Expert: Mel - 2/6/2009

Question
Hi there. I adore Beverly Hills 90210 and know some of these answers myself, but I was hoping you might be able to fill in the blanks. I was wondering if you knew the main characters middle names and the approximate months/years of their birthdays. Also, if you happen to recall what episodes this information was revealed it, it would be very, very much appreciated. :)

Here’s what I know:

Character      Middle Name         Birthday
Brandon Walsh               late October/early November
Brenda Walsh                  late October/early November
Kelly Taylor      Marlene         March / September
Steve Sanders                  May
David Silver                  
Donna Martin      Marie            December 25
Dylan McKay      Michael         Fall (October? November?)
Andrea Zuckerman   
Valerie Malone
Clare Arnold
Noah Hunter
Gina Kincaid
Janet Sosna
Matt Durning

Thanks for any help you can give me with this!

Cheers,

Jianna

Answer
Hi Jianna,

I'll start with the twins.  In 2x10, "Necessity Is A Mother", Dylan's mom, Iris, comments about how Brenda's "such a Scorpio", meaning that her and Brandon were born somewhere between 10/24 and 11/22 (give or take a day, since 11/22 is sometimes considered to be Sagittarius).  It's possible that Iris mentions her sign again in "Parental Guidance", 3x20.  Technically, there are some glitches, though largely unnoticeable.  In 3x18 ("Midlife ... Now What?"), Dylan daydreams a scenario in which he buys Kelly a necklace with Brenda's birthstone, an Emerald, which connotes a May birthday.  Then in the S5 finale, Brandon is seen watching an old home video of an outdoor childhood birthday party for him and Brenda.  It's sunny and she's in a short-sleeved dress, implying the temperature was summer-like.  Minnesota in the Fall would be much colder.  

Dylan is a Libra, as is also mentioned by his mom in 2x10, and this is consistent with his 18th birthday party at the Peach Pit in 3x11, "A Presumption Of Innocence", because that episode originally aired on 10/21/92.  I discovered that his middle name was Michael when he recited his wedding vows, "One Wedding and A Funeral", 6x10.  

Kelly's middle name of "Marlene" is mentioned early on in "Slumber Party", 1x13.  Her birthday is all over the place.  Her 18th was notably celebrated in 3x24, "Perfectly Perfect", when she passes out from diet pills.  This episode aired on 3/24/93, which might have been the start of Spring or the end of Winter for that year.  In the next week, Dylan recalls a moment from when he first noticed her, a few days following her 5th birthday.  It was winter, in a theoretical 1979.  That detail is minor and unnoticeable too, but then, as you know, her birthday is moved to September in the S6 premiere, aired 9/13/95.  

Steve's is relatively steady.  "Spring Dance", 1x21, where he's upset that his birthday is forgotten, aired on 5/2/91.  His S6 celebration, in the finale, aired more towards the end of May, 5/22/96.  

Donna is famously born on Christmas, which gets mentioned in all the holiday episodes.  We find out her middle name is Marie when she testifies at a hearing against abusive ex-boyfriend, Ray, in "Breast Side Up", 6x12.

David gets a birthday party at the AfterDark come S10, "Let's Eat Cake", 10x02, making him a September baby (week of 9/15/99).  

Season 10 also gives us Gina's stats, which are interesting.  Born 2/25, according to her birth certificate in "Family Tree", 10x09, it appears she was given the middle name "Bobbi".  Her mother, Bobbi, was given the middle name "Gina".  

Clare had her 18th birthday "last week" prior to the time frame of "Divas", 4x27, which aired 4/20/94, so about mid-April.  She tells this to Brandon at the Peach Pit in order to emphasis the fact that she's become 'legal' for him to date.  

Valerie is thrown a surprise birthday party in "Aunt Bea's Pickles", 8x25, which aired 3/25/98.  

It's a bit odd that Andrea, an original main character, could possibly not have been given a birth date.  All her celebratory cakes seem to be in regards to her staying or going.  I checked some episodes related to Janet's marriage and pregnancy to see if a middle name came up, but no.  I don't think she, Matt, or Noah had birthdays or middle names.  I know, at least, that Matt's law office sign at the bottom of the stairs has no middle initial.  Of course, Noah was associated with his father's oil company, so there may be something that I'm not remembering, prompted by litigation or his father's suicide (late S8/early S9).  

I'll follow up if I find anything new.  Hope this helps flesh out your chart a bit more.

Thanks for the question!

All the best,

Mel