Tiffani Thiessen Bio - Tiffani Thiessen Biography

Tiffani Thiessen: Biography

Tiffani-Amber Thiessen was born on January 23, 1974 in Long Beach, California. Her father, Frank, was a park designer and her mother, Robyn, was a homemaker. Tiffani grew up in Long Beach with her parents and two brothers, Todd and Schuyler. Tiffani was 8 when her uncle convinced her to try modeling. Tiffani went on to win several beauty pageants. After hitting it big in 1987, with her Miss Junior America accomplishment, she turned to acting.

Tiffani got her break just two years later in 1989. She landed the role of Kelly Kapowski on Saved by the Bell. This role of the squeaky clean popular cheerleader lasted 5 years.

After Saved by the Bell Tiffani was looking for a different kind of character. In 1994 a new Tiffani arrived on the scene. She had a whole new look including a shorter hairstyle and breast implants. Tiffani then landed the job of the sexy vixen, Valerie Malone on Beverly Hills, 90210. This time instead of the preppy, cheerful, cheerleader Tiffani played a blackmailing, corrupt vixed that knew what she wanted and would stop at nothing to get it. Tiffani's character ended up sleeping with every male on the show, and becoming rivals with every female. At this same time Tiffani During this time, she went through a many television movies, and also a small role alongside Pauly Shore in the comedy Son in Law in 1993. Still trying to surpass her former role as wholesome Kelly on Saved by the Bell, Tiffani posed nude several times in both Veronica and New Look magazines.

In 1998 she left her role on 90210, to pursue a career in movies. Two independent films, Speedway Junky and Love Stinks followed. Then she tried at her comedy skills alongside Woody Allen in two movies.

Tiffani has accomplished many things in her acting carreer but she will always be remembered by most as Kelly Kapowski, an image she can not live down.

Tiffani: If I didn't work out, it'd be a disaster. The weight issue has been a really big thing for me all my life. I come from an overweight family, and in this business, it's something you simply can't be. I love eating, but I work out six days a week, usually for an hour and a half.(edit)
Tiffani: I'd say I've enjoyed every role that I've done in my life.(edit)
Tiffani: I've seen the effects of drugs too often. My brother had a big problem with them for five years. He's better now, but I've never needed or wanted to be involved with them.(edit)
Tiffani: I get my blue eyes from my dad.(edit)
Tiffani: I love to shop for lingerie! My drawer for my lingerie is probably as big as my drawer for sweats and jeans. It's really huge.(edit)
Tiffani: Luckily I have a very type-A personality and I'm very observant of my surroundings, I think that's probably because I'm a woman and because I am an actress. I tend to watch what I do...Anytime I was on the set as an actress, I was always that girl who sat next to the camera and was like, 'What does that do? What does this do?' And for years and years I was like that, but that was just me being curious. Luckily it paid off in the long run.(edit)
Tiffani: I've collected pigs since I was really little, miniature pigs and stuff like that.(edit)
Tiffani: I'm a very free spirit; there are two sides to me, completely. If I could take you into my closet, you'd go, 'Yep, you're right.' It's split right down the middle. I have just as many sweatshirts as I have sweaters. I have just as many jeans as I have black pants.(edit)
Tiffani Thiessen: (On Saved by the Bell fan reaction at an appearance) All these kids were just lovin' what we did and screamin' and yellin' out our names and throwing things at us and wanting to cut our hair off and things like that.(edit)
Tiffani Thiessen: (On her transition from Saved by the Bell to 90210) Coming from a sweet, young, innocent little girl on Saved by the Bell and to this - you know - girl who was around. A lot. With a lot of different people, guys mainly. Instant fun.(edit)
Tiffani Thiessen: I base my actions on what my capabilities are.(edit)
Tiffani Thiessen: Quitting just never seems to be an option.(edit)
Tiffani Thiessen: Hard work and a lot of heart will continue to be the cornerstones of my life's accomplishments.(edit)
Tiffani Thiessen: I learned how to smoke from Mark-Paul Gosselaar on Saved by the Bell. He's the one who taught me, and we smoked together. I think my mom knew we were smoking together when we were working, so I knew I couldn't really lie myself out of it.(edit)
Tiffani Thiessen: There are too many rotten things in this world, and if I can put a smile on one little girl's face, one little boy's face, then I've done my job.
(edit)
Tiffani Thiessen: My mom always taught me to be sweet and polite and cross my legs because it's what the guys like. Actually, they like a raunchy girl once in a while.
(edit)
Tiffani Thiessen: I have more zits now than I did as a teenager. Stress zits.
(edit)

In addition to Mark Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani also briefly dated her other Saved by the Bell co-star, Mario Lopez, during production.(edit)
Camp Rainbow Gold is a summer camp for children with different types of cancer. The camp is located close to Ketchum, Idaho and Tiffani has volunteered there.(edit)
Tiffani ranked #43 on VH1's 100 Greatest Teen Stars.(edit)
Tiffani serves on the National Advisory Council of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.(edit)
Best friends, Tiffani and Jennie Garth were both on 90210. Tiffani had the name Val and Jennie had the name Kelly. Since then Jennie has had the name Val (What I Like About You), and Tiffani has had the name Kelly (Saved By The Bell). (edit)
Tiffani's a fan of candles from Ooohlala of Beverly Hills.(edit)
Tiffani was recently seen on Child Star Confidential: TV Princesses.(edit)
Tiffani is 5 foot 5 inches tall.(edit)
Tiffani is going to star in a new mini series on Hallmark called, Pandemic.(edit)
In reality, Tiffani thought that her Saved By The Bell co-star Mark Paul Gosselaar (Zack) was very annoying and immature. They dated once but soon split up. He was also the one that taught her how to smoke at the age of 16.(edit)
Tiffani attended her former 90210 co-star, Jason Preistley's wedding to Naomi Lowde on May 14th 2005. Also in attendance were two other former 90210 stars, Ian Ziering and Jennie Garth.(edit)
Tiffani has stated that it is more interesting to play the ****** characters.(edit)
Tiffani's nickname is Tiff.(edit)
Tiffani was crowned Miss Junior America in 1987. In 1988 she tied with another girl, Tiffany Weber, for the crown of Teen Magazine's Great Model Search. Then the next year in 1989, Tiffani was named Cover Girl Magazine's Model of the Year.(edit)
In 2002, Tiffani was named one of Stuff magazine's 102 Sexiest Women In The World.(edit)
Tiffani was romantically linked to David Strickland at the time of his death.(edit)
Tiffani lived with 90210 co-star, Brian Austin Green, for several years. The two were also romantically linked together at one time.(edit)
Tiffani first appeared in a TV commercial for the Peaches and Cream Barbie Doll.(edit)
Tiffani was offered a role on Charmed (to replace Shannen Doherty) but turned it down. (edit)
Tiffani is of Welsh, German, Greek and Turkish descent(edit)
Tiffani began modeling at the age of 8.(edit)
Tiffani started her own production company, Tit 4 Tat Productions.(edit)
Tiffani was formerly a vegetarian.(edit)
Tiffani attended Valley Professional High School. She was crowned Valedictorian in 1992.(edit)
Tiffani has two dogs, Buck and Pearl, and two cats, Sadie and Savannah.(edit)
Tiffani has a total of three tattoos. The daisy on her back was her first tattoo. She got it when she was only 16. She also has a lotus flower on her stomach and an angel above her right ankle.(edit)
Tiffani dropped her middle name Amber to be taken more seriously.(edit)
Teen Choice Award winner in 2003 for 'Choice TV Actress - Drama/Action Adventure' for Fast Lane.

Creative Arts Emmys winner in 2003 for Best Stunt Work.

Young Artist Award nominee in 1993 for 'Best Young Actress in an Off-Primetime Series' for Saved by the Bell

Young Artist Award nominee in 1992 for 'Best Young Actress Starring in an Off-Primetime or Cable Series' for Saved by the Bell.

Young Artist Award nominee in 1990 for 'Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast' for Saved by the Bell with Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez, Dustin Diamond, Elizabeth Berkley and Lark Voorhies.

American Awards in 1987 winner of the Award for Best Looking Girl. (edit)
When Tiffani starred on Fast Lane, she acted along side her best friend, Jennie Garth's real life husband.(edit)
Tiffani married actor Brady Smith on Saturday, July 9, 2005 at a private estate in Montecito, California. Three of her former 90210 co-stars attended her wedding; Jason Priestley, Tori Spelling and Lindsay Price. Vera Wang designed her wedding dress.(edit)
Tiffani became engaged to actor Richard Ruccolo in October 2001, but broke off the engagement in April of 2003.(edit)
In 2000 Tiffani was featured in the music video You're a God by Vertical Horizon.(edit)
In 2003, Tiffani was featured in a McDonald's commercial that aired during the Academy Awards.(edit)