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Jason Priestley writing memoir: will dish on '90210,' personal struggles

Jason Priestley's been through a lot since he made our hearts hurt on "Beverly Hills 90210."Since his heyday as beloved character Brandon Walsh, the 43-year-old has battled legal woes and a life-changing car crash, gotten married, had kids, stepped behind the camera a few times, and, as a native Canadian, even become an American citizen.And soon, Priestley will be adding "author" to his resume —
Jason Priestley arrives for the International Emmy Awards, on Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, in New York. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)
Jason Priestley arrives for the International Emmy Awards, on Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, in New York. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)Henny Ray Abrams / Today

Jason Priestley's been through a lot since he made our hearts hurt on "Beverly Hills 90210."

Since his heyday as beloved character Brandon Walsh, the 43-year-old has battled legal woes and a life-changing car crash, gotten married, had kids, stepped behind the camera a few times, and, as a native Canadian, even become an American citizen.

And soon, Priestley will be adding "author" to his resume — he's penning a memoir about his personal life that will hit bookstore shelves next spring.

The as yet untitled tome will delve into some never-before-revealed behind-the-scenes action on "90210," the teen hit that skyrocketed Priestley to stardom in the 1990s.

Plus, Priestley promises to touch on his own personal struggles, like his brief stint in jail in 2000 for drunk driving, and a 2002 race car crash at the Kentucky speedway that left him seriously injured.

“Writing your memoir is no small task," he said in a press release about the book. "And although I’ve only been on the planet for 44 years, I’ve lived a lot in that time.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Priestley will also dish on the dramatic rift between himself and "90210" creator Aaron Spelling after the show's series finale over a decade ago. 

The book will be put out by HarperCollinsPublishers imprint HarperOne, and publishers say the book is a must-read for "90210" fans, going beyond Priestley's persona as an adorable heartthrob and delving into the real life of the man himself.

"We pride ourselves in publishing incredible stories of personal growth, perseverance and success," Mark Tauber, HarperOne's SVP and publisher, said in announcing the book. "Jason has an amazing story, and we're thrilled to help him share it."

Since "90210" ended in 2000, Priestley has had cameos on TV shows like "How I Met Your Mother," "Psych" and "My Name Is Earl," and has starred in the Canadian television series "Call Me Fritz" since 2010.

Priestley has also had an opportunity to flex his directing chops, having recently directed indie film "Cas & Dylan." The film, which is expected to hit film festivals later this year, stars Richard Dreyfuss and Tatiana Maslany.

But the actor hopes his newest undertaking will touch fans as much as his onscreen work: "I hope my story will enlighten, entertain, and inspire those who read it."