Jason Priestley, who, with his sideburns, starred as stable Brandon Walsh for nearly a decade on TV's Beverly Hills, 90210, has agreed to a trial separation with his wife of nearly 10 months, the actor's publicist has confirmed.
Priestley's camp today said neither divorce proceedings, nor legal separation proceedings were underway. There was no further comment regarding the break.
Priestley may be emboldened to learn that he, at least, has not set a new land-speed record for 90210 splits. TV twin Shannen Doherty called it quits with Hollywood scion Ashley Hamilton after a mere seven months of wedded bliss from 1993-94.
It seems like only yesterday--well, February 2--that Priestley bid farewell to bachelorhood, wedding makeup artist Ashlee Peterson, then 29. The hush-hush ceremony took place aboard a boat in Miami.
Current appearances aside, Priestley and Peterson didn't exactly dive into marriage--according to reports, they dated for some 18 months before doing the ring exchange.
The marriage is the first for both Priestley, now 30, and his bride, although Peterson does have a young son from a previous relationship.
In July, Priestley put a "for sale" sign on a three-bedroom home he purchased prior to the wedding. Word was the couple needed more space. (Apparently a lot more.)
While his personal life may be slumping, Priestley's professional life is humming. Since exiting Fox's 90210 in 1998, the actor has gone director. While he dabbled behind the scenes during his run on the teen soap, he's making it a full-time gig these days. Recent credits include Barenaked in America (1999), a documentary about the Canadian pop band, the Barenaked Ladies. Priestley also has been tapped to helm a segment of Oscar-winner Barry Levinson's upcoming UPN cop series, The Beat.