Ian Andrew Ziering (; born March 30, 1964) is an American actor best known for his role as Steve Sanders on the television series Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990–2000). He is also the voice of Harry Osborn in Spider-Man: The New Animated Series and Vinnie on Biker Mice from Mars. From 2013 to 2018, he saw a career resurgence after starring 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. He grew up in West Orange, New Jersey and has two older brothers, Jeff and Barry. Ziering is Jewish. He graduated from West Orange High School in 1982, and from William Paterson University in 1988."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 the character in the film.
In May 2002, Ziering joined the cast of Spider-Man: The New Animated Series, this time a direct follow-up to the 2002 film directed by Sam Raimi. Ziering was the voice of Harry Osborn, replacing James Franco. The series premiered on MTV in 2003, but despite positive reviews, was cancelled due to low ratings.
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. 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.
Ziering has also appeared in the television series JAG, What I Like About You (reuniting with 90210 costar Jennie Garth), 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.
He was a celebrity dancer in 2007 on Season 4 of Dancing with the Stars. 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". 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."Is Rosie right for 'Price'?". Variety. June 18, 2007 The job ultimately went to Drew Carey.Strauss, Gary; Levin, Gary (July 24, 2007). "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). "'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.
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.
Also in 2019, Ziering reunited with her original Beverly Hills, 90210 castmates Jenny Garth, Jason Priestley, Shannon Doherty, Gabrielle Carteris, Brian Austin Green, and Tori Spelling for BH90210, which was a six-episode series in which the cast played heightened, fictionalized versions of themselves. The series aired on FOX in August and September 2019 and was canceled after one season.
Personal life
Ziering married Playboy model Nikki Schieler in July 1997. She converted to Judaism before marrying him. They filed for divorce in February 2002, citing irreconcilable differences. 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".
On February 3, 2010, Ziering announced his engagement to Erin Ludwig.Salem News: "Erin Kristine Ludwig to wed Ian Ziering" 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) and Penna Mae (b. April 25, 2013).Herbst, Diane (April 26, 2013). "Ian Ziering Welcomes Daughter Penna Mae". People. On October 31, 2019, Ziering announced that the couple had separated. The divorce was finalized October 4, 2022.
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.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes1981Endless LoveSammy Butterfield1995SavateCain ParkerDirect to videoNo Way BackVictor Serlano1996Mighty Ducks the Movie: The First Face-OffWildwing FlashbladeVoice, direct to video2005DominoHimselfSix Months LaterMichaelShort 2006Stripped DownFrancisMan vs. MondayDan SmithShort; also director2007Tyrannosaurs AztecaCortes2009Step SevenRichard Miller/Brother AbrahamShort2011The Legend of Awesomest MaximusTesticlees2012That's My BoyTV version DonnyMcKenna Shoots for the StarsMr. Brooks2013Snake and MongooseKeith Black2014Christmas in Palm SpringsTeddy2016Killer DealNick SteelShort; also producer2017F the PromKen Reede2021HuntersGeneral TaylorShort, Executive Producer
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1981–1982The DoctorsErich Aldrich2 episodes1987Guiding LightCameron StewartContract role1988ABC Afterschool SpecialsRandy ForresterEpisode: "Terrible Things My Mother Told Me"1990CBS Schoolbreak SpecialDonnieEpisode: "Flour Babies"Married... with ChildrenThe KidEpisode: "The Unnatural"1990–2000Beverly Hills, 90210Steve Sanders, Ronnie RobertsonMain roleProducerDirector: "I'm Using You 'Cause I Like You"Writer: "Sentenced to Life" (story by)1992Melrose PlaceSteve Sanders3 episodesParker Lewis Can't LoseHimselfEpisode: "Geek Tragedy"1993–1996Biker Mice from MarsVinnieVoice, main role A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.1994Aaahh!!! Real MonstersGludgeVoice, episode: "Smile and Say Oblina"Beverly Hills, 90210: A Christmas SpecialHimselfTelevision film1995The Women of Spring BreakGeorge Peck1996Subliminal SeductionDarrin Danver1996–1997Mighty DucksWildwing FlashbladeVoice, main role1998V.I.P.Peter, Tasha's ex-husbandEpisode: "Bloody Val-entine"All-Star Party for Aaron SpellingHimselfTelevision special78th Annual Miss America PageantHimself (Judge)1998–1999Hollywood SquaresHimself (Panelist)Recurring role1998–2001Godzilla: The SeriesDr. Niko TatopoulosVoice1999Love Boat: The Next WaveJoshua KrumbEpisode: "Don't Judge a Book by Its Lover"Batman BeyondMason ForrestVoice, episode: "The Winning Edge"2000Twice in a LifetimeDr. Steven Weaver/Lance KensingtonEpisode: "Even Steven"2001Inside SchwartzParkerEpisode: "Event Night"; uncreditedJAGCaptain William ShepardEpisode: "Ambush"The TestHimself (Panelist)Episode: "The PDA Test"2002Son of the BeachHarry Johnson3 episodesWhat I Like About YouPaul CodyEpisode: "Copy That"2003Spider-Man: The New Animated SeriesHarry OsbornVoice2006–2007Biker Mice from MarsVinnie2007Side Order of LifeBrian Fowler3 episodesDrawn TogetherChase HuffingtonVoice, episode: "Drawn Together Babies"Dancing with the StarsHimself (Contestant) Season 42008Your Mama Don't DanceHimself (Host)Lava StormJohn WilsonTelevision film2009The Christmas HopeNathan Andrews2010CSI: NYThom WeirEpisode: "Pot of Gold"ElopementDavid DrummondTelevision film2011Happily DivorcedRobert, Support Group LeaderEpisode: "Spousal Support"2013SharknadoFin ShepardTelevision filmDeadtime StoriesMr. TylerEpisode: "Terror in Tiny Town"Hell's KitchenHimself (Restaurant Patron)Episode: "9 Chefs Compete"Shark After DarkHimself (Guest)Episode: "Sharkmania!"Oprah: Where Are They Now?Episode: "90210 Star Ian Ziering"2014Sharknado 2: The Second OneFin ShepardTelevision filmSproutnado: Synchronized SwimmingHimself – SwimmerSproutnado: So Many Numbers in the OceanSproutnado: Shark Costume DeliveryHimself – Movie StarSproutnado: Ocean Weather ReportWeather Reporter94th Annual Miss America PageantHimself (Judge)Television specialOn Your Marc!Himself (Guest)Episode: "Ian Ziering"The Wil Wheaton ProjectEpisode: "Wil Master: Axis of Wheaton"America's Healthiest HeroesHimself (Host)2014–2016Celebrity Name GameHimself (Celebrity Player)Recurring role2015DefianceConrad Von BachEpisode: "The Beauty of Our Weapons"Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!Fin ShepardTelevision filmLavalantulaCelebrity ApprenticeHimself (Contestant)8 episodes2016The MuppetsHimselfEpisode: "A Tail of Two Piggies"HashtaggersEpisode: "#Colin'sRival with Ian Ziering"Sharknado: The 4th AwakensFin ShepardTelevision film; also co-executive producer2017Sharknado 5: Global SwarmingBattle of the Network StarsHimself (Contestant)Episode: "Primetime Soaps vs. ABC Stars"2018The ThundermansYoung Thunder ManEpisode: "The Thundredth"Aussie GirlHimselfEpisode: "Crafty Service"Worst Cooks in AmericaHimself (Contestant) 6 episodesCelebrity Family FeudEpisode: "Sherri Shepherd vs. Ian Ziering"The Last Sharknado: It's About TimeFin ShepardTelevision film; also executive producer2019Swamp ThingDan Cassidy / Blue DevilRecurring roleMalibu RescueGavin CrossMalibu RescueRecurring roleBH90210Himself/Steve SandersCo-producerZombie Tidal WaveHunter ShawTelevision film; also writer and producer2020The OrderHimselfEpisode: "Spring Outbreak"2021The Other TwoEpisode: "Chase Guest-Edits Vogue"2023Clone HighVoice2026Danse avec les stars Himself (Contestant) Season 15
Video games YearTitleRoleNotes2003FreelancerEdison TrentMicrosoft Game Studios2006Biker Mice from MarsVinniePlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS
Dancing with the Stars season 4 Week # Dance / Song Judges' Score Result Inaba Goodman 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 6 Pasodoble / "Waiting for Tonight" 8 8 8 Safe Swing / "Rock This Town" No scores given 7 Tango / "Holding Out for a Hero" 9 9 9 Safe Mambo / "Gimme the Light" 9 9 9 8 Foxtrot / "Baby, It's Cold Outside" 8 7 7 Safe Rumba / "Imagine" 8 8 9 9Semi-finals Tango / "Maneater" 9 10 9 Eliminated Jive / "All Shook Up" 10 10 10
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