Tiffani Thiessen’s active routine has been interrupted by a serious hip problem. The 52-year-old actor said on the “Breaking Bread with Tom Papa” podcast that she has a torn labrum and hip dysplasia, and will need a hip replacement.
Thiessen, who danced when she was younger, wondered whether her childhood flexibility may have contributed to the problem. She said a second opinion led to the hip dysplasia diagnosis, joking that she had the hips of a German shepherd. She has heard that hip replacements are generally easier to recover from than knee or shoulder replacements.
The condition has also kept her from playing pickleball, a hobby she enjoys with her son. She suspects the game may not have helped her hip, though her doctor hasn’t blamed it. Her son, who started playing less than a year ago, is beginning to beat her—though, as Thiessen pointed out, she’s playing with a bad hip.
Thiessen’s career began with modeling and commercials when she was a child. In 1987, she won the Miss Junior America title, and two years later she landed the role of Kelly Kapowski on “Saved by the Bell,” which made her a teen favorite. She later played Valerie Malone on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” taking on a more scheming character.
Rather than focus on awards or a particular kind of role, Thiessen said her main hope is to keep working. She knows opportunities can become less plentiful with age, and feels grateful to still be doing work she loves.
She also said working with younger actors has helped keep her outlook fresh. While she might be wondering how many scenes remain during an early-morning shoot, she said, the younger cast members can be busy making TikToks.
Thiessen plays Miss Graves, head of a supernatural school for young witches and warlocks, in “Coven Academy.” In 2024, she also voiced She-Hulk in the animated special “LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition.”
