Career
Walters was born in Boston, Massachusetts and grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts. After graduating from high school, Jamie Walters attended New York University and studied film for two years and studied acting at The Actors Space in New York City.
While attending college, he was discovered at a bank by a casting agent who placed him in three high profile commercials for Levi's 501 Jeans. He then moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting and musical career. He played a bit role on Everyday Heroes. His film debut came in 1991 with the movie Shout, alongside John Travolta, Heather Graham, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Walters performed the song "Rockin' the Pad" on the Shout soundtrack album.
In 1992, Aaron Spelling cast Jamie as the lead on the Fox series The Heights, in which he also sang the theme song "How Do You Talk to an Angel?." The single reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 14, 1992 knocking Boyz II Men's "End of the Road" from the top spot. It was also nominated for an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics". (The award went to Liza Minnelli.) The show was canceled by Fox, but it launched Jamie's music career when Atlantic Records took an interest in Walters and signed him to a recording contract.
In October 1994, Aaron Spelling created a role especially for Jamie on Beverly Hills, 90210, casting him as Ray Pruit, the musician-boyfriend of Donna (played by Tori Spelling). Jamie was a cast member of the hit show for two seasons until November 1996, when he asked Spelling to leave the show to focus on his music career.
On September 20, 1994, Jamie released his self-titled debut album Jamie Walters. The first single from the album "Hold On" peaked at no. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. Jamie made appearances on MTV and various shows to promote the album, and also had a nationwide tour. The album sold over 1 million copies and was certified platinum.
In 1997, Jamie released his second album 'Ride'. The album was certified gold.
With his residence in Los Angeles county, he pursued training, certification, and employment as a paramedic and worked with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. He is now working as a full-time firefighter/paramedic for the Los Angeles City Fire Department as of early 2004. Walters is focusing on his family and his career with the fire department but hopes to get back into music and acting sometime in the near future.
In 2009, Walters appeared in the VH1 reality show Confessions of a Teen Idol, in which former teen idols attempt to resurrect their careers.
Read more about this topic: Jamie Walters (American Entertainer)
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