Title: Can You Name the 90s Star Who Dated Real-Life Brothers in Separate Teen Sitcoms?

Kelly Packard: The ’90s Star Who Dated Real-Life Brothers & Lit Up Screens

[Image: Kelly Packard in her California Dreams days, smiling with a bass guitar.]
Caption: Kelly Packard as Tiffani Smith on California Dreams, the role that made her a household name.

Born in California and raised on an Arizona ranch, Kelly Packard began her journey as a barrel-racing teen before winning Miss California American Pre-Teen in 1987. Her early TV break came at 14, guest-starring on Step By Step (1991), followed by roles in Blossom, Living Dolls, and The Wonder Years. But it was her role as bassist Tiffani Smith on NBC’s California Dreams (1992–1996) that catapulted her to fame. The show’s beachy vibe, friendship themes, and catchy music resonated with teens, earning Packard a loyal fanbase.

[Image: Packard on the set of Step By Step with cast members.]
Caption: A young Packard (far right) in her breakout role on Step By Step.

A Record-Setting Romance
Packard made TV history by playing love interests to real-life brothers Fred and Ben Savage. On The Wonder Years, she portrayed Susan Fisher, a crush of Fred’s character Kevin. Years later, she dated Ben’s character Cory on Boy Meets World. “Those Savage boys kept me working. I owe them everything,” she joked on the Pod Meets World podcast.

[Image: Packard with Ben Savage on Boy Meets World.]
Caption: Packard (left) with Ben Savage on Boy Meets World, cementing her TV legacy.

From Surf to Lifeguard Towers: Baywatch Fame
Packard joined Baywatch in 1995, appearing in 50 episodes across four roles—a rare feat for the series. Starring alongside icons like Pamela Anderson and David Hasselhoff, she became a global face of the show. “Being on the world’s most-watched series changed me spiritually,” she reflected.

[Image: Packard in a Baywatch lifeguard uniform.]
Caption: Packard (center) on Baywatch, where she played multiple characters.

Life Beyond Acting
In the 2000s, Packard hosted Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, traveling the world to uncover bizarre stories. She later stepped back from Hollywood to focus on family, marrying ER physician Darrin Privett in 1996. They have four children and live in Newhall, California.

[Image: Packard with her family.]
Caption: Packard with her husband and kids during a 2014 Wife Swap episode.

Nostalgia & New Dreams
Today, Packard reunites with California Dreams co-stars for sold-out concerts, reigniting ’90s nostalgia. “The show’s heart was friendship and music—it’s why fans still love it,” she shared on the Pop Culture Unplugged podcast. Though content with family life, she’s open to acting again: “I’ve got more to give.”

[Image: Packard at a recent California Dreams reunion event.]
Caption: Packard (far right) with the California Dreams cast at a 2023 reunion.

Legacy of Sunshine
With her all-American charm and trailblazing career, Kelly Packard remains a beloved ’90s icon—proof that dreams, both Californian and otherwise, can come true.

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