A former 1990s teen heartthrob who once starred on Beverly Hills, 90210 was recently seen during a rare outing—though these days he spends his time saving lives rather than appearing on television.
Now 56, the actor rose to fame in his early twenties when he portrayed Ray Pruit, the troubled boyfriend of Donna Martin on the hit series. Before landing that role, he had already appeared on the musical drama The Heights, where he showcased his singing talent.
During the height of his fame, he even captured the heart of Hollywood star Drew Barrymore, and the two were engaged for a time. However, the actor eventually stepped away from the spotlight, choosing a far different path. Today, he works as a firefighter-paramedic and leads a much quieter life away from the entertainment industry. He was recently spotted organizing equipment at his home in Los Angeles County.
The man in question is Jamie Walters.
On Beverly Hills, 90210, Walters played Ray Pruit, a soft-spoken carpenter and aspiring musician who initially won over Donna Martin, played by Tori Spelling. Over time, however, the character’s storyline took a darker turn when he became abusive toward her.
Walters eventually left Hollywood behind and dedicated himself to public service. For more than two decades, he has worked with the Los Angeles Fire Department as a firefighter-paramedic. Reflecting on his career change in an interview last year, he noted that his experiences in television ultimately led him to pursue a more meaningful profession helping others.
Before 90210, Walters gained recognition on The Heights, where he performed the show’s theme song, How Do You Talk to an Angel. The track became a surprise hit and even reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Although he enjoyed his time working on Beverly Hills, 90210, Walters admitted he was disappointed when his character was written as abusive. Still, he later acknowledged that the storyline helped spark conversations about domestic violence and raise awareness about the issue.
Walters also briefly returned to the franchise in 2019, appearing as himself in the reboot series BH90210, which reunited many of the original cast members.
In his personal life, Walters remains a single father of four. He has also spoken warmly about his past relationship with Barrymore, recalling their engagement as a happy period in his life. The actress has also reflected fondly on their romance, once joking on her talk show that she had indeed been engaged to the former teen idol.
While Walters may no longer be a regular presence on red carpets, his career today has taken on a far more heroic dimension—serving his community and saving lives as a first responder.
