This 'Beverly Hills, 90210' Heartthrob Left Fame Behind Years Ago — See His Life Today in Photos

A former "Beverly Hills, 90210" heartthrob seemed to disappear from Hollywood at the height of his fame. Years later, photos of his life tell a story few fans ever saw coming.

For a generation of TV viewers, he was the dark-haired musician who suddenly appeared on one of the biggest teen dramas of the 1990s. But while many stars chased bigger roles after tasting fame, this former teen idol quietly chose a very different path.

Decades later, his photos reveal a man who looks strikingly familiar, even if his life no longer resembles the one fans once watched unfold on television.

Before He Became a Teen Idol, He Was Just a Kid With a Guitar

Long before he found himself walking red carpets and appearing on magazine covers, the future star was simply a boy growing up north of Boston with a passion for music. According to his IMDb biography, he was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, and discovered music early in life.

In a 1995 interview, he explained that his father gave him a guitar when he was 12 years old and that the instrument quickly became more than a hobby. "My dad gave me a guitar when I was 12. His hobby was music. I got influenced by Jimi Hendrix," he said in an interview published by the Toledo Blade.

He began playing in garage bands around age 13 and later moved to New York, where he studied film at New York University and trained at The Actors Space.

Acting, however, was not part of his original plan. He once admitted that if he had been forced to choose between acting and music, he would have preferred the latter.

A No. 1 Song Changed Everything

His first brush with major fame arrived in 1992. After appearing in a Levi's 501 commercial and starring alongside John Travolta in "Shout," he landed a role in Fox's short-lived musical drama "The Heights."

The series did not last long, but it produced an unexpected hit. The show's theme song, "How Do You Talk to an Angel," soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, instantly turning its singer into a recognizable face and voice.

Music remained his first love, and industry executives hoped he would become much more than another actor trying his hand at singing. A 1995 Billboard report noted that Atlantic Records signed him before he ever joined "Beverly Hills, 90210." At the time, his self-titled album had climbed to No. 4 on the Heatseekers chart, while his single "Hold On" was making its way up the Hot 100.

Even so, he understood that success on television could become both a blessing and a burden. "It's a double-edged sword," he told the magazine.

"I get to be on a hit show that tons of people watch, play music on the show, and at the same time, I have to take crap from everyone for being on that show. And I will continue to get flak for it. It's a drag."

The Character Viewers Loved to Hate

His next role introduced him to millions of new fans. Joining "Beverly Hills, 90210" as aspiring musician Ray Pruit, he quickly became involved with Donna Martin, played by Tori Spelling.

At first, the pairing appeared to be a perfect fit. After all, producers had specifically sought an actor who could sing. "They were looking for someone who could sing to bring something different to the show," he said in the Toledo Blade interview.

"I'm lucky because I get to sing my songs." But what initially seemed like an opportunity to showcase his music eventually turned into something much more complicated.

Ray's storyline darkened as writers explored domestic abuse through his relationship with Donna, culminating in one of the show's most controversial moments.

Years later, the actor recalled being shocked when he first read the script. "What the [expletive] is this?" he remembered thinking during an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

"Like, this is not good, this is not good for my career." Producers assured him they were trying to address important issues, but viewers struggled to separate fact from fiction.

People confronted him in grocery stores. Some scolded him for hurting Donna. Others sent hate mail. One woman experiencing chest pain even recognized him during an emergency call years later and asked why he had been "so mean to Donna."

The backlash eventually spilled over into his music career. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Jamie said fans struggled to separate him from Ray and that many stopped supporting his records after the abusive storyline aired.

By the end of Season 6, Ray was written off the show. Looking back, Jamie suggested producers may have realized there was little room left for the character after making him physically abusive toward Donna.

"I think they realized they kind of painted themselves into a corner," he said. Yet despite the backlash, he still speaks warmly about his castmates and remembers traveling with Spelling for promotional appearances. "Tori was a lot of fun," he later said. "We just had a good time."

The Heartthrob Behind Ray Pruit

By the mid-1990s, his popularity had spread far beyond television. Teen magazines featured him regularly. Mall appearances attracted thousands of screaming fans. Record executives hoped he could become one of the decade's next major music stars.

And while viewers debated Ray Pruitt's on-screen actions, the actor portraying him, Jamie Walters, was experiencing a whirlwind romance off-camera.

It involved one of Hollywood's biggest young stars. At the time, however, he rarely spoke publicly about the relationship. Instead, he hinted that it had already taught him something important.

In 1995, while discussing his personal life, he offered a surprisingly candid remark. "I learned my lesson," he added, saying he was engaged to an actress at the time.

Then came an even more memorable line. "Actresses drove me up the wall." The comments sparked curiosity among fans, especially since the pair had once seemed inseparable. But that relationship — and what happened after it ended — would leave a mark on him in more ways than one.

A Romance That Once Seemed Headed for Marriage

Fans who followed his career in the early 1990s may have remembered that the actor was involved with another rising Hollywood star. The relationship began in 1992, shortly after she gained renewed attention following "Poison Ivy," and while he was enjoying the success of "How Do You Talk to an Angel."

According to a podcast episode discussing the July 1992 issue of Interview magazine, the actress, then 17, appeared in a controversial photo spread alongside Jamie, her then-boyfriend, who also took part in the interview and several of the photos.

Soon after the magazine was completed, the couple became engaged. That actress was none other than Drew Barrymore.

Years later, Jamie looked back on their relationship fondly. In an interview with The U.S. Sun, he recalled being introduced to Drew through their shared agent. "My agent was like, 'Hey, Drew Barrymore is interested in meeting you, and she invited you to this party,'" he said. "So, I went, met her, we ended up hitting it off, and we were together for a couple of years and had a great time."

He revealed that they eventually moved in together and even planned for the future. "We ended up living together and were engaged for a little while," he said. "That was a fun time in my life. She was great, we had a great relationship together."

Why He Said He 'Learned His Lesson'

Despite their romance, the engagement ultimately ended. Asked years later what happened, Jamie offered a simple explanation. "I think we were just both really young and we were busy with our careers and that's why it didn't pan out." He added that he still had "really fond memories" of their relationship and was pleased to know Drew appeared to feel the same way.

Yet his comments from the 1990s suggested the breakup had also taught him something. In a November 1994 interview summarized by Gannett News Service, Jamie admitted:

"I really learned a lesson ..."

Friends had warned him against making one particular decision. "Don't do it! You get her name on you, man, anywhere, and within a year it's gonna be over." By then, fans had discovered that Jamie had tattooed Drew's name across his back. After their split, he decided to alter it. "I had it touched up... It's not exactly gone, but the specifics have changed," he explained.

Drew Had Something to Say Years Later

Decades after they called off their engagement, Drew unexpectedly brought Jamie's name back into the spotlight. As reported by Entertainment Tonight, she reunited with Tori Spelling and Jennie Garth on "The Drew Barrymore Show" and fondly remembered their past romance.

"Oh my god, Jamie Walters! My boyfriend at the time," Drew exclaimed. "I totally dated Jamie Walters. I was engaged to him!"

Tori described him as "such a good guy," while Jennie quickly chimed in, "He still is." Jamie later admitted he was touched by their comments. "I'm flattered that she still thinks highly of me," he said.

Trading Hollywood for Something Entirely Different

By then, however, Jamie's life looked nothing like it had during his teen idol years. The actor and musician eventually decided that fame was no longer enough.

In his late 20s, he began thinking about stability and family life. According to Entertainment Weekly, he realized he wanted to "start a family and do some other things" with his life.

He began applying to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The process proved grueling. "I started having second thoughts about this career path, and I'd always been interested in becoming a firefighter," Jamie told The U.S. Sun.

"It took like three years, the process, from the time you take the written and you have medical exams, background checks, psychological, more physical agility checks." He finally entered the training academy in 2003.

Today, Jamie works as a firefighter-paramedic and has spent more than two decades serving with the Los Angeles Fire Department. "I've been with the fire department now for twenty years, and I'll continue with this until my body says I can't do it anymore," he said.

He is also a father of four. His personal life also changed significantly after he left Hollywood. In 2015, TMZ reported that Jamie's wife, Patricia Walters, filed for divorce after 12 years of marriage.

The outlet reported that the former actor, who had already traded show business for emergency services, would share custody of their children if Patricia's request was approved.

A few weeks later, TMZ revealed that Jamie had requested spousal support for himself. At the same time, court filings reportedly showed that Patricia, a podiatrist, had become the family's primary breadwinner while he continued working as a firefighter-paramedic.

Despite the changes in his personal life, Jamie has said he has no regrets about stepping away from acting. "I'm thankful that I was able to switch gears and do something that I'm proud of and that my kids find interesting and cool," he told The U.S. Sun.

"I still have a lot of friends that are in that business, but it's a tough business. Unless you're doing well, it's a struggle to raise a family."

Though he stepped away from Hollywood, music remains a major part of his life. According to Entertainment Tonight, fans even got a chance to see him back in the “90210” orbit in 2019, when Jamie made a guest appearance as himself on the meta-revival “BH90210,” nearly two decades after the original series ended.

And while acting may no longer be his full-time job, Jamie hasn't ruled out returning someday. "I would love to get back involved in acting if the opportunity arose when my time with the fire service comes to an end."

For someone who once seemed destined to spend his life in front of cameras, Jamie ultimately chose a profession far removed from television sets and screaming fans.

Yet decades after "Beverly Hills, 90210," his former co-stars, his famous ex-fiancée, and longtime viewers still appear to remember him for something other than Ray Pruit — simply for being, as Tori once put it, "such a good guy."