American actress Shannen Doherty (19712024) appeared in numerous television programs and motion pictures. After her television debut in Father Murphy in 1981, she landed her first major role in the dramatic western television series Little House on the Prairie (1982–1983), and reprised her role in its three television specials. Doherty received two Young Artist Award nominations for playing the oldest Witherspoon sibling Kris in the family drama Our House (1986–1988). She appeared in four films during the 1980s, including the positively-received, animated film The Secret of NIMH (1982) and the cult classic Heathers (1988). Her breakthrough role was as Brenda Walsh in the teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990–1994), but she was later dropped from the series because of backstage issues and her negative image as a "bad girl". She starred in television films in the early and mid-1990s, and played Rene Mosier in the romantic comedy Mallrats (1995) in an attempt to rebuild her career.
Doherty enjoyed a resurgence in popularity after being cast by producer Aaron Spelling to play Prue Halliwell on the supernatural drama Charmed (1998–2001). The series was their second collaboration following Beverly Hills, 90210. The character was praised by critics and fans, earning a spot as one of the best witches in television history according to a TVLine article, and Doherty took an active role in the show's production, directing three of its episodes. Following disagreements with Spelling and co-star Alyssa Milano, Doherty left the series in its third season. Doherty starred in a string of television films and had a recurring role on the prime-time soap opera North Shore (2004–2005). The following year, she was cast as Denise Johnson in the unaired pilot of the sitcom Love, Inc., but was dropped from the show by producers from United Paramount Network (UPN).Terrace (2008): p. 628 She reprised her role as Brenda Walsh in the reboot of 90210 (2008–2009), appearing as a special guest star in seven episodes in its first season.
While acting in scripted material, Doherty also participated in five reality television shows, none of which had much success, except Shannen Says (2012), in which she received positive reviews. In 2010, Doherty competed in the tenth season of Dancing with the Stars to honor her father who had a stroke in December 2009. Later that year, she also voiced the identical twins Mari and Kari on the animated web series Mari-Kari, and starred in the independent satirical thriller Burning Palms after a nine-year absence from film. In 2012 and 2014, she directed two music videos for the band Radical Something. She starred alongside Alec Baldwin, Danny Glover, and Michael Madsen in the 2016 sports drama film Back in the Day. In 2018, she appeared in a television series based on Heathers and the television movie No One Would Tell, a remake of the 1996 film of the same name. The following year, she portrayed a heightened version of herself for BH90210, and guest-starred on Riverdale as part of a tribute to Luke Perry, who died in 2019. Doherty appeared in two action films Fortress (2021) and Hot Seat (2022), as well as two television films, Dying to Belong and List of a Lifetime, in 2021. Film
Year TitleRoleNotes 1982 The Secret of NIMH Teresa Brisby (voice) Night Shift Bluebird 1985Girls Just Want to Have Fun Maggie Malene 1989Heathers Heather Duke 1994 Almost Dead Katherine Roshak Naked Gun 33 1⁄3: The Final Insult Herself Cameo 1995Mallrats Rene Mosier 1997Nowhere Val-Chick 2 Cameo 1999Striking Poses Gage Sullivan 2001Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Herself Cameo 2010Burning Palms Dr. Shelly 2016Back in the Day Maria 2017Bethany Susan Producer2019Undateable John Charlene2021Fortress Brigadier General Barbara Dobbs 2022Hot Seat Police Chief Pam Connelly 2024Darkness of Man Vivian scope="row" The Devil Completed; posthumous release scope="row" Young Katherina Bukowski In post-production; posthumous release
Television Year TitleRole Notes 1981Father Murphy Drusilla Shannon Episodes: "By the Bear That Bit Me" (Parts 1 & 2)1982The Phoenix Little Girl (uncredited) Episode: "One of Them"Voyagers! Betty Parris Episode: "Agents of Satan" 1982–1983Little House on the PrairieJenny Wilder Main role (18 episodes)1983 Little House: Look Back to Yesterday Television filmMagnum, P.I. Ima Platt Episode: "A Sense of Debt"1984Airwolf Phoebe Danner Episode: "Bite of the Jackal"Little House: The Last FarewellJenny WilderTelevision filmLittle House: Bless All The Dear Children1985Robert Kennedy and His Times Kathleen Kennedy Miniseries (Parts 1 & 2)The New Leave It to Beaver Laurie Episode: "Steppin' Out"The Other Lover Alson Fielding Television filmHighway to Heaven Shelley Fowler Episode: "The Secret" 1986–1988Our House Kris Witherspoon Main role 1987Alf Loves a Mystery The Lady in Red Television film 198921 Jump Street Janine Episode: "Things We Said Today" 1990Life Goes On Ginny Green Episode: "Corky's Crush" 1990–1994Beverly Hills, 90210 Brenda Walsh Main roleSoundtrack, Episode: "Wild Fire" (uncredited) 1991Forever Young Party Girl Television film1992The Secret of Lost Creek Jeannie Fogle Main roleObsessed Lorie BrindelTelevision film1993 Freeze Frame Lindsay ScottSaturday Night Live Herself/host Episode: "Shannen Doherty/Cypress Hill" 1994Blindfold: Acts of Obsession Madeleine DaltonTelevision filmA Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story Margaret MitchellJailbreakers Angel Norton 1996Gone in the Night Cyndi Dowaliby1997Friends 'Til the End Heather RomleySleeping with the Devil Rebecca DubrovichThe Ticket CeeCee Reicker 1998–2001Charmed Prue Halliwell Main roleDirector (3 episodes)Choreographer (Episode: "Coyote Piper")Very special thanks (Episode: "Something Wicca This Way Goes...?") 2000Satan's School for Girls Beth Hammersmith/Karen Oxford Television film 2001Another Day Kate Television film; also Co-executive producer2002The Rendering Sarah ReynoldsTelevision filmHell on Heels: The Battle of Mary Kay Lexi Wilcox 2003Nightlight Celeste Timmerman Television film/Also known as View of Terror 2003Scare Tactics Herself Host (season 1) 2004–2005North Shore Alexandra Hudson Recurring role 2005Category 7: The End of the World Faith Clavell Television filmLove, Inc. Denise Johnson Unaired pilot 2006Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty Herself Host; also Executive producer, Writer (2 episodes) 2007Christmas Caper Kate DoveTelevision film2008Kiss Me Deadly MartaThe Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon Susan JordanDefunct Fanny Thornton2008–200990210 Brenda Walsh Special guest star (season 1; recurring) 2009Encounter with Danger Lori Television film2010Dancing with the Stars Herself Contestant; Season 10 (Voted off in Week 2)Growing the Big One Emma Silber Television filmSoundtrack, "The Yankee Doodle Boy" (uncredited)The Spin CrowdHerself Episode: "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" 2011Les Anges de la téléréalité Season 3: I Love New York2012Witchslayer Gretl Gretl Television filmShannen Says Herself Main role; also Executive producerThe New Normal Brenda Walsh/herself Episode: "The XY Factor"2014All I Want for Christmas Brenda PattersonTelevision filmBlood Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys Cate Parker 2015Off the Map with Shannen & Holly Herself Main role; also Executive producer 2016Rock in a Hard Place Janice Cable pilot (Indiegogo campaign)2018No One Would Tell Laura Collins Television filmHeathers Mrs. Dean/Dr. Destiny 4 episodes 2019BH90210 Herself/Brenda WalshCo-producer; 6 episodes Riverdale Stranded Motorist Episode: "Chapter Fifty-Eight: In Memoriam" 2021Dying to Belong KatherineTelevision film List of a Lifetime Diana Carroll
Web Year TitleRole Notes 2010Mari-Kari Mari/Kari (voice) 2011Suite 7 Adrienne Episode: "Company"Director ("Captive Audience")Producer ("Captive Audience" and "Company") 2012"Naked in Venice"DirectorProducerMusic video for Radical Something2014"Pure" 2023–2024Let's Be Clear with Shannen DohertyPodcasterPodcast 2024House of Halliwell
Music video appearances Year Title Artist 1992"Real Love" Slaughter2014"Unicorn Zombie Apocalypse Borgore & Sikdope
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