# Ian Ziering

Ian Andrew Ziering (/ˈaɪən ˈzɪərɪŋ/; born March 30, 1964) is an American actor best known for his role as Steve Sanders on the television series Beverly Hills, 90210, which he played from 1990 to 2000. He is also the voice of Vinnie on Biker Mice from Mars. From 2013 to 2018, he starred 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, with his family originating from Russia and Austria. He graduated from West Orange High School in 1982, and from William Paterson University in 1988.

## 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 Nick Tatopolous in the film.
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, 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. The job ultimately went to Drew Carey. 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.
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.

## 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. 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). 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

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1981 | Endless Love | Sammy Butterfield | |
| 1995 | Savate | Cain Parker | Direct to video |
| 1995 | No Way Back | Victor Serlano | |
| 1996 | Mighty Ducks the Movie: The First Face-Off | Wildwing Flashblade | Voice, direct to video |
| 2005 | Domino | Himself | |
| 2005 | Six Months Later | Michael | Short |
| 2006 | Stripped Down | Francis | |
| 2006 | Man vs. Monday | Dan Smith | Short; also director |
| 2007 | Tyrannosaurs Azteca | Cortes | |
| 2009 | Step Seven | Richard Miller/Brother Abraham | Short |
| 2011 | The Legend of Awesomest Maximus | Testiclees | |
| 2012 | That's My Boy | TV version Donny | |
| 2012 | McKenna Shoots for the Stars | Mr. Brooks | |
| 2013 | Snake & Mongoose | Keith Black | |
| 2014 | Christmas in Palm Springs | Teddy | |
| 2016 | Killer Deal | Nick Steel | Short; also producer |
| 2017 | F the Prom | Ken Reede | |
| 2021 | Hunters | | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1981–1982 | The Doctors | Erich Aldrich | 2 episodes |
| 1987 | Guiding Light | Cameron Stewart | Contract role |
| 1988 | ABC Afterschool Specials | Randy Forrester | Episode: "Terrible Things My Mother Told Me" |
| 1990 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Donnie | Episode: "Flour Babies" |
| 1990 | Married...with Children | The Kid | Episode: "The Unnatural" |
| 1990–2000 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Steve Sanders, Ronnie Robertson | Main role Producer Director: "I'm Using You 'Cause I Like You" Writer: "Sentenced to Life" (story by) |
| 1992 | Melrose Place | Steve Sanders | 3 episodes |
| 1992 | Parker Lewis Can't Lose | Himself | Episode: "Geek Tragedy" |
| 1993–1996 | Biker Mice from Mars | Vinnie | Voice, main role |
| 1994 | Aaahh!!! Real Monsters | Gludge | Voice, episode: "Smile and Say Oblina" |
| 1994 | Beverly Hills, 90210: A Christmas Special | Himself | Television film |
| 1995 | The Women of Spring Break | George Peck | Television film |
| 1996 | Subliminal Seduction | Darrin Danver | Television film |
| 1996–1997 | Mighty Ducks | Wildwing Flashblade | Voice, main role |
| 1998 | V.I.P. | Peter, Tasha's ex-husband | Episode: "Bloody Val-entine" |
| 1998 | All-Star Party for Aaron Spelling | Himself | Television special |
| 1998 | 78th Annual Miss America Pageant | Himself (Judge) | Television special |
| 1998–1999 | Hollywood Squares | Himself (Panelist) | Recurring role |
| 1998–2001 | Godzilla: The Series | Dr. Niko Tatopoulos | Voice |
| 1999 | Love Boat: The Next Wave | Joshua Krumb | Episode: "Don't Judge a Book by Its Lover" |
| 1999 | Batman Beyond | Mason Forrest | Voice, episode: "The Winning Edge" |
| 2000 | Twice in a Lifetime | Dr. Steven Weaver/Lance Kensington | Episode: "Even Steven" |
| 2001 | Inside Schwartz | Parker | Episode: "Event Night"; uncredited |
| 2001 | JAG | Captain William Shepard | Episode: "Ambush" |
| 2001 | The Test | Himself (Panelist) | Episode: "The PDA Test" |
| 2002 | Son of the Beach | Harry Johnson | 3 episodes |
| 2002 | What I Like About You | Paul Cody | Episode: "Copy That" |
| 2003 | Spider-Man: The New Animated Series | Harry Osborn | Voice |
| 2006–2007 | Biker Mice from Mars | Vinnie | Voice |
| 2007 | Side Order of Life | Brian Fowler | 3 episodes |
| 2007 | Drawn Together | Chase Huffington | Voice, episode: "Drawn Together Babies" |
| 2007 | Dancing with the Stars | Himself (Contestant) | |
| 2008 | Your Mama Don't Dance | Himself (Host) | |
| 2008 | Lava Storm | John Wilson | Television film |
| 2009 | The Christmas Hope | Nathan Andrews | Television film |
| 2010 | CSI: NY | Thom Weir | Episode: "Pot of Gold" |
| 2010 | Elopement | David Drummond | Television film |
| 2011 | Happily Divorced | Robert, Support Group Leader | Episode: "Spousal Support" |
| 2013 | Sharknado | Fin Shepard | Television film |
| 2013 | Deadtime Stories | Mr. Tyler | Episode: "Terror in Tiny Town" |
| 2013 | Hell's Kitchen | Himself (Restaurant Patron) | Episode: "9 Chefs Compete" |
| 2013 | Shark After Dark | Himself (Guest) | Episode: "Sharkmania!" |
| 2013 | Oprah: Where Are They Now? | Himself (Guest) | Episode: "90210 Star Ian Ziering" |
| 2014 | Sharknado 2: The Second One | Fin Shepard | Television film |
| 2014 | Sproutnado: Synchronized Swimming | Himself – Swimmer | Television film |
| 2014 | Sproutnado: So Many Numbers in the Ocean | Himself – Swimmer | Television film |
| 2014 | Sproutnado: Shark Costume Delivery | Himself – Movie Star | Television film |
| 2014 | Sproutnado: Ocean Weather Report | Weather Reporter | Television film |
| 2014 | 94th Annual Miss America Pageant | Himself (Judge) | Television special |
| 2014 | On Your Marc! | Himself (Guest) | Episode: "Ian Ziering" |
| 2014 | The Wil Wheaton Project | Himself (Guest) | Episode: "Wil Master: Axis of Wheaton" |
| 2014 | America's Healthiest Heroes | Himself (Host) | |
| 2014–2016 | Celebrity Name Game | Himself (Celebrity Player) | Recurring role |
| 2015 | Defiance | Conrad Von Bach | Episode: "The Beauty of Our Weapons" |
| 2015 | Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! | Fin Shepard | Television film |
| 2015 | Lavalantula | Fin Shepard | Television film |
| 2015 | Celebrity Apprentice | Himself (Contestant) | 8 episodes |
| 2016 | The Muppets | Himself | Episode: "A Tail of Two Piggies" |
| 2016 | Hashtaggers | Himself | Episode: "#Colin'sRival with Ian Ziering" |
| 2016 | Sharknado: The 4th Awakens | Fin Shepard | Television film; also co-executive producer |
| 2017 | Sharknado 5: Global Swarming | Fin Shepard | Television film; also co-executive producer |
| 2017 | Battle of the Network Stars | Himself (Contestant) | Episode: "Primetime Soaps vs. ABC Stars" |
| 2018 | The Thundermans | Young Thunder Man | Episode: "The Thundredth" |
| 2018 | Aussie Girl | Himself | Episode: "Crafty Service" |
| 2018 | Worst Cooks in America | Himself (Contestant) | 6 episodes |
| 2018 | Celebrity Family Feud | Himself (Contestant) | Episode: "Sherri Shepherd vs. Ian Ziering" |
| 2018 | The Last Sharknado: It's About Time | Fin Shepard | Television film; also executive producer |
| 2019 | Swamp Thing | Dan Cassidy / Blue Devil | Recurring role |
| 2019 | Malibu Rescue | Gavin Cross | |
| 2019 | Malibu Rescue | Gavin Cross | Recurring role |
| 2019 | BH90210 | Himself/Steve Sanders | Co-producer |
| 2019 | Zombie Tidal Wave | Hunter Shaw | Television film; also writer and producer |
| 2020 | The Order | Himself | Episode: "Spring Outbreak" |
| 2021 | The Other Two | Himself | Episode: "Chase Guest-Edits Vogue" |
| 2023 | Clone High | Himself | Voice |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2003 | Freelancer | Edison Trent | Microsoft Game Studios |
| 2006 | Biker Mice from Mars | Vinnie | PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS |

## Dancing with the Stars season 4

| Week # | Dance / Song | Judges' Score | Judges' Score | Judges' Score | Result |
| Week # | Dance / Song | Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | Result |
| 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 | Paso Doble / "Waiting for Tonight" | 8 | 8 | 8 | Safe |
| 6 | Swing / "Rock This Town" | No scores given | No scores given | No scores given | | Safe |
| 7 | Tango / "Holding Out for a Hero" | 9 | 9 | 9 | Safe |
| 7 | Mambo / "Gimme the Light" | 9 | 9 | 9 | Safe |
| 8 | Foxtrot / "Baby, It's Cold Outside" | 8 | 7 | 7 | Safe |
| 8 | Rumba / "Imagine" | 8 | 8 | 9 | Safe |
| 9 Semi-finals | Tango / "Maneater" | 9 | 10 | 9 | Eliminated |
| 9 Semi-finals | Jive / "All Shook Up" | 10 | 10 | 10 | Eliminated |