Brian Austin Green
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
Teen stardom cemented public opinion of Brian Austin Green as an early 1990s actor-turned-rap star wannabe, but in his later career, Green began to turn public opinion back in his favor with a string of well-received performances. Literally growing up on camera, Green worked as a child actor before Aaron Spelling cast him on the seminal "Beverly Hills, 90210" (FOX, 1990-2000) as David Silver. While his Tiger Beat looks, romance with Donna Martin (Tori Spelling), and real-life attempts at a music career made him something of a punchline in serious circles, Green worked steadily on television series as well as in TV movies before experiencing a later-career renaissance. Well-reviewed, adult roles on the sitcom "Freddie" (ABC, 2005-06), the action/sci-fi show "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" (FOX, 2008-09) and the superhero drama "Smallville" (The WB, 2001-06; The CW, 2006-11) helped critics and fans reappraise Green, as did his famous, long-term relationships with raven-haired beauties Tiffani Amber-Thiessen, Vanessa Marcil and Megan Fox. Unlike many former teen idols, Green seemed poised to enjoy a second, successful act in his career and seemed content whether it did work out or not.
Born July 15, 1973 in Van Nuys, CA to parents Joyce and George Green, Brian Green (the "Austin" was added later professionally) entered showbiz early, racking up a list of impressive TV credits before landing a seven-episode recurring role as Donna Mills' son, Brian Cunningham, for three years on the primetime soap "Knots Landing" (CBS, 1979-1993). A year later, Green won the part that made his name: the youngest of the rich clique on "Beverly Hills, 90210" (FOX, 1990-2000), David Silver. Always striving to become part of the in-crowd, Green's aspiring DJ balanced his musical dreams with an oft-tense romance with avowed virgin Donna (Tori Spelling). While the lion's share of the spotlight went to the flashier leads like Shannen Doherty, Luke Perry and Jason Priestley, Green still enjoyed his ascent to minor teen heartthrob, and the subsequent professional doors which opened for him.
Like many of his fellow "90210" cast members, Green found himself in-demand for both series and TV movie work. Among the wealth of voiceover and TV credits he acquired during his rise, some of the more prominent included "She Fought Alone" (NBC, 1995), where he plumbed his dark side as a popular high school student who victimizes Tiffani-Amber Thiessen after she claims to have been raped by one of his pals, followed by "A Friend's Betrayal" (NBC, 1996), in which he portrayed an 18-year old who instigates an affair with his mother's friend (Sharon Lawrence). His "90210" reputation as a teen-hunk-lite both helped and hindered his career, although he charmingly skewered his "himbo" reputation in a delightful comic turn as the dream date of "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" (ABC, 1996-2000; The WB, 2000-03) - created from dough and magically imbued with the era's ideal dreamboat characteristics, including the requisite three names: Chad Corey Dylan.
Like "90210" co-star Tiffani-Amber Thiessen - his live-in girlfriend from 1992-95 -Green decided to drop his middle name in a bid for additional professional credibility, and lived out one of his character's fantasies by releasing his own rap album in 1996, One Stop Carnival. Rather than accept TV movie offers during the next "90210" hiatus, Green elected to spend it promoting his album. However, critics and buyers were scathing in their response, and Green's music career became an albatross hanging around his neck. Back on the set, however, romance blossomed between Green and his fellow zip code resident Vanessa Marcil, who portrayed Gina Kincaid, the newest resident vixen following the departure of Austin's real-life ex, Thiessen. The two would go on to have a son, Kassius Lijah Marcil-Green, in 2002.
As the decade-long ride on the "90210" train began winding down, the show gave longtime fans the David and Donna wedding they had always wanted. Set loose, Green continued working steadily with telepics, TV guest shots, and a string of undistinguished films before returning to series television in the drama "Resurrection Blvd" (Showtime, 2000-02), joining the short-lived series in its second season as Luke Bonner, a police officer attending law school. He took a small role in and directed the indie "Fish without a Bicycle" (2003), which made little impact but provided him with experience behind the camera. During a guest spot on "Hope & Faith" (ABC, 2003-06), Green met and fell in love with a young up-and-coming actress whose fame would soon eclipse his, Megan Fox. After she broke out with her star-making role in "Transformers" (2007), the couple began finding their every move documented by the ever-swirling paparazzi. Despite his lengthy career, Green was rarely given any sort of critical acclaim, but his years of experience paid off when he landed the role of Chris, the skirt-chasing sidekick to Freddie Prinze, Jr., on the latter's well-received sitcom, "Freddie" (ABC, 2005-06). Although the show only lasted one season, critics liked it and praised Green's comic timing; something he proved to have an ample supply of when he and fellow "90210" graduate Ian Ziering (Steve Sanders) made a clever double cameo in the stylish Tony Scott biopic "Domino" (2005). Green and Fox made headlines by announcing an engagement in 2006, but called it off in early 2007 while still staying together.
The actor surprised everyone by taking - and impressing in - a role as a time-traveling freedom fighter in "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" (FOX, 2008-09). With an adult intensity and intelligence, Green helped anchor some of the show's more drama- and action-rooted sequences, and critics seemed ready to finally take the actor seriously. He continued to stay in the good graces of reviewers and casting directors, landing a guest-starring role on "CSI: Miami" (CBS, 2002-12) and a well-reviewed three-episode arc on "Smallville" (The WB, 2001-06; The CW, 2006-11) as a cyborg supervillain. As Megan Fox's career continued to blast off into the stratosphere, Green by extension found himself the subject of tabloid interest, and he made a fun guest appearance on the Fox-hosted episode of "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975- ) as a low-rent Transformer. Fox and Green made headlines when reps announced their second engagement in 2010, which was consummated with a marriage on a Hawaiian beach on June 24th. (Fox filed for divorce in August 2015.) Green enjoyed a recurring role as Bree's handyman on "Desperate Housewives" (ABC 2004-2012) and a recurring role on cult sitcom "Happy Endings" (ABC 2011-13), before starring in his own cable sitcom, "Wedding Band" (TBS 2012-13) and appearing on Charlie Sheen's "Anger Management" (FX 2012-14). During this period, Green also starred in two low-budget horror films, "Chromeskull: Laid To Rest 2" (2011) and "Don't Blink" (2014).
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Music (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1986
Debuted on TV as the son of Abby Cunningham Ewing (Donna Mills) on the CBS prime time soap opera, "Knots Landing"
1990
Made first notable film role in "Kid"
1990
Cast as David Silver on the FOX series, "Beverly Hills, 90210"
1991
Played second lead in feature film, "An American Summer"
1995
Released the poorly received rap album, <i>One Stop Carnival</i>
1997
Reprised role in the CBS mini-series, "Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac"
2000
Cast as a law student in the Showtime series "Resurrection Blvd."
2002
Cast in the independent feature, "Ronnie"
2003
Made feature film directorial debut with "Fish Without a Bicycle"
2005
Played himself in the Tony Scott-directed thriller "Domino"
2005
Appeared on the short-lived ABC sitcom "Freddie"
2008
Had a recurring role as Derek Reese, the uncle of John Connor in the FOX series, "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles"; became a series regular in the second season
2009
Cast in a recurring role on "Smallville" as killer cyborg Metallo
2009
Cast in recurring role as Bree's hunky handyman on ABC's "Desperate Housewives"
2011
Starred in horror sequel "Chromeskull: Laid To Rest 2"
2012
Co-starred in TBS sitcom "Wedding Band"
2012
Co-starred in the Charlie Sheen sitcom "Anger Management"
2014
Starred in horror film "Don't Blink"
Family
Companions
