Top 10 Biggest Stars You Forgot Were on Beverly Hills, 90210

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10. Eva Longoria - “I Will Be Your Father Figure”: Before she was the actress we know today, Longoria appeared as Flight Attendant #3 in a scene where Dylan, Kelly, and Matt are at the airport looking for Dylan’s father. The future desperate housewife is on-screen for less than thirty seconds, so it’s certainly a blink-and-you-miss-it moment. And while it’s definitely surprising to see such a big star in such a minor role, everybody’s got to get their start somewhere. When asked about the gig in 2016, she laughed, saying “I wasn’t even No. 1 or 2, I was flight attendant No. 3.” Hey, that’s still pretty good when you consider it was one of her first ever TV gigs!

9. David Arquette - “Wild Horses”: About four years before we got to know him as Dewey in “Scream”, Arquette played Dennis "Diesel" Stone on “90210.” The character is a keytar player and lead singer of a band called Waste Management, who also happens to be Brandon’s girlfriend Nikki’s abusive ex. Arquette’s time on the show comes to an end quickly, with Brandon putting Diesel in his place within one episode. We know nobody really thinks “Beverly Hills, 90210” when they think of David Arquette, but looking back, he really found a way to embody the despicable character..

8. Kyle Richards - “Bobbi Dearest”: No stranger to the 90210, this Real Housewife of Beverly Hills briefly dropped by to portray Anna Murphy. Anna pops in from New York to surprise Matt with divorce papers from his wife Lauren – yikes. The child actress got her start in the industry in the ‘70s, so by the time she booked this gig, she was no stranger to being in front of the camera. That, plus the fleeting nature of the part, is also why it’s not one we associate with her. Still, it’s fun to think about how Richards was gracing the streets of “Beverly Hills” on our screens long before her reality TV days.

7. Peter Krause - “Various”: For three episodes in 1992, Peter Krause stepped into the shoes of The Blaze’s former editor, Jay Thurman. Jay and Andrea have a summer fling during his arc, and then attempt an off-camera long-distance relationship that ultimately leads to Jay ending things via holiday mail. Now, there’s no denying that he makes a big impression on Andrea during their time together. But when we think of Krause, the performances of his that live top-of-mind are more likely Nate Fisher on “Six Feet Under” or Adam Braverman on “Parenthood.” Sorry, Jay, we just didn’t know you long enough!

6. Aaron Paul - “Fortune Cookie”: In a season nine episode, Donna is caught between West Bev drama teacher, Mr. Bigelow, and former classmate, Ashley, who’s accusing him of misconduct. In the midst of all this, Aaron Paul is Chad, a student who’s been cast as Romeo in the school play. While we may be charmed by Chad’s performance, Paul himself was less than impressed when presented with the clip during a 2013 “Tonight Show” interview. Indeed, he reviewed it as “awful.” But every role can’t lead to an Emmy, and in such a serious episode, it’s a fun surprise to see Jesse Pinkman pop up as a goofy theater kid.

5. Seth Green - “The Game Is Chicken”: In an attempt to take back their power from an indecisive Dylan, Brenda and Kelly agree to a blind date with two Princeton men. Sadly, said dates are not college guys at all, and in fact are the polar opposite of what they had in mind. One of these boys is none other than Seth Green. In a show that cycled through a plethora of serious love interests, you could be forgiven for forgetting Adam and Wayne. But despite the duos just barely making it through one date, Adam and Green’s Wayne are instrumental to the Kelly/Brenda/Dylan love triangle. Plus, the storyline helps solidify the girls’ friendship.

4. Lucy Liu - “Pass, Not Pass”: Before she was fighting crime as one of Charlie’s Angels, Lucy Liu was waiting tables as one of Nat’s waitresses at the Peach Pit. In season two, Brandon desperately needs some cash to fix his car. So he goes to ask Nat for his job back, only to find that he’s been replaced by Liu’s Courtney, who’s better at the gig than he ever was. Courtney may not have been there to stay – college awaited, after all – but Liu certainly was. With this being her first ever TV role, she was able to prove herself and go on to have a decades-long career as a leading lady in Hollywood.

3. Matthew Perry - “April Is the Cruelest Month”: “Beverly Hills, 90210” was never a show to stay away from difficult subject matter. The late Matthew Perry appeared in the first season as Roger Azarian, a highly accomplished student, who is secretly dealing with a mental health crisis. In a highly emotional scene, Brandon stops him from taking his own life, which in turn allows him to get treatment. Of course, Perry gave everything he had to the tense performance. But since most folks tend to associate him with the hilarious Chandler Bing, it’s easy to forget he was once a teen at West Beverly Hills High.

2. Ashley Tisdale - “Fertile Ground”: Before we were crushing on her as Sharpay Evans or Maddie Fitzpatrick, one of Gina’s young fitness training clients, Michael, was crushing on her as Nicole Loomis. In this season 10 episode, Gina helps boost Michael’s confidence in life. It culminates in him being brave enough to approach Nicole. Her reply is short and sweet – hey, it’s a small part, and Tisdale nails it! Still, it makes sense that we’re more likely to associate the actress with her later Disney Channel work. But can you blame us? That’s really where she bopped to the top and left a huge mark!

1. Jessica Alba - “Making Amends” & “The Nature of Nurture”: Before she was a huge star, businesswoman and activist, Jessica Alba was Leanne, a pregnant teenager who comes into the Wyatt Clinic where Kelly works in season 8. Young and terrified, Leanne initially ghosts the clinic, leaving her baby behind before later fighting to get him back for bigoted reasons. Ultimately, though, she realizes she isn’t capable of caring for him, and Kelly is able to convince her to return him to foster parents Kyle and Gene. Alba is known for playing strong, powerful women. But she’s just as skilled when it comes to portraying a fragile, naive teen.

Honorable Mentions:

• Christina Aguilera - “Let’s Eat Cake”: Performing at the Peach Pit Like Only She Can
  
• Ryan Seacrest - “The Final Proof”: He Fittingly Portrays the Host of a Game Show
  
• Vivica A. Fox - “Ashes To Ashes”: As Sherice Ashe, She Gets Into an Accident with Brandon, but Ends up on a Date with Him
  
• Adam Levine - “Forgive And Forget”: He & His Pre-Maroon 5 Band, Kara’s Flowers, Played at the Peach Pit

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