Ian Ziering
{{short description|American actor}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ian Ziering
| image = Ian Ziering by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Ziering in 2023
| birth_name = Ian Andrew Ziering
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964|3|30}}
| birth_place = Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
| alma_mater = William Paterson University
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1981–present
| spouse = {{ubl|{{marriage|Nikki Schieler|1997|2002|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|Erin Ludwig|2010|2022|end={{abbr|div.|separated}}}}}}
| children = 2
}}
Ian Andrew Ziering ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|aɪ|ən|_|ˈ|z|ɪər|ɪ|ŋ}}; born March 30, 1964) is an American actor best known for his role as Steve Sanders on the television series Beverly Hills, 90210, which he played from 1990 to 2000. He is also the voice of Vinnie on Biker Mice from Mars. From 2013 to 2018, he starred as Fin Shepard in the Sharknado film series. In 2019, he played the DC Comics character Blue Devil on the series Swamp Thing.
Early life
Ziering was born in Newark, New Jersey, the youngest of three boys for Muriel (1925–1998) and Paul M. Ziering (1921–2008), an educator, orchestra leader, and saxophonist.{{cite web|url=http://obits.nj.com/obituaries/starledger/obituary-preview.aspx?page=obitfinderorder&pid=113145103|title=Paul M. Ziering Obituary: View Paul Ziering's Obituary by Star-Ledger|work=Star-Ledger|access-date=6 January 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1545936_20016115,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070331015103/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1545936_20016115,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 31, 2007|title=Monday's Dancing with the Stars: What You Didn't See|work=People|access-date=6 January 2015}}{{Cite web|last=Bloom|first=Nate|title=Jewish Stars |publisher=Cleveland Jewish News|date=October 20, 2008|url=https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/archives/jewish-stars/article_e71d8d7c-c86d-5830-aef0-8caad557a58d.html}} He grew up in West Orange, New Jersey and has two older brothers, Jeff and Barry. Ziering is Jewish, with his family originating from Russia and Austria.{{cite web | url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/arts/article/ziering_dominates_with_blonde_ambition_20030801/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091108140133/http://www.jewishjournal.com/arts/article/ziering_dominates_with_blonde_ambition_20030801/ | archive-date=November 8, 2009 | title=Ziering Dominates with Blonde Ambition | Arts | Jewish Journal }}{{cite web| url = http://www.jewishjournal.com/hollywood/article/ian_ziering_glad_to_share_his_happy_life| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160722122338/http://www.jewishjournal.com/hollywood/article/ian_ziering_glad_to_share_his_happy_life| archive-date = 2016-07-22| title = Ian Ziering glad to share his happy life {{!}} Hollywood {{!}} Jewish Journal}} He graduated from West Orange High School in 1982, and from William Paterson University in 1988.[http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_action=doc&p_docid=0EFD502D5C99C190&p_docnum=2&p_queryname=NaN&p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated4&p_nbid=J4BH4EDFMTE4NTg0NzQ0OS4yODY4NjU6MTo3OnJhLTE4ODg "THE ULTIMATE NEW JERSEY HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK: T-Z AND ALSO..."], The Star-Ledger, June 27, 1999. Accessed August 4, 2007.
Career
In 1990, Ziering began his portrayal of the character Steve Sanders on the hit series Beverly Hills, 90210. Sanders was a high school student and friend of Brandon Walsh (Jason Priestley), one of the series' other central characters. He is one of only four series regulars to appear on the show for its entire duration of ten seasons until 2000.
In 1998, Ziering was cast as the voice of Dr. Niko "Nick" Tatopoulos in Godzilla: The Series, which was a direct follow-up to the 1998 film. Ziering replaced Matthew Broderick, who portrayed Nick Tatopolous in the film.{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/05/18/a-comprehensive-history-of-toho-s-original-kaiju-and-atomic-allegory-godzilla.html|title=A Comprehensive History of Toho's Original Kaiju (and Atomic Allegory) Godzilla|work=The Daily Beast|date=18 May 2014|access-date=6 January 2015|last1=Goldstein|first1=Rich}}
In 2006, Ziering produced, directed and starred in the short film Man vs. Monday, which won the Audience Choice Award at the 2006 Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} Also in 2006, he won the Best Actor Award at the 2006 Monaco Film Festival for his portrayal of Francis in the independent film Stripped Down.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}}
Ziering has also appeared in the television series JAG, What I Like About You, The Doctors as Erich Aldrich and Guiding Light as Cameron Stewart. He also had a role in the videogame Freelancer as the protagonist, Edison Trent.
File:Ian Ziering July 14, 2014 (cropped).jpg's Summer TCA Tour on July 14, 2014]]
He was a celebrity dancer in 2007 on Season 4 of Dancing with the Stars.{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Entertainment/story?id=2890554&page=2|title=Meet the New Cast of 'Dancing With the Stars|date=February 21, 2007|publisher=Good Morning America}} His professional dance partner was Cheryl Burke, who won the competition in Season 2 with partner Drew Lachey and Season 3 with partner Emmitt Smith. Ziering made it to the semi-finals, and received a perfect score (three 10s) from the judges for one of his two dances in the round. However, it was not enough to reach the finals: he and Burke were eliminated during the results show the next day on May 15, 2007. In 2016 Burke said the experience of working with Ziering made her want to "slit her wrists".{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/article/cheryl-burke-ian-ziering-dancing-with-the-stars-allegedly-comments|title=Dancing with the Stars: Cheryl Burke Apologizes for Ian Ziering Jab|date=17 April 2016}} She later apologized, not to Ziering, but for making a thoughtless reference to suicide. Ziering did not comment publicly on Burke's comments beyond re-tweeting a message from a former co-worker that praised him as a great person to be around.
On June 18, 2007, Variety reported that Ziering had auditioned the previous week for the opportunity to succeed Bob Barker as host of The Price Is Right.[https://variety.com/2007/scene/markets-festivals/is-rosie-right-for-price-1117967130/ "Is Rosie right for 'Price'?"]. Variety. June 18, 2007 The job ultimately went to Drew Carey.Strauss, Gary; Levin, Gary (July 24, 2007). [https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2007-07-23-drew-carey_N.htm?csp=34 "Game show 'Price' is right for Carey"]. USA Today. Ziering's ex-wife, Nikki, was a model on the show from 1999 to 2002.
In May, 2013, it was announced that Ziering would be performing with Chippendales as a celebrity guest star for four weeks at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.Moraski, Lauren (May 17, 2013). [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/beverly-hills-90210-star-ian-ziering-why-im-taking-my-shirt-off-for-chippendales/ "'Beverly Hills 90210' star Ian Ziering: Why I'm taking my shirt off for Chippendales"]. CBS News.
In 2015, he appeared on Celebrity Apprentice on NBC.
In 2018, he competed on Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/worst-cooks-in-america/photos/worst-cooks-in-america-season-13-meet-the-celebrity-recruits|title = Worst Cooks in America, Season 13: Meet the Celebrity Recruits}}
In 2019, Ziering was cast as Blue Devil in the DC Universe series Swamp Thing. The show ran for only one season, though it was positively received by critics and audiences.{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=2018-12-12 |title=Swamp Thing: Ian Ziering To Play Daniel Cassidy In DC Universe Series |url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/swamp-thing-ian-ziering-daniel-cassidy-dc-universe-series-1202518771/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
Personal life
Ziering married Playboy model Nikki Schieler in July 1997. She converted to Judaism before marrying him.{{cite web | url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/arts/article/ziering_dominates_with_blonde_ambition_20030801/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091108140133/http://www.jewishjournal.com/arts/article/ziering_dominates_with_blonde_ambition_20030801/ | archive-date=November 8, 2009 | title=Ziering Dominates with Blonde Ambition | Arts | Jewish Journal }} They filed for divorce in February 2002, citing irreconcilable differences.{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=9d52fd51-e56f-4d92-8c80-c4edba83c07a|title=Breaking Celeb News, Entertainment News, and Celebrity Gossip|work=E! Online|access-date=6 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205200020/http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=9d52fd51-e56f-4d92-8c80-c4edba83c07a|archive-date=5 February 2012}} Nikki has said that the separation was contentious and she was not given any support or help moving out; a spokesperson for Ziering stated Nikki was "compensated above and beyond the prenup".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2005/11/25/when-hollywood-marriages-go-wrong|title=When Hollywood Marriages Go Wrong|magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=25 November 2005}}
On February 3, 2010, Ziering announced his engagement to Erin Ludwig.[http://www.salemnews.net/page/content.detail/id/522728.html Salem News: "Erin Kristine Ludwig to wed Ian Ziering"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506182425/http://www.salemnews.net/page/content.detail/id/522728.html |date=2014-05-06 }} February 14, 2010 The couple married at a ceremony in Newport Beach, California, on May 28, 2010. They have two daughters, Mia Loren (b. April 25, 2011){{cite web|url=http://celebritybabies.people.com/2011/04/26/ian-ziering-welcomes-daughter-mia-loren/|title=Ian Ziering Welcomes Daughter Mia Loren|access-date=2016-10-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110318/http://celebritybabies.people.com/2011/04/26/ian-ziering-welcomes-daughter-mia-loren/|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=dead}} and Penna Mae (b. April 25, 2013).Herbst, Diane (April 26, 2013). [http://celebritybabies.people.com/2013/04/26/ian-ziering-welcomes-daughter-penna-mae/ "Ian Ziering Welcomes Daughter Penna Mae"]. People. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130427235731/http://celebritybabies.people.com/2013/04/26/ian-ziering-welcomes-daughter-penna-mae/ |date=2013-04-27 }} On October 31, 2019, Ziering announced that the couple had separated. The divorce was finalized October 4, 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/ian-ziering-splitting-from-wife-erin-ludwig/|title=Ian Ziering Reveals He and Wife Erin Have Split, Says They Grew Apart Amid 'Hectic Work Schedules'|website=People|language=en|access-date=2019-11-01}}{{Cite web|title=Ian Ziering's Wife Erin Ludwig Files for Divorce Days After Split Announcement|url=https://people.com/tv/ian-ziering-wife-erin-ludwig-files-for-divorce-days-after-split-announcement/|access-date=2021-07-10|website=People|language=en}}{{cite magazine|title='Beverly Hills 90210' 's Ian Ziering and Ex-Wife Erin Ludwig Agree to Divorce Settlement|url=https://people.com/tv/ian-ziering-and-erin-ludwig-agree-to-divorce-settlement/|magazine=People|date=October 4, 2022|access-date=May 19, 2025}}
Ziering was involved in an altercation with a group of mini-bike riders in Los Angeles December 31, 2023. Ziering reported on social media that both he and his daughter, Penna, who was in the car when the group attacked her father, were uninjured.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/01/ian-ziering-attacked-bikers-new-years-eve-los-angeles-1235693442/|title=Ian Ziering Attacked By Bikers On New Year's Eve In Los Angeles: "I Find It Unacceptable That Groups Can Freely Engage In This Behavior, Causing Fear & Chaos" — Update|first=Denise|last=Petski|website=Deadline|date=January 1, 2024|access-date=January 1, 2024}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1981
|Sammy Butterfield | |
| rowspan=2|1995
|Cain Parker |Direct to video |
| No Way Back
|Victor Serlano | |
| 1996
|Mighty Ducks the Movie: The First Face-Off |Wildwing Flashblade |Voice, direct to video |
| rowspan=2|2005
|Himself | |
| Six Months Later
|Michael |Short |
| rowspan=2|2006
|Stripped Down |Francis | |
| Man vs. Monday
|Dan Smith |Short; also director |
| 2007
|Cortes | |
| 2009
|Step Seven |Richard Miller/Brother Abraham |Short |
| 2011
|The Legend of Awesomest Maximus |Testiclees | |
| rowspan=2|2012
|TV version Donny | |
| McKenna Shoots for the Stars
|Mr. Brooks | |
| 2013
|Keith Black | |
| 2014
|Christmas in Palm Springs |Teddy | |
| 2016
|Killer Deal |Nick Steel |Short; also producer |
| 2017
|Ken Reede |
| 2021
|Hunters | | |
= Television =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1981–1982
|Erich Aldrich |2 episodes |
| 1987
|Cameron Stewart |Contract role |
| 1988
|Randy Forrester |Episode: "Terrible Things My Mother Told Me" |
| rowspan=2|1990
|Donnie |Episode: "Flour Babies" |
| Married...with Children
|The Kid |Episode: "The Unnatural" |
| 1990–2000
|Steve Sanders, Ronnie Robertson |Main role |
| rowspan="2" |1992
|Steve Sanders |3 episodes |
| Parker Lewis Can't Lose
|Himself |Episode: "Geek Tragedy" |
| 1993–1996
|Vinnie |
| rowspan=2|1994
|Gludge |
| Beverly Hills, 90210: A Christmas Special
|Himself |rowspan=3|Television film |
| 1995
|The Women of Spring Break |George Peck |
| 1996
|Darrin Danver |
| 1996–1997
|Wildwing Flashblade |Voice, main role |
| rowspan=3|1998
|Peter, Tasha's ex-husband |Episode: "Bloody Val-entine" |
| All-Star Party for Aaron Spelling
|Himself |rowspan=2|Television special |
| 78th Annual Miss America Pageant
|Himself (Judge) |
| 1998–1999
|Himself (Panelist) |Recurring role |
| 1998–2001
|Dr. Niko Tatopoulos |Voice |
| rowspan=2|1999
|Joshua Krumb |Episode: "Don't Judge a Book by Its Lover" |
| Batman Beyond
|Mason Forrest |
| 2000
|Dr. Steven Weaver/Lance Kensington |Episode: "Even Steven" |
| rowspan=3|2001
|Parker |Episode: "Event Night"; uncredited |
| JAG
|Captain William Shepard |Episode: "Ambush" |
| The Test
|Himself (Panelist) |Episode: "The PDA Test" |
| rowspan=2|2002
|Harry Johnson |3 episodes |
| What I Like About You
|Paul Cody |Episode: "Copy That" |
| 2003
|Spider-Man: The New Animated Series |rowspan=2|Voice |
| 2006–2007 |
| rowspan=3|2007
|Brian Fowler |3 episodes |
| Drawn Together
|Chase Huffington |Voice, episode: "Drawn Together Babies" |
| Dancing with the Stars
|Himself (Contestant) | |
| rowspan=2|2008
|Your Mama Don't Dance |Himself (Host) | |
| Lava Storm
|John Wilson |rowspan=2|Television film |
| 2009
|Nathan Andrews |
| rowspan=2|2010
|Thom Weir |Episode: "Pot of Gold" |
| Elopement
|David Drummond |Television film |
| 2011
|Robert, Support Group Leader |Episode: "Spousal Support" |
| rowspan=5|2013
|Television film |
| Deadtime Stories
|Mr. Tyler |Episode: "Terror in Tiny Town" |
| Hell's Kitchen
|Himself (Restaurant Patron) |Episode: "9 Chefs Compete" |
| Shark After Dark
|rowspan=2|Himself (Guest) |Episode: "Sharkmania!" |
| Oprah: Where Are They Now?
|Episode: "90210 Star Ian Ziering" |
| rowspan=9|2014
|Fin Shepard |rowspan=5|Television film |
| Sproutnado: Synchronized Swimming
|rowspan=2|Himself – Swimmer |
| Sproutnado: So Many Numbers in the Ocean |
| Sproutnado: Shark Costume Delivery
|Himself – Movie Star |
| Sproutnado: Ocean Weather Report
|Weather Reporter |
| 94th Annual Miss America Pageant
|Himself (Judge) |Television special |
| On Your Marc!
|rowspan=2|Himself (Guest) |Episode: "Ian Ziering" |
| The Wil Wheaton Project
|Episode: "Wil Master: Axis of Wheaton" |
| America's Healthiest Heroes
|Himself (Host) | |
| 2014–2016
|Himself (Celebrity Player) |Recurring role |
| rowspan=4|2015
|Conrad Von Bach |Episode: "The Beauty of Our Weapons" |
| Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!
|rowspan=2|Fin Shepard |rowspan=2|Television film |
| Lavalantula |
| Celebrity Apprentice
|Himself (Contestant) |8 episodes |
| rowspan=3|2016
|rowspan=2|Himself |Episode: "A Tail of Two Piggies" |
| Hashtaggers
|Episode: "#Colin'sRival with Ian Ziering" |
| Sharknado: The 4th Awakens
|rowspan=2|Fin Shepard |rowspan=2|Television film; also co-executive producer |
| rowspan=2|2017 |
| Battle of the Network Stars
|Himself (Contestant) |Episode: "Primetime Soaps vs. ABC Stars" |
| rowspan=5|2018
|Young Thunder Man |Episode: "The Thundredth" |
| Aussie Girl
|Himself |Episode: "Crafty Service" |
| Worst Cooks in America
|rowspan=2|Himself (Contestant) | 6 episodes |
| Celebrity Family Feud
|Episode: "Sherri Shepherd vs. Ian Ziering" |
| The Last Sharknado: It's About Time
|Fin Shepard |Television film; also executive producer |
| rowspan=5|2019
|Recurring role |
| Malibu Rescue
|rowspan=2|Gavin Cross | |
| Malibu Rescue
|Recurring role |
| BH90210
|Himself/Steve Sanders |Co-producer |
| Zombie Tidal Wave
|Hunter Shaw |Television film; also writer and producer |
| 2020
|rowspan=3|Himself |Episode: "Spring Outbreak" |
| 2021
|Episode: "Chase Guest-Edits Vogue" |
| 2023
|Voice |
= Video games =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 2003
|Edison Trent |
| 2006
|Vinnie |PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS |
''Dancing with the Stars'' season 4
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
! rowspan="2" | Week # ! rowspan="2" | Dance / Song ! colspan="3" | Judges' Score ! rowspan="2" | Result |
| style="min-width: 4.5em;" | Inaba
! style="min-width: 4.5em;" | Goodman ! style="min-width: 4.5em;" | Tonioli |
|---|
| 1
| Cha-Cha-Cha / "Mony Mony" | 7 | 7 | 7 | No Elimination |
| 2
| Quickstep / "Don't Get Me Wrong" | 7 | 8 | 7 | Safe |
| 3
| Jive / "Hard Headed Woman" | 8 | 8 | 8 | Safe |
| 4
| Waltz / "He Was Beautiful" | 7 | 9 | 8 | Safe |
| 5
| Samba / "Dance Like This" | 8 | 8 | 8 | Safe |
| rowspan="2" | 6
| Paso Doble / "Waiting for Tonight" | 8 | 8 | 8 | rowspan="2" | Safe |
| Swing / "Rock This Town"
| colspan="3" | No scores given |
| rowspan="2" | 7
| Tango / "Holding Out for a Hero" | 9 | 9 | 9 | rowspan="2" | Safe |
| Mambo / "Gimme the Light"
| 9 | 9 | 9 |
| rowspan="2" | 8
| Foxtrot / "Baby, It's Cold Outside" | 8 | 7 | 7 | rowspan="2" | Safe |
| Rumba / "Imagine"
| 8 | 8 | 9 |
| rowspan="2" | 9 Semi-finals | 9 | 10 | 9 | rowspan="2" | Eliminated |
| Jive / "All Shook Up"
| 10 | 10 | 10 |
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|5575}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ziering, Ian}}
Category:American male soap opera actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:American people of Austrian-Jewish descent
Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent
Category:Jewish American male actors
Category:Male actors from Newark, New Jersey
Category:Participants in American reality television series
Category:Actors from West Orange, New Jersey
Category:West Orange High School (New Jersey) alumni
Category:William Paterson University alumni
Category:21st-century American Jews