'90210' co-stars Brian Austin Green and Tori Spelling reveal why they didn't speak for 18 years

"Beverly Hills, 90210" fans remember Donna Martin and David Silver were embroiled in a young love affair for the ages — even going on to tie the knot during the series finale.

But Tori Spelling and Brian Austin Green, the actors who played the characters, drifted apart for about 18 years after the hit Fox series wrapped in 2000.

The pair, who also dated during their time on "90210," opened up about their years of estrangement on the Aug. 26 episode of the "Old-Ish" podcast, which Green co-hosts with fiancée Sharna Burgess and Spelling's brother, Randy Spelling.

During the episode, which is the first of a two-part special, the two recalled how they reacted to the show's ending. Green fought hard to keep their friendship alive, while Spelling began to keep Green at a distance.

"I remember our last conversation and the last thing we said to each other before those 18 years... I was crying," Spelling, 51, said. "I remember crying that we were going to lose touch because we were so close. We had grown up together and we were such good friends."

Spelling said the end of "90210" felt "like going through a divorce."

"Like, time to move on. But also like I'm losing that human I'm with every day, and have that connection with," she said.

She shared her memories of Green, 51, reassuring her that the two pair would remain close. "I remember you said, 'We’re gonna always be together. We’re even all gonna go on vacations together.' And that was the last time we spoke for 18 years," she said.

Both actors remembered that they didn't entirely approve of one another's romantic partners post-"90210."

Spelling was dating former co-star Vincent Young while Green was dating another former co-star, Vanessa Marcil, with whom he welcomed a son, Kassius, now 22.

Green said he tried to "keep a connection going" with Spelling, even dropping by to see her at Young's home after he would leave Marcil's place.

"It was just this thing of like, 'She just doesn’t want to be my friend.' I genuinely felt that way," recalled Green. "I tried to visit you and I would call you. When that wasn’t reciprocated... I gave up. I didn’t know what was going on in your life."

Spelling said her relationship with Young, whom she called "a great guy," was not particular "good" for her. She also said she believed that Green, whom she called her "protector," was not "a fan" of the romance, which was one reason she avoided Green.

"You had a good working relationship with Vincent but I don’t think you felt like our personal relationship was something that was correct for me," said Spelling.

"I didn't," Green agreed. "But... I still showed up. I wasn't in a place of, 'I don't agree with this so I can't be around (it)."

Spelling responded, "What I'm saying is, you're true to that always. You're consistent. What I'm saying is my process was different and I would shy away from those that would really fight for me."

"I never stopped thinking about you and never stopped wanting to reach out and reconnect," she added.

Spelling said her own discomfort with Green's relationship with Marcil affected her ability to authentically communicate with Green.

"That relationship was frustrating to see from a friend’s perspective who loves someone so much... To see what is going on and see how your friend is treated and not be OK with it,'" she said. "But knowing that you can’t really say anything because the person has to go through their own experiences and go on their journey."

Spelling and Green didn't meet in another person again until a "90210" DVD release party years later. Even then, Green said, Spelling was still keeping him at arm's length.

At the time, Spelling was with her now ex-husband Dean McDermott and Green was with his now ex-wife Megan Fox.

"You were married to Dean and I was there with Megan. We were just dating, it was early on. You guys got there and you never said hello to me once," Green remembered.

Green said he forced himself to accept that Spelling was no longer interested in being his friend.

"I felt like I’ve lived up to my half of the bargain. I tried to visit. I would call you. When that wasn’t reciprocated at some point… you give up," he said, adding, "That was my experience from my side."

Spelling validated Green's recollection, telling him, "Your experience is pretty right on."

Later in the episode, the two friends celebrated the fact that they have become close pals again in recent years, with Green comparing Spelling to a "sister."

"I love the fact that we now can talk about these things," he told Spelling. "We're sitting in front of each other and it hasn't been 18 years... And we text and we're back to having that relationship that we had.

He added, "We won. It's a victory lap that we get to take."

This article was originally published on TODAY.com