Ian Ziering

Ian Ziering was born on March 30, 1964, and was raised in West Orange, New Jersey, a suburb of New York City. By the mid-1970s, young Ian was landing spots in national commercials at the age of 12, which led to roles in various soap operas and stage plays, most notably Guiding Light, the Broadway production of I Remember Mama and, in a national touring production of Peter Pan. In 1981 he made his feature film debut in Endless Love (as Brooke Shields’ little brother) – a film that also marked the big-screen debuts of Tom Cruise and James Spader.

However, in 1990, Ziering landed the role that would change his life – “Steve Sanders” on the teen drama, Beverly Hills 90210. The show brought instant, worldwide fame to the cast. Ian was suddenly an international heartthrob and played the role for the show’s entire ten-year run. During his years on 90210 he was also featured in various films and television shows, including Russell Crowe’s No Way Back, What I Like About You and Melrose Place, to name a few.

Since 90210, Ziering has appeared on numerous television shows including CSI: NY, JAG and Fran Drescher’s Happily Divorced. In addition he has continued to be one of the most in-demand actors for various animated films and television shows including Spider-Man, Mighty Ducks, Batman Beyond and Biker Mice from Mars. In 2005, in a real change of pace from his normal acting roles, Ziering also appeared in the Tony Scott feature film thriller, Domino, with Keira Knightley. Other film credits include National Lampoon’s The Legend of Awesomest Maximus, That’s My Boy with Adam Sandler, An American Girl: McKenna Shoots for the Stars with Nia Vardalos, and the forthcomng Snake and Mongoose.

In 2007, Ziering showed the world that he was a true triple threat when he signed on to the fourth season of the hit ABC series, Dancing with the Stars. A fan and judges favorite with his partner, two-time Mirror Ball Champion Cheryl Burke, the pair eventually danced their way into the show’s semifinals. In addition to his ongoing acting roles and voice over work, Ian is a much sought-after television host and, was most recently seen hosting HGTV’s A-List Pets.

2013 has proven to be a major year for Ziering both professionally and personally. In June, at 49 years old, Ian became a Las Vegas headliner when he starred as the special celebrity guest host of the award-winning production of Chippendales at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. Taking on this new role, the actor hit the gym and dropped 30 pounds, transforming himself into a fit (at 49) and muscled man, thrilling the sold-out audiences. His Chippendales engagement brought him a new wave of fans and international acclaim, thrusting him once again into the limelight.

During his final week with the Chippendales in Las Vegas, Ian’s small-budget film Sharknado aired on the SyFy Channel, instantly becoming a social media and worldwide phenomenon. Garnering more than 5,000 tweets per minute during its initial broadcast – more than any other television show to date – Sharknado became an instant science fiction, cult classic and, even received a theatrical release in movie theatres around the world due to its popularity with fans. In the summer of 2014, Ian reprised his role as Fin Shepard in Sharknado 2: The Second One, which like the first one, became a worldwide phenomenon.

In addition to his Sharknado and Chippendales successes in 2013, Ian’s personal life saw some changes as well. He and his wife, nurse Erin Ludwig Ziering, welcomed their second daughter, Penna Mae. Their first daughter, Mia Loren, was born on the same day, two years earlier. The quintessential father and family man, Ian was named DaddyScrubs “Daddy of the Year 2013,” an award which recognizes fathers who are extremely proactive in raising their children. Ian currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and daugthers.