Characters of Beverly Hills, 90210

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The characters of the American teen drama series Beverly Hills, 90210:

• Brandon Walsh: Brandon and Brenda were born November 1974. Consistent protagonist of 90210; twin-brother of Brenda; aspiring journalist; sympathetic good guy; had a problem with sports gambling; Student Body President and TV station correspondent at CU; romantically involved with Kelly, Nikki, Emily, Lucinda (secretly as she was a married university professor), Susan, and Tracy; nearly marries Kelly, but they decide not to go through with it at the altar. Moved to Washington, D.C., a year after college graduation, when he accepted an offer from a New York-based paper to join its Washington bureau.

• Brenda Walsh: Twin sister of Brandon; one-time girlfriend of Dylan; generally a good girl, but is known as the rebellious twin; was held up at gunpoint by an armed robber at the Peach Pit; had both breast cancer and pregnancy scares; fell out with best friend Kelly over Dylan; arrested for breaking and entering an animal laboratory at the university in protest of animal rights, but was not charged; moved to London after first year of college to pursue an acting career. She would never appear in another episode after moving to London. While the character is mentioned as getting back together with Dylan after he leaves the show (to the point of Brandon and Kelly planning to vacation with Brenda and Dylan as part of their honeymoon, which never took place due to Kelly and Brandon's decision not to get married), this continuity is forgotten as Dylan claims to have left Brenda two years prior to his return to Beverly Hills in the ninth season.

• Kelly Taylor: Kelly Marlene Taylor was born March 1974. Brenda and Donna's best friend; romantically linked to Steve, Dylan, Brandon, Colin, and Matt. Reunited with Dylan at the end of series after breaking up years earlier. Mother suffered from cocaine and alcohol abuse; became David's stepsister and has had two half sisters: Erin by her mother and Joy by her father; was the victim of rumors and gossip during high school, Seventeen magazine cover girl; burned during an electrical fire that broke out at a house rave party, was brainwashed and joined a cult under the direction of a rogue university professor; had problems with diet pills and later became addicted to cocaine; went to rehab and recovered with help of her friends. Kelly was later stalked and held at gunpoint by her roommate from rehab, only escaping after pretending to join the roommate in a suicide pact and then overpowering her and saving both of their lives. Became pregnant by Brandon, but had a miscarriage due to endometriosis, was shot in a robbery gone-bad at LAX and subsequently had a brief bout of amnesia; volunteered at AIDS hospice and later worked at a free clinic, where she faced sexual harassment by a doctor but was able to overcome it with the support of Brandon. Found out Brandon had cheated on her, broke up with him but later reconciled, and nearly married Brandon but they both changed their minds right before walking down the aisle. Was raped in an alley when attempting to locate Dylan, shot and killed her rapist, but murder charges were never filed against her, and she's forgiven by his parents for her actions. Was on show for all 10 seasons.

• Dylan McKay: Born: Dylan Michael McKay in October 1974. Rich, motorcycling, surfing rebel; lived by himself in the BelAge Hotel and then in his own house, and when he returned in the ninth season he was back to living at the hotel again. Romantically linked to Brenda, Kelly, Valerie, Antonia, and Gina; his wife, Antonia, was murdered; always had a soulmate connection with Kelly but couldn't commit to domestic life; father was in prison for white-collar crimes and later, supposedly, was killed in a car explosion in 1993, but Dylan finds out in 2000 that he is alive and well and in the Witness Protection Program. They reunite briefly before Dylan decides to let his father go because the criminals his father put away will find and kill him otherwise. Has a hippie mother in Hawaii; they had a strained relationship but apparently reconciled. Found out he had a half-sister who was later found to have become a prostitute in L.A. by Kelly and Brandon. During the early run of the series, Dylan reveals he is an alcoholic and regularly attends AA meetings. However, when Dylan returns in the ninth season, his character is now a heroin addict rather than an alcoholic, and no one ever says anything during the many scenes that show Dylan drinking in spite of the large inconsistency with character development; Dylan is no longer seen attending AA meetings. Dylan is also part-owner of the Peach Pit, which caused Brandon to be jealous, during the fourth season. He later buys Peach Pit After Dark to save it from being bought by a greedy restaurateur. Dylan had an up-and-down relationship with Gina Kincaid and nearly left town with her before finally telling her the truth about his being in love with someone else. He and Kelly apparently got back together in the final episode after breaking up years before.

• David Silver: Becomes the West Beverly High School D.J.; on-again/off-again boyfriend of Donna, but married her in the final episode of the series; dated Ariel (with whom he cheated on Donna), Claire, Valerie, Sophie, Camille, and Gina. Aspiring music video director and musician; initially he is a year younger and thought of a geek by the others, but eventually became their friend and thus part of the in-crowd. Took extra courses in high school to graduate on time with his friends; once took crystal meth; later in the show, his friends became worried about him when he was diagnosed with manic depression, but he overcame that problem. Falsely accused of statutory rape but was acquitted with Matt's help. Character is Jewish but not observant though he has been shown standing up against anti-Semites and talking about facets of Judaism. On the show for all 10 seasons.

• Donna Martin: Born: December 25, 1974. Best friend of Kelly and Brenda; dated David; longtime virgin; suffered abuse at hands of boyfriend Ray; almost failed to graduate high school due to alcohol consumption at the senior prom. Had a learning disability of partial dyslexia. Was almost raped by Garrett Slan, a campus rapist, and was later stalked and taken hostage at the university TV station by the obsessed cameraman, Evan. Romantically involved with David, Griffin Stone, Ray Pruit, C.U. quarterback Joe Bradley, and Noah Hunter. Finally had sexual intercourse for the first time with David on the night they graduated from college. Briefly abused prescription drugs before opening her own clothing store. Married David in the final episode. Like Kelly, Steve, and David, remained on the show for its entire 10-year run.

• Steve Sanders: Steven M. Sanders was born May 15, 1975. Friend of Brandon, and was Kelly's one-time high school boyfriend; adopted by TV star Samantha Sanders and her husband Rush; learns Rush is actually his biological father but that his birth mother was a waitress in New Mexico who died not long after she gave him up for adoption. Once took steroids; party-planning athletic fraternity member; had brief romance with Celeste, whom he met on a TV dating show. Once had a near encounter with a transgendered model. As an adult, romantically involved with Clare and Janet; Became magazine editor and later married Janet; had a daughter with Janet named Madeline and became stay-at-home father. On the show for all 10 seasons.

• Andrea Zuckerman: Class Valedictorian; school newspaper editor; secretly commuting to Beverly Hills from a less-wealthy neighborhood in Van Nuys; Brandon's best friend while harboring a not-so-secret crush on him; teen hotline volunteer worker; almost had sex with Brandon at the end of the first season and again at the senior prom. Romantically linked to Jay, Dan, Jesse, and Peter, with whom she later had an extramarital affair. Jewish and more religious than David Silver, became concerned when she became involved with a Catholic man. Married Jesse, they had a baby girl named Hannah, and left Beverly Hills and California University to attend Yale while Jesse pursued his law career; they would later divorce. Wore glasses for the first two seasons, then switched to contact lenses.

• Scott Scanlon: Nerdy and socially awkward best friend of David; grew apart from David when David started to become close with the show's core group; accidentally killed himself in front of David while playing with a gun at his birthday party. David and his friends buried a time capsule in his memory. Scott was a main character during the first season of the show, but his role was reduced to recurring just prior to the character's death in the second season, due to the actor playing him deciding he no longer wanted to be an actor at all.

• Emily Valentine: Troubled newcomer to West Beverly; drugged Brandon with euphoria (4-methylaminorex) at a rave; spent time at a mental hospital after threatening to torch herself, along with a parade float, and writing threatening letters to West Beverly and leaving obscene phone messages on the Walshes' answering machine; met up with Brandon later in San Francisco during the fourth season before moving to study in France. Briefly returned during the fifth season of the show and almost had an affair with Brandon at the same time when Kelly was burned in a fire.

• Nikki Witt: Brandon's younger girlfriend during his senior year in high school. Flirted with David while Donna was in Paris but later became friends with the group. Had an abusive ex-boyfriend, and Brandon came to her aid. Wore down Brandon's defenses, then began dating him. Moved back to San Francisco after reconciling with her parents.

• Stuart Carson: Brenda's wealthy, 20-something suitor shortly after starting college. Proposes to Brenda after knowing her for a short time, and they almost wed in Vegas but both come to their senses. Brenda later breaks up with him when she realizes she's still in love with Dylan and also that Stuart is a loser.

• Jesse Vasquez: Bartender; law student; became husband to Andrea after only dating her for a short time after she became unexpectedly pregnant with their daughter, Hannah. Had a one-night stand during a business trip during Andrea's affair with Peter, who was also married. He moved to Connecticut with Andrea, and they later divorced.

• Clare Arnold: Met the group while she was a senior in high school and they were college freshman. She stayed through a few middle seasons; known for her high IQ; wild daughter of a wealthy diplomat and college chancellor; aggressively, yet unsuccessfully, pursued Brandon while she was still a high school student and he was in college; Kelly and Donna's roommate/best friend. Started California University as a college sophomore. Changed throughout the show: at first she was wild, misunderstood, sex driven teen, but she matured and a core member of the group. Romantically involved with David in season 5 and Steve in seasons 6 and 7; she was the first girl to nail Steve's feet to the ground. Clare almost moved in with Steve, however, following their college graduation, she decided to move with her father to France. She invited Steve to join her, however, he declined.

• Valerie Malone: A classic bad girl; sociopathic and a pathological liar; old family friend of the Walshes from Minnesota before moving to Buffalo, New York. Slept with or dated Steve, Dylan, David, Ray, Colin, and Noah; manager/part-owner of the Peach Pit After Dark. A regular cigarette and marijuana smoker; experienced periods of suicidal tendencies; had an HIV scare; became romantically involved with her married accountant Kenny and later blackmailed him by pretending to be pregnant; was sexually abused as a child; nemesis of Kelly's until they reached a truce right before she moved away (ironically, the two actresses playing Kelly and Val became best friends in real life). Reveals that she murdered her father to get revenge on him for molesting her; it was thought for years that he committed suicide. Returned in the final episode for Donna and David's wedding.

• Ray Pruit: Blue collar construction worker (once quipped that his last name only had one "T" because that's all his momma could afford); up-and-coming singer/songwriter who becomes the house musical act at the Peach Pit After Dark shortly after it first opens; romantic interest of Donna; comforted Donna after her break up with Griffin; became sexually involved with Valerie after becoming frustrated with Donna's vow of virginity; became physically abusive to Donna and stalked her after she broke up with him, filed criminal charges against Joe Bradley before admitting in court (at Brandon's prodding) that he was going to hurt Donna and had been stopped by Joe instead. Went to therapy to make up for it and wrote a song for her in apology & was later engaged.

• Joe Bradley: All-star quarterback at California University; came to Donna's aid after Ray became abusive to her; had surgery for a heart condition and ended up leaving the football team; dated Donna, had no problem with her vow of celibacy and proposed to her, but she rebuffed him and he returned to his hometown in Pennsylvania to coach his high school football team.

• Antonia "Toni" Marchette: Daughter of Dylan's father's supposed killer and mobster Tony Marchette; became romantically involved with, and eventually married to, Dylan after he initially tried to use her to get to her father; he later truly fell in love with her. Was accidentally killed by a hitman who was hired by her father to kill Dylan the day after their wedding.

• Colin Robbins: New York artist who meets Kelly during her internship in New York; moves to L.A. to begin a relationship with her; old boyfriend of Valerie's; Colin's lifestyle is secretly supported by a female gallery owner in exchange for physical favors; has a cocaine problem and drags Kelly into it; jumps bail after Valerie posts her club assets for his bond but was tracked down and sent to prison to serve his sentence of at least two years in prison for drug possession and fleeing arrest.

• Gina Kincaid: Was born February 25, 1975. Former ice skater; like Valerie Malone she is also a bad girl with many sociopath tendencies (compulsive lying, antisocial behavior, showing no guilt or remorse for her self-serving, criminal actions); Kelly and Donna's roommate; dated David and Dylan; loved Dylan, but Dylan loved Kelly; resented Donna for her privileged childhood; at first she is portrayed as Donna's cousin, but later it is revealed that she is actually Donna's half-sister after Dr. Martin had a drunken one-night stand with her mother, Felice's sister. Left Beverly Hills after Dr. Martin's death but did mend fences with Donna and Felice Martin before doing so.

• Janet Sosna: Steve's Japanese girlfriend and later wife; her conservative parents nearly disowned her due to interracial relationship; journalist at Brandon and Steve's newspaper; married Steve and had a daughter with him named Madeline.

• Matt Durning: Engaged to Kelly late in the final seasons; lawyer. Secretly married to a mentally ill woman who later divorces him; the engagement is broken off after Kelly decides she loves Dylan more and doesn't want to marry Matt and move with him to Seattle; he reveals that he cheated on Kelly while under the influence of LSD, but she forgives him because it would not have been the reason she broke up with him in any case.

• Noah Hunter: Met the gang in Hawaii during Donna's fashion photo shoot at beginning of the eighth season; secretly rich; accidentally killed his girlfriend Beth when he was driving drunk in the Hollywood Hills; romantically involved with Valerie and Donna; father committed suicide; struggled with alcohol problem.

• Susan Keats: Editor of the college paper, self-proclaimed feminist, love interest of Brandon; was impregnated by ex-boyfriend Jonathan Caston, had an abortion, and later won an award for her article on the right to choose. Moved to Washington, D.C., to work on the Clinton/Gore presidential campaign. Brandon broke up with her because she insisted he pass up a prestigious internship in Boston to travel for the summer with her, while she accepted the campaign job like a hypocrite.

• Tracy Gaylian: News anchor for the TV station at CU. Dated Brandon for most of the seventh season, but Brandon broke up with her when he realized his true feelings for Kelly. Later met up with the gang during their trip to Hawaii and learned that she is engaged.

• Carly Reynolds: Single mother who moved to Beverly Hills to get a fresh start; waitress at the Peach Pit; love interest to Steve. Moved back to her home in Montana with her son to care for her sick father.

• Camille Desmond: David's final girlfriend before he realized his true feelings for Donna; clothing designer; worked for Donna and Kelly at their boutique.

• Nat Bussichio: A former movie actor and fatherly operator/part-owner of the Peach Pit; often serves as a voice of reason and source of advice to the younger characters, especially Brandon. Nat later married his sweetheart Joan and had a baby boy with her.

• Jim and Cindy Walsh: Brandon and Brenda's parents; later moved to Hong Kong when Jim was promoted. Jim served as Dylan's trust fund manager/business manager off and on, despite rocky relations between the two at times. Down-to-earth Cindy is seen as not only a loving and sympathetic mother to her children but also to her children's troubled friends, especially Dylan and Kelly.

• Jackie Taylor: Kelly's mother; former model, married multiple times. During the first season of the show, Jackie was addicted to drugs and alcohol, which led to her making a scene at the mother/daughter fashion show. Jackie then entered rehab and remained clean throughout the rest of the series. Later married David's father, Mel, in the second season and had a baby girl, Erin, with him. They divorced when Mel was caught cheating, but later got back together and broke up again. Kelly sometimes found her to be overbearing. Jackie continued to make appearances throughout all 10 seasons of the show.

• Dr. John and Felice Martin: Donna's parents; Personified wealthy, conservative, social-climbing Beverly Hills socialites. Straight-laced mother Felice, who was caught by Donna having an affair, more often than not proved to be an obstacle in her daughter's ambitions. For example, Felice disapproved of her daughter mixing with the likes of Kelly and David and once even supported West Beverly's decision to suspend her daughter prior to graduation. Overprotective and uptight, she often tried to sabotage Donna's relationships with David, Ray, and Noah. Donna's father finally admitted that he was Gina Kincaid's biological father and died from a massive stroke a few episodes later. Felice finally gave in to Donna's relationship with David and even helped get them back together at the end of the series.

• Abby Malone: Valerie's mother, from whom Valerie is estranged after her father dies. She was friends with Jim and Cindy Walsh before the Malone family moved to Buffalo. At first, Abby denies knowing that Valerie was molested by her father, but later admits that she knew and that he had promised to get help. She initially blames Val for her husband's death and threatens to turn her in after Val confesses to murdering him (to keep him from molesting her), but they reconcile prior to Valerie leaving the show. Almost ends up marrying Kelly's father but is dumped at the aisle. Valerie later breaks up her mother's relationship with a cop to punish her for not stopping her father from molesting her.

• Mrs. Yvonne Teasley: Assistant principal at West Beverly who frequently gave motherly advice to the gang. Was in attendance at the going-away party when Andrea left for Yale. Made a cameo appearance as part of Steve's 21st birthday greeting, and appeared again during season 9 when David is accused of statutorily raping a student at West Beverly. Attended Donna's bachelorette party in the final episode.

• Gil Meyer: AP English teacher and journalism advisor during the gang's senior year at West Beverly. Becomes friends with Andrea, Brandon, and Dylan. Andrea accuses him of sexism when he decides Brandon should be editor-in-chief of the Blaze. They later make peace when Andrea and Brandon become co-editor of the paper. Sue Scanlon accuses him of molesting her, but later reveals that Gil is innocent and that her uncle is the molester. Andrea reveals she has a crush on him at the beginning of the fourth season but never tells him once she sees he has a girlfriend. He is last seen during Andrea's farewell party at the end of the fifth season. At the time, he reveals that he now has a child.

• Other characters' parents: Kelly's absent father was shown occasionally at events like high school graduation; he got arrested at Kelly's lavish college graduation party, which he threw for her. He also almost married Valerie's mother but stood her up at the altar. David's unfaithful father Mel was shown in the middle of the series when he married and divorced Jackie Taylor, then lived with her again until Gina blew the whistle on Mel's being unfaithful, and Jackie tells him they're finished for good; David's mother was shown as sweet and loving but suffers from manic depression. She attempts suicide, and she later would come to David's aid when he is hospitalized. Dylan's father Jack had a brief run after being released from prison but was then apparently killed only to later reappear after secretly being enrolled in the Witness Protection Program; Dylan's negligent New Age-following mother Iris occasionally appears but lives in Hawaii; Steve's adoptive mother Samantha, who loves him as her own, is shown early in the series as a former Hartley House TV star and in later episodes as a lesbian; Steve's father Rush is shown as a doting overbearing distant parent. Although it was thought for years that he was his adoptive father, Steve learns that Rush is indeed his biological father.