson for investigations relocated to Victoria, British Columbia.