"Beverly Hills, 90210" star Gabrielle Carteris has become the president of Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) for the next 16 months as the successor to the late Ken Howard, who died March 23.
The union's national board made the decision in a vote by acclamation. Carteris has been serving as acting president since Howard's death.
She had been re-elected to the post of executive vice president at the union's bi-annual convention in October, topping Patricia Richardson, reported Variety.
The SAG-AFTRA Constitution, enacted in 2012 as part of the merger of SAG and AFTRA, provides that the executive VP will succeed the president should the office be vacated with the national board then selecting the president to serve the balance of the unexpired term.
SAG-AFTRA's next election will take place in August 2017.
"I am deeply honored to be chosen by the SAG-AFTRA National Board to serve the union and its members as president," said Carteris.
"Ken was a great union leader, friend and mentor. He left big shoes to fill, but with the support of the national board of directors and the membership, I am committed to improving the lives of all SAG-AFTRA members."
Carteris is best known for her role as school newspaper editor Andrea Zuckerman in the series "Beverly Hills 90210." Her other credits include "Touched by an Angel", "King of the Hill", "NYPD Blue", "Jag" and "Criminal Minds".
She has also worked as a producer, creating a series of "Lifestories" specials, which led to her producing and hosting her own talk show for Fox.
