Teen Drama Stars on Reality Shows

Apr 14, 2021

What happens when an acting career stalls? For some teen drama stars, it means venturing into reality television.

Of course, there’s many paths ones can take in reality TV. You could be a contestant on a reality competition, a la Ian Ziering (Steve, Beverly Hills, 90210) on “Dancing with the Stars,” or you can be a panelist, like Brian Austin Green (David, Beverly Hills, 90210) on “The Masked Dancer.” You can be a guest judge, like Tori Spelling (Donna, Beverly Hills, 90210) and Jennie Garth (Kelly, Beverly Hills, 90210) on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” or you can star on your own reality series documenting your life, like, well, both of them. Or you can be like Shannen Doherty (Brenda, Beverly Hills, 90210) and lead a reality show that affects other people’s lives, like “Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty.”

But the stars of “Beverly Hills, 90210” aren’t the only ones who’ve turned to reality shows. In the case of Stephen Colletti (Chase, One Tree Hill), it’s actually where his television career began. And some teen drama stars were popular enough to be targets on “Punk’d” or invited on to game shows. In other words, reality TV is often a barometer of how well an actor’s career is doing, but it isn’t always a bad thing.

Below is a guide to the teen drama stars who have appeared on reality shows.

Like my look at teen drama stars’ other leading roles, the list here only covers those who were series regulars on one of the core teen dramas. In parentheses, you’ll find the year so-and-so appeared on the reality program, as well as the role they played in it. Along with straight reality shows and reality competition shows, I’ve included game shows, but not talk shows, interview shows, or award shows (including pageants). It was a fine line in some cases, like excluding “Friday Night In with the Morgans” for Hilarie Burton (Peyton, One Tree Hill) because while it seems like it could be categorized as a reality show, it’s actually considered a talk show.

Disagree with something I’ve excluded or included? Think I missed something? Let me know in the comments!

Beverly Hills, 90210

Jason Priestley (Brandon)

“The Apprentice” (2006, guest star)
“HGTV Design Star” (2009, guest star with Tiffani Thiessen)
“Canada’s Smartest Person” (2014, guest star)
“Dinner at Tiffani’s” (2015-2017, guest star on Tiffani Thiessen’s show)

Shannen Doherty (Brenda)

“Circus of the Stars” (1985-1986, performer)
“I’m Telling!” (1988, contestant)
“Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty” (2006, star)
“Scare Tactics” (2003-2004, host)
“Dancing with the Stars” (2010, contestant)
“The Spin Crowd” (2010, guest star)
“Shannen Says” (2012, star)
“Off the Map” (2015, star)

Jennie Garth (Kelly)

“Circus of the Stars” (1989, performer)
“Penn & Teller’s Sin City Spectacular” (1998, guest star)
“Celebrity Poker Showdown” (2004, contestant)
“Dancing with the Stars” (2007, contestant)
“Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” (2008, contestant)
“Jennie Garth: A Little Bit Country” (2012, star)
“Rachael vs. Guy: Kids Cook-Off” (2013, guest judge)
“The Jennie Garth Project” (2014, star)
“Celebrity Name Game” (2014-2015, celebrity contestant)
“Cupcake Wars” (2016, contestant)
“Chopped Junior” (2016, guest judge)
“Celebrity Food Fight” (2016, contestant)
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (2017, guest judge with Tori Spelling)
“Celebrity Family Feud” (2017, contestant)
“MasterChef: Celebrity Family Showdown” (2019, contestant with Tori Spelling)
“The $100,000 Pyramid” (2019, celebrity contestant)
“American Rescue Dog Show” (2020, judge)
“Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” (2021, contestant)

Ian Ziering (Steve)

“Hollywood Squares” (1998-1999, panelist)
“Your Mama Don’t Dance” (2008, host)
“Dancing with the Stars” (2007, contestant)
“Selling Spelling Manor” (2011, narrator with Candy and Tori Spelling)
“Hell’s Kitchen” (2013, guest star)
“Celebrity Name Game” (2014-2016, celebrity contestant)
“The Celebrity Apprentice” (2015, contestant)
“Battle of the Network Stars” (2017, contestant with Gabrielle Carteris and Mischa Barton)
“Worst Cooks in America” (2018, contestant)
“Celebrity Family Feud” (2018, contestant)
“Drop the Mic” (2019, contestant)
“Food Network Challenge” (2019-2020, host)

Luke Perry (Dylan)

“Jeopardy!” (1992, contestant)
“Hollywood Squares” (1998, panelist)
“Celebrity Name Game” (2014-2015, celebrity contestant)

Brian Austin Green (David)

“Circus of the Stars” (1988, performer)
“Fox’s Fun House” (1990, contestant with Douglas Emerson)
“Wheel of Fortune” (1995, contestant)
“Hollywood Squares” (1998-1999, panelist)
“Flipping Out” (2015, guest star)
“The Masked Dancer” (2020-2021, panelist)

Douglas Emerson (Scott)

“Fox’s Fun House” (1990, contestant with Brian Austin Green)

Tori Spelling (Donna)

“Celebrity Blackjack” (2004, contestant)
“Tori & Dean: Inn Love” (2007-2013, star)
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (2009, guest star)
“Harry Loves Lisa” (2010, guest star)
“Tori & Dean: sTORIbook Weddings” (2011, star)
“The Millionaire Matchmaker” (2011, guest star)
“Big Brother” (2011, guest star)
“Selling Spelling Manor” (2011, guest star with Candy Spelling and narrator Ian Ziering)
“Craft Wars” (2012, host)
“Top Chef Canada” (2014, guest star)
“Tori & Dean: Cabin Fever” (2014, star)
“True Tori” (2014, star)
“Tori Spelling: Celebrity Lie Detector” (2015, star)
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (2017, guest judge with Jennie Garth)
“The Look: All Stars” (2018, host)
“Celebrity Family Feud” (2018, contestant)
“The Masked Singer” (2019, contestant)
“MasterChef: Celebrity Family Showdown” (2019, contestant with Jennie Garth)
“Celebrity Show-Off” (2020, contestant)

Gabrielle Carteris (Andrea)

“Circus of the Stars” (1991, performer)
“The Surreal Life” (2003, star)
“Pet Star” (2004-2005, guest judge)
“Celebrity Ghost Stories” (2011, guest star)
“Battle of the Network Stars” (2017, contestant with Ian Ziering and Mischa Barton)
“The Weakest Link” (2002, contestant)

Tiffani Thiessen (Valerie)

“HGTV Design Star” (2009, guest star with Jason Priestley)
“Cupcake Wars” (2013, guest judge)
“Hollywood Game Night” (2014, celebrity contestant)
“Celebrity Name Game” (2014-2015, celebrity contestant)
“Dinner at Tiffani’s” (2014-2017, host)
“Hell’s Kitchen” (2015, guest star)
“Food Network Star” (2017, guest judge)
“Sugar Rush Christmas” (2019, guest judge)
“Deliciousness” (2020-present, host)

Jamie Walters (Ray)

“Confessions of a Teen Idol” (star, 2009)

Hilary Swank (Carly)

“Punk’d” (guest star, 2007)

Lindsay Price (Janet)

“I’m Telling!” (1987, contestant)
“Top Chef Masters” (2013, guest star)
“Dinner at Tiffani’s” (2014, guest star on Tiffani Thiessen’s show)
“Celebrity Family Feud” (2015, contestant)
“25 Words or Less” (2020, celebrity contestant)
“Celebrity Watch Party” (2020, star)

Daniel Cosgrove (Matt)

“Party Planner with David Tutera” (2005, guest star)
“Project Dad” (2016-2017, star)

Vanessa Marcil (Gina)

“Blush: The Search for America's Greatest Makeup Artist” (2008, host)
“Hell’s Kitchen” (2014, guest star)
“Queens of Drama” (2015, star)

Dawson’s Creek

James Van Der Beek (Dawson)

“Drop the Mic” (2017, contestant)
“The $100,000 Pyramid” (2019, celebrity contestant)
“Dancing with the Stars” (2019, contestant)
“Match Game” (2018-2020, panelist)
“25 Words or Less” (2020, celebrity contestant)

Katie Holmes (Joey)

“Punk’d” (2003, guest star)
“So You Think You Can Dance” (2009, performer; 2011, guest judge)
“Project Runway All Stars” (2013, guest judge)
“Project Runway” (2017, guest judge)

Kerr Smith (Jack)

“Hollywood Squares” (2002, panelist)
“Pyramid” (2002-2003, celebrity contestant)
“Punk’d (2007, guest star)

Busy Philipps (Audrey)

“The Osbournes” (2002, guest star)
“RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” (2012, guest judge)
“Celebrity Name Game” (2014-2015, celebrity contestant)
“Star Plates” (2016, guest star)
“Match Game” (2017, panelist)
“Beat Bobby Flay” (2017, judge)

The O.C.

Peter Gallagher (Sandy)

“Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” (2005, guest star with Melinda Clarke, Rachel Bilson, and Lori Loughlin)
“Who Wants to be a Millionaire” (2010, contestant)

Benjamin McKenzie (Ryan)

“Punk’d” (2004-2005, guest star with Adam Brody)

Mischa Barton (Marissa)

“Punk’d” (2005, guest star)
“Germany’s Next Topmodel” (2009, guest star)
“Chris Moyles Quiz Night” (2010, contestant)
“Dancing with the Stars” (2016, contestant)
“Joyride” (2016, host)
“Battle of the Network Stars” (2017, contestant with Ian Ziering and Gabrielle Carteris)
“Hollywood Medium” (2017, guest star)
“The Hills: New Beginnings” (2019, star)

Adam Brody (Seth)

“Punk’d” (2004, guest star with Benjamin McKenzie)

Tate Donovan (Jimmy)

“Ace of Cakes” (2010, guest star)

Melinda Clarke (Julie)

“Iron Chef America” (2004, guest judge)
“Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” (2005, guest star with Peter Gallagher, Rachel Bilson, and Lori Loughlin)
“Hell’s Kitchen” (2009, guest star)

Rachel Bilson (Summer)

“Punk’d” (2005, guest star)
“Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” (2005, guest star with Peter Gallagher, Melinda Clarke, and Lori Loughlin)
“Project Runway” (2009, guest judge)
“Hollywood Game Night” (2013, celebrity contestant)
“Movie Night with Karlie Kloss” (2018, guest star)

One Tree Hill

Chad Michael Murray (Lucas)

“The Girls Next Door” (2008, guest star)
“Man v. Food” (2011, guest star)
“Hollywood Medium” (2018, guest star)

Hilarie Burton (Peyton)

“My Celebrity Home” (2007, guest star)
“Dinner at Tiffani’s” (2016, guest star on Tiffani Thiessen’s show)

Paul Johansson (Dan)

“Battle of the Network Stars” (2017, contestant)

Sophia Bush (Brooke)

“Punk’d” (2005, guest star)
“Jay Leno’s Garage” (2020, guest star)

Barry Corbin (Whitey)

“Celebrity Poker Showdown” (2005, contestant)

Lee Norris (Mouth)

“America’s Next Top Model” (2006, guest star)

Jackson Brundage (Jamie)

“Figure It Out” (2013, panelist)

Robert Buckley (Clay)

“Geeks Who Drink” (2015, contestant)
“Hollywood Medium” (2018, guest star)

Stephen Colletti (Chase)

“Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County” (2004-2005, star)
“Punk’d” (2006, guest star)
“The Hills” (2008, guest star)

Jana Kramer (Alex)

“Can You Duet?” (2008, contestant)
“Sing for Your Supper” (2013, guest star)
“Dance Moms” (2014, guest star)
“Dancing with the Stars” (2016, contestant)
“Hollywood Medium” (2017, guest star)
“To Tell the Truth” (2017, panelist)
“Celebrity Family Feud” (2018, contestant)

Tyler Hilton (Chris)

“Styl’d” (2009, guest star)
“Hell’s Kitchen” (2018, guest star)

Gossip Girl

Blake Lively (Serena)

“The City” (2010, guest star with Leighton Meester, Ed Westwick, and Jessica Szohr)

Leighton Meester (Blair)

“The City” (2010, guest star with Blake Lively, Ed Westwick, and Jessica Sozhr)

Ed Westwick (Chuck)

“The City” (2010, guest star with Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, and Jessica Szohr)

Kelly Rutherford (Lily)

“Hollywood Squares” (1999, panelist)
“Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” (2006, guest star)

Jessica Szohr (Vanessa)

“The City” (2010, guest star with Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, and Ed Westwick)
“Punk’d” (2012, guest star)
“The Real Girl’s Kitchen” (2015, guest star)

90210

Shenae Grimes (Annie)

“The Hills” (2010, guest star)
“Punk’d” (2012, guest star)
“America’s Next Top Model” (2012, guest star)
“Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model” (2012, guest star)

Tristan Wilds (Dixon)

“Wild ‘N Out” (2016, contestant)
“Love & Listings” (2019, guest star)

Dustin Milligan (Ethan)

“RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race” (2020, contestant)

AnnaLynne McCord (Naomi)

“Double Exposure” (2010, guest star)

Jessica Stroup (Silver)

“Double Exposure” (2010, guest star)

Michael Steger (Navid)

“Lingo” (2002-2004, contestant)

Jessica Walter (Tabitha)

“The Match Game” (1968, panelist)
“Snap Judgement” (1968, celebrity contestant)
“You Don’t Say” (1969, guest star)
“The Game Game” (1970, celebrity contestant)
“He Said, She Said” (1970, contestant)
“It’s Your Bet” (1971, contestant)
“Tattletales” (1974, contestant)
“The Hollywood Squares” (1974-1975, panelist)
“The $10,000 Pyramid” (1975-1976, celebrity contestant)
“The New Hollywood Squares” (1987, panelist)

Jessica Lowndes (Adrianna)

“America’s Next Top Model” (2009, guest star)

Ryan Eggold (Ryan)

“Hollywood Game Night” (2016, celebrity contestant)
“The $100,000 Pyramid” (2017, celebrity contestant)

Lori Loughlin (Debbie)

“Family Feud” (1982-1983, contestant)
“Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” (2005, guest star with Peter Gallagher, Melinda Clarke, and Rachel Bilson)

Matt Lanter (Liam)

“Manhunt: The Search for America’s Most Gorgeous Male Model” (2004, contestant)

Are you a reality TV fan? Which of these shows have you seen?