Tori Spelling

Early life

Spelling was born in Los Angeles. She is the daughter of Candy and Aaron Spelling. She has a younger brother, Randy, a former actor who, , works as a life coach. Spelling's parents were from Jewish families whose ancestors moved to the United States from Russia and Poland. Her middle name comes from her paternal grandfather, David. She graduated from the elite all-girls private school, the Westlake School, which after her graduation merged into the Harvard-Westlake School in 1991.

Career

Early work

At age six, Spelling was given acting lessons from an acting coach hired by her father, and was subsequently given guest spots on television series such as The Love Boat, T. J. Hooker, Hotel, Fantasy Island, Vega$ and Saved by the Bell. At the age of 17, she was given the role of Donna Martin on Beverly Hills, 90210, co-produced by Aaron Spelling's company Spelling Television. Tori Spelling portrayed Donna for the show's entire run and was nominated for two Young Artist Awards.

While starring on Beverly Hills, 90210, Spelling was cast in a number of made-for-television films, including Co-ed Call Girl (1996), A Friend to Die For (1994), and Mother, May I Sleep with Danger? (1996), and several independent films, including The House of Yes (1997) and Trick (1999).

2006–2009

In 2006, Spelling starred as herself in the VH1 sitcom So Notorious, which parodied her public image. In January 2007, she and her second husband Dean McDermott pretended to purchase and operate a bed and breakfast hotel, Chateau La Rue in Fallbrook, California for their reality series, Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood, originally Tori & Dean: Inn Love, which aired on Oxygen from 2007 to 2012. In July 2007, Spelling became a minister to marry a gay couple at Chateau La Rue. A tape of the wedding ceremony was shown on Inn Love.

Spelling's fashion and jewelry line premiered on HSN. She released her autobiography, sTori TELLING, on March 11, 2008. Her second book, Mommywood, was released on April 14, 2009.

On January 7, 2009, it was reported that Spelling would reprise her role as Donna Martin on Beverly Hills, 90210 spin-off 90210. She appeared in the nineteenth and twentieth episodes of the first season as a special guest star.

2010–present

In 2010, Spelling released her third book, Uncharted TerriTORI. Spelling told People: "I love sharing my stories and experiences with people and connecting to them on both a humorous and emotional level. The response to my first two books has been so amazing that I wanted to write a third one for my fans."

Home Sweet Hollywood's spin-off series, Tori & Dean: sTORIbook Weddings premiered on April 6, 2011. Writers, who claimed they came up with the idea of a similar series starring Spelling and husband Dean McDermott, filed a $60 million lawsuit against the series, citing breach of implied-in-fact contract, breach of fiduciary duty, slander of title, false advertising, and unfair business practices among other charges. Later in 2011, Spelling voiced the Pirate Princess in Jake and the Never Land Pirates. She played a role in the comedy short film Hoarders: Untold sTori which premiered at the Outfest Film Festival in July 2011.

On September 4, 2011, Spelling made an appearance on Big Brother 13.

On April 21, 2012, Spelling hosted My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic 'Royal Wedding' special, celebrating the series' second-season finale, called A Canterlot Wedding. She also hosted the series premiere of Craft Wars, where three new contestants each episode battle against each other crafting for a chance to earn $10,000.

On December 18, 2012, Spelling appeared on Nick Jr.'s Yo Gabba Gabba! and performed a skit where she baked cookies for the characters on the show. This was part of a Christmas special for the series. The special included other famous guests such as Tony Hawk and My Chemical Romance.

It was announced on August 26, 2013, that production had started on a reality television series titled Tori & Dean: Cabin Fever. The series chronicles Spelling, McDermott, and their four children as they move to a lakeside cabin in Ontario, Canada while renovating it into their vacation home. Eight half-hour episodes were produced and aired on CMT Canada and HGTV in 2014.

Spelling starred in the short-lived ABC Family TV series Mystery Girls with former 90210 co-star Jennie Garth in 2014.

In 2016, Spelling voiced April in the animated movie Izzie's Way Home. The same year, she co-starred in the TV movie Mother, May I Sleep with Danger? alongside James Franco.

Since June 24, 2018, Spelling is hosting the TV series The Look: All Stars. In the same time, she appears in the successful TV movie The Last Sharknado: It's About Time.

On January 30, 2019, Spelling competed in the first season of The Masked Singer as "Unicorn".

In November 2020, Spelling began a podcast with Beverly Hills 90210 co-star Jennie Garth titled 9021OMG, where the two re-watch and share memories from their time on the show and chat about their experiences, along with TV and radio personality Sisanie Villaclara.

In 2022, Spelling appeared as a guest on the Australian and French versions of The Masked Singer. In 2023, she competed in the Spanish version of The Masked Singer as "Harlequin".

In September 2024, Spelling was announced as one of the celebrities competing on season 33 of Dancing with the Stars. She is partnered with Pasha Pashkov.

Personal life

On July 3, 2004, Spelling married actor and writer Charlie Shanian. Spelling and Shanian separated in October 2005. Shanian cited irreconcilable differences when he filed for divorce, which was finalized on April 20, 2006.

Spelling married McDermott less than a month later, on May 7, 2006, in a private ceremony in Wakaya, Fiji. The couple renewed their vows on May 8, 2010, in Beverly Hills, California. They have five children together: three sons, Liam Aaron (born 2007), Finn Davey (born 2012) and Beau Dean (born 2017) and two daughters, Stella Doreen (born 2008) and Hattie Margaret (born 2011).

Spelling anticipated a sizable inheritance from her father's $500 million estate after his death in 2006. The estate was to be divided primarily between Spelling, her brother Randy, and their mother Candy. Candy Spelling was the estate executor, but she and Tori Spelling were estranged. Tori and Randy Spelling each inherited $800,000, although Randy was not estranged from Candy. Candy established a $10 million trust fund for Tori's eldest child.

In her sixth book, Spelling It Like It Is, Spelling admitted to having financial troubles, due to the cancellation of her reality series, poor real estate decisions, and a difficult fourth pregnancy, during which she was hospitalized for ten weeks. In explanation, Spelling said, "...as my real estate obsession persists, it's starting to look more compulsive. Moving is expensive, and I've put us in a precarious financial situation."

In December 2013, after welcoming their second son, Us Weekly broke the news that McDermott was unfaithful to Spelling. The couple worked through the aftermath of the affair on a Lifetime series titled True Tori.

While Spelling and McDermott's marriage was back on track, the couple once again made headlines in 2016 for owing $39,000 to American Express in unpaid credit card bills. Candy, who was on good terms with her daughter, told TMZ at the time that she was helping out Spelling and her family financially.

In June 2023, McDermott announced that he and Spelling decided to separate after 18 years together in a now-deleted Instagram post.

On March 29, 2024, Spelling officially filed for divorce from McDermott, citing irreconcilable differences.Amid his ongoing divorce proceedings with Tori Spelling, McDermott alleged that his ex-wife earns between $3,000 and $75,000 per month “depending on the job". Their divorce became final in on November 3, 2025, with Spelling and McDermott being awarded joint legal custody of their four minor children--Stella, Hattie, Finn, and Beau. However, Spelling has primary physical custody while McDermott was awarded "reasonable custodial timeshare". There will also be no child support. Both will split their minor children's health care expenses equally, as well as both pay half of their kids' extracurricular activities.

Filmography

Film

Television

Discography

Bibliography

Spelling has written six books. Three were published by Gallery Books, while one was published by Aladdin Books and another published by Simon Spotlight Entertainment.

• sTORI Telling (2008)
• Mommywood (2009)
• Uncharted TerriTORI (2010)
• Presenting Tallulah (2010)
• CelebraTORI (2012)
• Spelling It Like It Is (2013)

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. "MSN".
2. As stated by Tori Spelling ''Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Home'', episode: "RV There Yet?" Aired on 04/05/10.
3. (May 18, 2012). "Monitor". [[Entertainment Weekly]].
4. "Tori Spelling: Actress, Television Actress, Film Actor/Film Actress, Film Actress (1973–)". [[A&E Networks]].
5. (September 11, 2008). "Hardcover Nonfiction Best Sellers for week of September 7, 2008". [[The New York Times]].
6. [http://www.genealogymagazine.com/torispelling.html "A Look at Tori Spelling's Family Tree"] {{webarchive. link. (October 19, 2013. ''Genealogy Magazine''. June 2007.)
7. Pfefferman, Naomi. (March 1, 2002). "Spell Binding". JewishJournal.com.
8. [http://www.biography.com/people/tori-spelling-443558 "Tori Spelling biography"] {{Webarchive. link. (July 11, 2012. ''Biography.com.'')
9. Gliatto, Tom. (February 17, 1992). "Barbie, Meet Brenda".
10. link. (August 6, 2017 . ''New York Times''. February 1992.)
11. Queenan, Joe. (September 30, 1996). "Picks and Pans Review: Mother, May I Sleep with Danger?".
12. Snierson, Dan. (January 31, 2005). "Stupid Questions with...Tori Spelling".
13. "Actress hasn't bought Bed and Breakfast".
14. Fromm, Emily. (July 10, 2007). "Meet Reverend Tori Spelling".
15. [https://www.amazon.com/dp/141659910X Mommywood] {{Webarchive. link. (March 24, 2021 at Amazon.com)
16. (January 7, 2009). "Show Tracker". Los Angeles Times.
17. (January 7, 2010). "Tori Spelling to Pen Third Book".
18. "Tori & Dean: sTORIbook Weddings". Oxygen Official Site.
19. (June 5, 2013). "Tori Spelling Reality Show Slapped With $60 Million Lawsuit".
20. (September 5, 2011). "Big Brother: Tori Spelling Makes Surprise Visit". [[People (magazine).
21. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/27/craft-wars-tori-spelling-reality-competition-series-video_n_1630096.html "'Craft Wars' Premiere: Tori Spelling Brings Her Passion For Crafting To New Reality Competition Series (VIDEO)"] {{Webarchive. link. (July 5, 2012 . ''Huffington Post''. June 27, 2012.)
22. [http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/03/tori-spelling-and-craft-wars-a-reality-contest-with-more-glitter/ "Tori Spelling and 'Craft Wars': A reality contest, but with more glitter"] {{Webarchive. link. (July 12, 2012 . ''CNN''. July 3, 2012.)
23. (December 6, 2011). "My Chemical Romance on Yo Gabba Gabba!". Oh NO They Didn't!.
24. Smith, Alexander. "Watch Cults on Yo Gabba Gabba!".
25. (August 26, 2013). "Production Begins on 'Tori & Dean: Cabin Fever'".
26. "Tori Spelling Admits Financial Troubles, Goes From Bling to Budget". ABC News.
27. Hall, Jacob. (January 22, 2016). "'Sharknado' Production Company The Asylum Launches an Assault on the Animation Medium With 'Izzie's Way Home'". SlashFilm.
28. (June 15, 2016). "'Mother, May I Sleep With Danger?' (2016): TV Review". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
29. CW35. (June 20, 2018). "Tori Spelling, Kim Vo talk new makeover show 'The Look All Stars'".
30. Weigle, Lauren. (August 19, 2018). "'Sharknado 6' Celebrity Cameos & Cast Spoilers".
31. (January 31, 2019). "Tori Spelling revealed as the unicorn on 'The Masked Singer'".
32. (November 23, 2020). "Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth's 'Beverly Hills, 90210' Podcast Revelations".
33. (September 4, 2024). "Meet the celebrity cast of 'Dancing with the Stars' season 33".
34. Bueno, Antoinette. (October 20, 2014). "Tori Spelling Admits to Cheating: Dean and I Had Sex the First Night We Met". [[Entertainment Tonight]].
35. (October 13, 2005). "Tori Spelling's Husband Files for Divorce". People.
36. (April 12, 2006). "Tori Spelling's divorce to become final". [[USA Today]].
37. (May 8, 2010). "Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott Tie the Knot – Again!". [[People (magazine).
38. Vulpo, Mike. "Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott Welcome Baby No. 5". E! Online.
39. Rafterty, Liz. (October 11, 2011). "Tori Spelling Welcomes Third Child". [[People (magazine).
40. (November 2012). "Spelling Out Tori's Inheritance". E! Online.
41. Wihlborg, Ulrica. (March 13, 2007). "Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott Welcome a Boy".
42. (October 10, 2012). "Tori Spelling Reveals Pregnancy Complications, Almost Died While Carrying Baby Finn".
43. Spelling, Tori. (2013). "Spelling It Like It Is". Simon & Schuster.
44. Spelling, Tori. (2013). "Spelling It Like It is". Simon & Schuster.
45. "From Cheating Scandals to Clapbacks: Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott's Ups and Downs". American Media Entertainment Group.
46. (October 4, 2016). "Tori Spelling Ordered to Pay American Express Nearly $39K in Unpaid Credit Card Bills". American Media Entertainment Group.
47. "Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott's Relationship Timeline". Dotdash Meredith.
48. "Tori Spelling Files for Divorce from Dean McDermott After 18 Years of Marriage". Dotdash Meredith.
49. (2025-09-08). "Dean McDermott Reveals How Much Money Tori Spelling Makes Per Month".
50. "Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott Awarded Joint Legal Custody of Their 5 Kids After Settling Divorce". People Inc..
51. link. (March 8, 2021 . ''ABC News''. March 11, 2008.)
52. [https://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2008-03-10-tori-stori_N.htm "Tori on 'Stori': Spelling is spilling it all out in new book"] {{Webarchive. link. (February 2, 2012 . ''USA Today''. March 11, 2008.)
53. Staff. (January 23, 2009). "Tori Spelling's 'Mommywood'".
54. [https://archive.today/20120701132708/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-06-16/gossip/27067354_1_swine-flu-tori-dean-tori-spelling "Tori Spelling in 'Uncharted TerriTORI': I lost weight because of swine flu, migraines and nerves"]. ''New York Daily News''. June 16, 2010.
55. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/16/tori-spelling-to-write-a_n_463778.html "Tori Spelling To Write A Children's Book"] {{Webarchive. link. (October 22, 2013 . ''Huffington Post''. February 16, 2010.)
56. [http://www.pr.com/article/1161 "Tori Spelling Shares "Presenting... Tallulah," Being Her Father's Daughter and the Challenges of Having It All"] {{Webarchive. link. (June 13, 2012 . ''PR''. October 4, 2010.)