- Born
- Birth nameTiffani Amber Thiessen
- Nickname
- Tiff
- Height5′ 5″ (1.65 m)
- Tiffani Amber Thiessen was born on January 23, 1974 in Long Beach, California to Robyn Ernest, a homemaker & Frank Thiessen, a park designer. She grew up in Long Beach with her parents and her brothers, professional cyclist Todd (born August 1, 1968) and Schyler (born May 10, 1977). When Tiffani was 8, her uncle, Roger Ernest, suggested that she try acting and modeling. Soon afterward, she appeared in her first TV commercial, for Peaches and Cream Barbie. From there she started competing in several beauty pageants and, in 1987, she won the Miss Junior America pageant.
She got her big break when she was cast as the popular cheerleader Kelly Kapowski on the NBC series Saved by the Bell (1989), which lasted for five years. But this was not at all the end of her career. Coinciding with the cancellation of the short-lived Saved by the Bell: The College Years (1993), she was cast as the bitchy, conniving vixen Valerie Malone on Aaron Spelling's long-running hit series Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990). Here, she played the constant enemy of Kelly Taylor, played by Jennie Garth, although in real life, the two are actually best friends. Tiffani also lived with co-star Brian Austin Green for several years. She stayed with the show until 1998 and then left to pursue her movie career. The result was two independent movies, followed by two comedies and then Hollywood Ending (2002), in which she starred alongside Woody Allen.
She met actor Richard Ruccolo while guest starring as Marti in the hit sitcom Two Guys and a Girl (1998) where in 2001, the couple became engaged. During the fall of 2002, she co-starred with best friend Jennie's husband, Peter Facinelli, and Bill Bellamy on Fox's action/drama series, Fastlane (2002), where she starred as Billie Chambers, but the show was canceled after one season. In 2003, Tiffani broke off her engagement to Richard Ruccolo and in 2005, she married actor Brady Smith. The couple have two children, a daughter, Harper Smith (Harper Renn Smith) and a son, Holt Fisher Smith.
- IMDb mini biography by: Laerke
- SpouseBrady Smith(July 9, 2005 - present) (2 children)
- ChildrenHolt Fisher Smith
- ParentsFrank ThiessenRobyn Ernest
- RelativesSchuyler Thiessen(Sibling)Todd Tesen(Sibling)
- Soft mellow voice
- Blue eyes
- Was offered a role on Charmed (1998) to replace Shannen Doherty, but turned it down. [2001]
- Competed with, and eventually beat out, Jennie Garth for the role of Kelly Kapowski on Saved by the Bell (1989). Thiessen and Garth would later star together on Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990) and become friends in real life. Garth would later introduce Thiessen to her husband Brady Smith on a blind date. Their friendship has since ended and they are no longer close to one another.
- She made her acting debut in a 1985 Peaches n' Cream Barbie Doll commercial.
- Volunteered at Camp Rainbow Gold, a summer camp for children stricken with cancer, located near Ketchum, Idaho, USA. [2006].
- Was in a relationship with actor David Strickland at the time of his death in 1999.
- 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. - on acting professionally in show business.
- 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. - being a feminine woman.
- People expect me to be thin and perfect... I'm not.
- My dog and two cats are such a vital part of my life. To say that I am their owner doesn't reflect at all the profound bond and responsibility that I have towards them. Therefore, I thoroughly support In Defense of Animals' initiative to utilize 'guardian' instead of owner.
- 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.
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