Tori Spelling Biography, Photos, Pictures

Notorious actress Tori Spelling was born Victoria Davey Spelling on May 16, 1973 in Los Angeles, California. Growing up, Tori's family and friends called her Vickie to the chagrin of her mother, who preferred people use her daughter's full name, Victoria. Eventually, family friend and actress Barbara Stanwyck suggested Tori and the name stuck. The Spelling family, who are Jewish, celebrated both Christmas and Hanukkah when Tori was a child. During the holidays, they had both a Christmas tree and a menorah decorate their 56,000-square-foot home.Tori got her start in acting as a child, appearing in various shows produced by her father, ABC network mogul Aaron Spelling. She appeared in such series as The Love Boat, T.J. Hooker, Hotel, Fantasy Island, Vega$, and Saved by the Bell, in which she had a recurring role as loveable nerd, Violet. In her late teens, Tori landed the role for which she is now best known, playing Catholic good-girl Donna Martin on the hit 90s teen-drama, Beverly Hills 90210. Tori was intrigued by the concept of the show's pilot, and auditioned under the alias Toria Mitchell so as not to be associated with her father, who co-produced the series.In 2000, Beverly Hills 90210 wrapped up after a decade-long run. Throughout the 90s, Tori had been gradually making the transition from television to film by starring in a series of made-for-TV movies, such as A Friend to Die For (1994), Awake to Danger (1995), Deadly Pursuits (1996), Co-Ed Call Girl (1996), and Mother, May I Sleep with Danger? (1996). She also starred in independent films such as The House of Yes (1997), and critically-acclaimed Trick (1999), as well as appearing in box office teen flicks Scream 2 (1997) and Scary Movie 2 (2001).In 2006, Tori debuted the sitcom So NoTORIous, which is loosely based on her life. The portrayal of the mother KiKi (played by Loni Anderson) as a self-absorbed socialite, is said to have caused a rift between Tori and her real-life mother, Candy.On July 3, 2004, Tori married Charlie Shanian but filed for divorce 15 months later. Soon after her divorce, Tori became engaged to actor Dean McDermott, whom she had met on the set of their TV movie Mind over Murder. The couple married on May 6, 2006 at a non-denominational beach ceremony on a private island in Fiji. Dean's ex-wife, actress Mary-Jo Eustace, has written a tell-all book chronicling the experience of her husband leaving her for Tori. A public cat fight seems to have erupted between the two actresses, with each taking thinly-veiled shots at each other in the media.Most recently, Tori's personal problems have been the focus of much speculation in the media. The death of her father in 2006, her alleged estrangement from her mother, and disinheritance of the Spelling dynasty have all contributed to the tabloids.Tori lends her time to charitable endeavors including serving as the International Spokesperson for the Starlight Foundation, which grants wishes to terminally ill children. She also supports the Youth AIDS Foundation and has been recognized with the Youth Ambassador for Vision award from Retinitis Pigmentosa International, as well as the Youth Leadership Award from the Washington D.C. Holocaust Memorial Museum.