Jason Priestley Admits Leaving 'Beverly Hills, 90210' Was a Huge Mistake

Looking back on the zip code that made him a global heartthrob, Jason Priestley is coming clean about a major career second-thought. The actor, who spent years playing morally centered Brandon Walsh on the smash hit *Beverly Hills, 90210*, has opened up about his decision to walk away from the iconic series—and why he now views that exit as a misstep. During the 1990s, the teen drama was an undisputed juggernaut, cementing its core ensemble as household names. But after spending nearly a decade roaming West Beverly High and dealing with endless Peach Pit high drama, Priestley felt ready to stretch his creative wings elsewhere. ## Why Did Jason Priestley Leave Beverly Hills 90210? In a recent interview with *HELLO! Canada*, Priestley explained that he felt stuck while working on the show, unable to envision a clear light at the end of the production tunnel. By the time he turned 29, the actor felt driven by a strong desire to test his talents in new Hollywood projects outside of the 90210 universe. His desire to move on clashed directly with the vision of legendary television producer Aaron Spelling. Reports indicate that Spelling was utterly devoted to the series and deeply cared for its cast, regularly assuring everyone that he wanted the show to run indefinitely. Spelling was famously intent on keeping the prime-time soap going for as long as humanly possible. Priestley ultimately made the tough call to step down during the show's ninth season. At the time, stepping out from behind the camera and leaving his star-making role behind felt like the right move for his personal and professional growth. ## Does Jason Priestley Regret Leaving 90210? Decades after saying goodbye to Brandon Walsh, Priestley admits that time has completely reshaped how he feels about his decision to leave. With the benefit of hindsight, the actor looks back on his departure with a surprising amount of regret. Priestley acknowledged that he did not realize just how close the show actually was to its final chapter. *Beverly Hills, 90210* ended up wrapping for good shortly after his exit, concluding its historic run after season 10. The star admitted that had he known the series was going to wrap up so quickly after he stepped away, he would have stuck around to see it through to the final bow. Knowing how near the end truly was, Priestley says he would have happily stayed the course alongside his castmates rather than walking out early.